Since 1997, people have turned to the Good News Network for positive news stories to balance the negativity they receive daily in the news.

• Fact 1: The U.S. homicide rate dropped in the 1990’s by 42 percent, but network news coverage of murders jumped more than 700 percent. (Center for Media and Public Affairs)
• Fact 2: People are turning away from mainstream news. On a weekday evening, less than 25 percent of the homes nationwide tune in to ABC, CBS and NBC news — combined. And, newspaper readership is declining steadily.
• Fact 3: Young people are learning how positive material can directly affect performance and happiness. A positive psychology course at Harvard is the most popular class on campus with around 850 students enrolled. (Resource - )

 

Here in Vermont...

 

SUCCESS IN VERMONT SCHOOLS

 

A snapshot of public education in Vermont from the VSA, VPA and VSBA

High Performing Schools

Education Week’s Quality Counts 2007 determined that Vermont schools performed 3rd best in the nation in achievement and achievement gains. The determination was made using 13 indicators, including NAEP scores,graduationrate,andrecent improvement in achievement.

Music and the Arts

Three Vermont schools have won Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education “National School of Distinction” awards since 2001, and six more have earned state- level recognition. Thirteen Vermont music students have been awarded full scholarships to study at the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Institute since 2000.

 

SAT Success:

Scores Rise – More Students are Assessed Vermont has made significant strides in preparing students for the SAT in recent years. Mean test scores have steadily increased while the number of students taking the exam has risen dramatically. Overall, Vermont ranks 7th nationwide in weighted SAT achievement.2

Year 1998 2000 2002 2004 2005

# of students      5051      5331      5659      5750      5837

Verbal  508  513  512  516  521

Math 504 508 510 512 517

2005 Vermont NAEP Results

The National Assessment of Educational Progress compares academic achievement across states, and consistently ranks Vermont in the upper echelon of success. In fact, Vermont’s NAEP Proficiency ranks 4th best in the country.1

 

Vermont 4th graders:

were outperformed by only one other state in reading and math ►outperformed 41 other states/jurisdictions in reading ►outperformed 39 other states/jurisdictions in math

High School Completion

Vermont schools have made impressive strides in retaining and graduating their students. In the 1990s, Vermont decreased the number of students who don’t complete high school by 66%. By the year 2000, Vermont had the highest high school completion rate in the nation at 88.2%!3 Since then, the percentage of students who drop out has continued to fall:

HS Dropout Rate

5            4.5              4            3.5              3 % of total            2.5 students              2            1.5              1            0.5              0

Vermont 8th graders:

were outperformed by only one other state in reading and math ►outperformed 34 other states/jurisdictions in reading ►outperformed 43 other states/jurisdictions in math

4.67

4.66

3.9

3.45

2.57

2.4

 

Vermont is the “Smartest State”

“For the second consecutive year, Vermont holds on to the top of Morgan Quitno Press’s education rankings as the nation’s Smartest State. Vermont has earned this distinction by demonstrating a strong commitment to students and teachers, an emphasis on excellence in the classroom and support for efficient public schools.”4

 

 

Renewable Energy and Efficiency

Vermont schools lead the nation in the use of renewable fuels- 30 schools use wood chips for heat and hot water. The VSA’s School Energy Management Program works directly with schools and helps them convert to renewable fuels and improve efficiency. This program saves local schools more than one million dollars a year in energy costs.

Opportunity for Success

Quality Counts 2007 ranks the states on a “Chance-for-Success Index” that tracks the life- long benefits of residents’ educational experience.It includes some traditional indicators such as residents’ NAEP scores combined with adult educational attainment, annual income, and availability of reliable employment.It determined that Vermont residents have the 9th best chance for success.

NECAP Leadership

Vermont has developed and implemented a common educational assessment tool with New Hampshire and Rhode Island for grades 3-8. 2005 was the first year of testing, and the results confirm Vermont’s commitment to education. 67% of Vermont students were found to be proficient or better in reading, and 63% were proficient or better in math. Vermont also ranked first in proficiency among the three states in every subject area.

Vermont 2 graders are reading at their highest level ever. The State Developmental Reading Assessment shows that:     ►The number of 2nd graders below the     standard has been cut in half since 1999.     ►85% of 2nd graders are meeting or     exceeding the reading standard in 2006,     up from 73% in 1999

nd

More Early Readers

AP Achievement

Advanced Placement allows high school students to prepare for college by taking college- level courses and earning college credit. AP exams are administered nationally and are graded on a scale from 1 (worst) to 5 (best). Vermont students taking AP exams scored a mean of 3.06, 6% better than the national mean. Vermont students’ achievement is even more pronounced in some subjects:

AP Subject  Calculus (BC) Comp. Sci. (AB)  Econ. (Macro)  Econ. (Micro)  World History

VT Mean   4.35   4.25   3.86   4.10   3.47

US Mean   3.71   3.38   2.74   2.99   2.62

Youth Risk Behavior Declines

A biannual survey administered to Vermont high school students determined that:         Cigarette smoking is down 1999: 31%2005: 16%         Alcohol consumption is down 1999: 46%2005: 37%         Marijuana use is down 1997: 32%2005: 22%

Sources: 2006 Kids Count Data Book, American Legislative Exchange Council’s Report Card on American Education (2003), Editorial Projects in Education’s Quality Counts 2007, Education Vital Signs 2006, Morgan Quitno Press, New Hampshire Dept. of Education, Rhode Island Dept. of Education, US Dept. of Education, Vermont Arts Council, Vermont Dept. of Education, Vermont Dept. of Health, Vermont School Boards Insurance Trust, Vermont Superintendents Association

SOURCE: VT Superintendents Association, the VT Principals Association, and the VT School Boards Association

Contact:

Vermont School Boards Association 2 Prospect St., Suite 4, Montpelier, VT 05602                (802) 223-3580

Morgan Quitno Press, 2006, an independent private research and publishing company

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