Dear NLMUSD Family,

Happy New Year! I want to update you on where we are with the District’s LEA Strategic Plan for improved student achievement.

The District School Leadership Team has completed the task of writing the LEA Plan Addendum! Monday night, the School Board approved submission of the Plan to the Department of Education. There are many areas we could work on in order to increase student achievement and exit Program Improvement status. However, we cannot effectively accomplish everything all at once. Based on data submitted from the schools, as well as achievement data, the DSLT reached consensus and the Board agreed that the greatest need requiring our immediate attention are in the following categories:

• K-12 Standardized Interventions in math and language arts for ELLs, Special Ed and low performing students
• Standardized district-wide K-12 pacing guides and common assessments
• Regularly scheduled data conversations to inform instruction through collaboration, discussions and analyses of student performance.

And now the real work begins! As part of our next steps, the District Leadership Team will identify what outcomes we want for our students, as well as what measures we will use to determine if our students are progressing. Specific goals and objectives will be developed. Action Teams have been created, comprised of teachers, administrators, staff, and central office representatives, to develop the work.

This year, in order to freeze us in Program Improvement, we have the following targets to meet:

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in NLMUSD

Groups	ELA Proficiency % (with Safe Harbor)
School Year	2008-09 Performance	2009-10 Target
CDE Actual Target	45.0%	56.0%
All Students	49.5	54.6
African-American	42.0	47.8
Asian	76.5	78.9
Filipino	69.6	72.6
Hispanic	45.0	50.5
White	66.9	70.2
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	42.6	48.3
English Learners	32.9	39.6
Students with Disabilities	26.0	33.4

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in NLMUSD

Groups	Math Proficiency % (with Safe Harbor)
School Year	2008-09 Performance	2009-10 Target
CDE Actual Target	45.5%	56.4%
All Students	46.6	51.9
African-American	33.5	40.2
Asian	79.5	81.6
Filipino	67.2	70.5
Hispanic	43.0	48.7
White	57.6	61.8
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	41.4	47.3
English Learners	38.3	44.5
Students with Disabilities	29.0	36.1

I have no doubt that we can attain these targets! One thing I was, and continue to be, most impressed with as I arrived in NLMUSD is the care and investment of our employees to the district. Many are alumni and/or have children, grandchildren, relatives that are students, as well as family members that are employees. I know that pride and ownership will continue.

Principals will be presenting the plan to teachers, staff and the community so that everyone is aware of our efforts and kept informed of our progress.

On behalf of the students we serve, I want to thank you for your dedication to your profession, and unwavering commitment to their education and their future.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ruth Perez

Superintendent