NC REPORT CARD LETTER

Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy
PO Box 14331300
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Elizabethtown, NC 28337

Dear PBLA Parent/Guardian,

One of the benefits North Carolina public schools offer parents is transparency. Public school accountability is a standard practice for North Carolina going back to the early 1990s, and the North Carolina School Report Cards provide parents with information on such key issues as student performance, teacher experience, and school safety. Data are provided at the school, district, and state levels to enable parents to compare the performance of their student’s schools with others across the district and state.  Legislation (G.S 115C-83.15) passed during the 2013 long session of the North Carolina General Assembly provides an additional measure of school performance in the form of School Performance Grades. Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, the annual North Carolina School Report Cards display a letter grade of A, B, C, D or F for each school in the state.

 

The School Performance Grades are based 80 percent on our school’s achievement score (student proficiency) and 20 percent on students’ academic growth. At Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy, our achievement score is based on how well our Cadets’ performed on Grades 6-8 Mathematics, Grades 6-8 English Language Arts/Reading, Grade 8 Science, NC Math I, NC Math III, English II, and Biology End-of-Course Tests.

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The purpose of this letter is to inform you that Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy  School Performance Grade.  Although we are committed to improving this score, it is important to remember that just as no one single score or grade tells the whole story of a student, neither does it tell you everything about the performance of a school or the opportunities that our school provides. Please keep in mind many of our students arrived performing below grade level. It is important to note that 59% of our students showed growth. We are in no way satisfied with our scores. We are committed to be the number one charter school in North Carolina and the number one school in Bladen County. All areas that no test can measure but you see every day with your child. We have several cadets in this year’s senior class are currently enrolled at Bladen Community College earning dual credit while working towards earning their associate degree, as well as licensure in the field of cosmetology and certifications as Emergency Medical Technicians.  Many more positive things like this are happening at PBLA. 

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One of our top priorities for the school year is to improve our School Performance Grade. There are several key programs we have in place to help improve student performance. These include:

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1. Morning remediation. On days the cadets cannot go outside for drill due to inclement weather,  extra study time has been created. Cadets are going to teachers to receive remediation in certain subject areas. Cadets that are not going to a designated class are using the extra time to study.

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2. Middle School cadets have been placed in year long courses.

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3. The Academy will begin afternoon tutorials during Commandant's Time.  The tutorial will take place Monday, Tuesday,  Thursday and Friday from 1500 - 1600.   Transportation is provided for all Cadets after tutoring.

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4. Saturday Academy will be held for cadets who have received an “F” in their classes.

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5. High school cadets are taking Life Science, Foundations of NC Math I, and Foundations of Reading  before taking any the required End of Course class. The foundations will help cadets who may need more time before taking the End of Course class.  

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6.  The Academy is using the Band App.   There is a Band dedicated to homework.   Cadets and Parents will use this to ensure that homework is completed each day.   

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As you can see we are not going to hope that the scores change we are going to change the scores with hard work on the faculty and the cadet’s part. What can you do to help us? Set aside time every night free of television, phone and social media for your cadet to study and do homework. Even if they have competed their work have them read for you. Many of our cadets are technology driven. They have learned to skim over something while reading.  Make them read it and explain to you what they have read. One of the other problems are Cadets face is they simply do not know their multiplication tables.  This is something they can practice at home with you.   This is a team effort. With your help we are confident that our academic performance will continue to increase. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at (910) 862-2965.

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Jason M. Wray, EdD
The Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy

Superintendent

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