It is not necessary to disaggregate subtest scores, but the school may do so if it wishes. Former Blue Ribbon Schools, especially those that received the award after 1994, must show how they have helped other schools to improve and show how they themselves have improved since they received the award last. Whenever possible, schools should provide actual participation rates, for example, the percentage of parents that participate in the school or the numbers of students in an extracurricular program. It is important that schools pay particular attention to answering questions about special education students in their schools, for example, A2, A5, and C3. In section H on assessment, the schools must report how they assess the progress of all students.
Some schools have significant problems with the assessment section.
The schools need to explain in the narrative section what the tests mean, not just provide raw data. That statement is especially true of state tests. Approximately 25 percent of the almost 180 schools that did not get site visits in 1999-2000 did not get a visit based on their assessment data. Either the scores were not high enough or they presented the data in such a way that even the testing experts on the National Review Panel could not interpret them. Schools should include everything on the disk that accompanies the nomination package, including assessment tables if possible.