Minnesota New Country School

ISD#4007

Exploring the world through project based education.

210 Main Street, PO Box 488, Henderson, MN 56044

Phone 507.248.3353

Fax 507.248.3604

www.newcountryschool.com

MNCS is authorized by Innovative Quality Schools

October 21, 2015

Dear MNCS Parent/Guardian:

Minnesota New Country School is dedicated to providing all students with an excellent education so that each child can
succeed in school and in life. To ensure your childs success, we have set high standards that are reflected in what is
taught in our school. In the coming school year we will look at multiple assessment measures that indicate how our school
is succeeding. This will ensure that we reach our goal of all children succeeding in school and in life.
Minnesota utilizes a Multiple Measurement Rating (MMR) based on state testing data for grades 8, 10 and 11 to evaluate
proficiency, student growth, achievement gap reduction, and graduation rates. The percentage of possible points that a
school earns through the calculation is the schools MMR.
This year, MNCS has been designated a Continuous Improvement School under the federal Elementary and Secondary
Education Act (ESEA). Some information to know about Title I and MMR:
There are only 750 Title I Schools in MN
Applying for the Federal Title I grant is optional for schools
Title I Grants provide additional funding for supports in Math and Reading for students
There are many MMR Designation Levels:
o Continuous Improvement designation the lowest 25 % of Title I schools that are not Focus or Priority
schools (not just the lowest 25%)
o Focus School designation- the lowest 10% of Title I schools related to achievement gap reduction
o Priority School designation - the lowest 5% of Title I schools overall
Schools earn points in each student category in which there are at least 20 students. Some of the student
categories are weighted in the percentage calculation (special education, free and reduced lunch, Black, Hispanic,
and American Indian)
o Keep in mind that MNCS typically has smaller groupings of students in these categories due to the small
size of the district
o See MNCS MMR summary results on next page
For more information on this designation see the fact sheet or visit the MDE MMR website
(www.education.state.mn.us/MDE/SchSup/ESEAFlex/MMR/index.html)

MNCS Elementary Results:

MNCS Elementary Students met the proficiency index rate targets expected in reading in 2014-2015 according to the
states MMR reports. More specifically, MNCS elementary students in the special education, free and reduced lunch,
Black, Hispanic and American Indian groupings had proficiency index rates that were above state targets in reading the
2014-2015 MMR report.
MNCS Elementary Students did not meet all proficiency index rate targets expected in math in 2014-2015 according to
the states MMR reports. However, MNCS students in the special education groupings had proficiency index rates that
were above state targets in math in the 2014-2015 reports but had fewer than 20 students so it was not included in the
calculation of the MMR.
MNCS High School Results:
MNCS High School Students did not meet the proficiency index rate targets expected in reading in 2014-2015
according to the states MMR reports. However, MNCS students in the special education, free and reduced lunch,
American Indian, Asian and Hispanic groupings had proficiency index rates that were above state targets in reading in the
2014-2015 reports but had fewer than 20 students so those scores were not included in the calculation of the MMR.
MNCS High School Students did not meet all proficiency index rate targets expected in math in 2014-2015 according
to the states MMR reports. However, MNCS students in the special education, free and reduced lunch and Hispanic
groupings had proficiency index rates that were above state targets in math in the 2014-2015 reports but had fewer than 20
students so those scores were not included in the calculation of the MMR.

Under ESEA, Continuous Improvement Schools must use student performance data to undergo a needs assessment. A
needs assessment is a systematic process whereby we analyze school data in order to make decisions on how to improve
the school. We will undertake that process in the coming weeks and months, and will use the results of the needs
assessment to create a school improvement plan aimed at helping all students reach their full potential. In order to
accomplish this important work, we will put together an improvement team which includes a variety of stakeholders,
including parents. You are highly encouraged to be a member of the improvement team; if you are interested call or email:
Nichole Kotasek nkotasek@newcountryschool.com
Nick Ryan nryan@newcountryschool.com
David Rice drice@newcountryschool.com
Doug Anderson danderson@newcountryschool.com
Your engagement and support in your childs education is critical to his or her success. Contact your childs advisor(s)
with how you can best support the work they are doing in school. All staff email addresses and the school phone numbers
are posted on our schools website. MNCS offers many opportunities for you to be engaged in your childs education,
contact your students advisor for more information.

Sincerely,
MNCS Staff