Sixth graders in the New Hyde Park-Garden City School District achieved mathematics scores in state tests at the end of the 2010-11 that were among the highest reported by area school districts.
New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Superintendent of Schools Robert Katulak reported at the Oct. 15 board meeting that more than 90 percent of students in the district’s four elementary schools met performance “benchmarks” in the math test scores. He said the test scores compared favorably to scores recorded among sixth graders in the East Williston, Elmont, and Floral Park School districts.
“We’re holding our own in our grades,” Katulak said.
He attributed the strong performance on the math tests to “excellent teaching” and “very deep focus” consistent with the state’s common core standards in all subject areas.
“We differentiate instruction,” he said.”We have common core standards in place.”
Katulak also announced at the meeting that the district had been awarded $290,000 to work with a struggling school district in the state by sharing its best practices. The Garden City Park, Hillside Grade and Manor Oaks schools were all recognized by the state education department as Rewards Schools that could offer assistance to other school districts. The district applied for designation of Reward Schools in late September.
The New Hyde Park-Garden City Park schools are “dissemination” schools under the Rewards Schools program, which pairs those schools with schools that are designated “replication” schools in other districts, Katulak said.
School districts with “replication” schools not performing on a par with state education department standards are alllowed to “go shopping” for a Reward Schools district to partner with by watching video clips of those schools online. The $290,000 will facilitate the program, which will involve consultations on teaching methods between administrators and teachers.
In other developments:
• Katulak said the school district resubmitted its plan for the state education department’s newly-implemented Annual Professional Performance Review. District administrators provided amended language for the plan, as requested by the education department, and are now awaiting final approval for its implementation. The state-mandated APPR program will cost the district an estimated $5,000, according to Katulak, not counting manpower.
“You can’t even put a handle on the manpower charges,” Katulak said.
• Katulak said the district’s external auditors R.S. Abrams gave the district what he described as a “flawless” audit, with no citations.
