Family & Community Alternative Learning
1997 Test Results from
Massachusetts Charter Schools

Student Assessment Profile

Lawrence Family Development Charter School

School Description: The Lawrence Family Development Charter School is located in Lawrence and serves 240 students in grades K through 4. The mission of the Lawrence School is to use a parental involvement program and a two-way language program as a means to increase academic achievement. This school was founded by the Lawrence Family Development and Education Fund, Inc., community organizers and parents.

Years in operation: 2

School-level Accountability: Lawrence Family Development Charter School uses standardized and performance-based assessments. The school administered the Brigance Diagnostic of Basic Skills (in both Spanish and English) this fall to grades 2-4 and will, from this spring forward, administer the Stanford-9. LFDCS will also participate in the state's assessment program at the 3rd and 4th grades. In addition, the school uses portfolio assessment to monitor student progress.

Analysis:

What is the academic performance level of students entering this charter school?
Below Average to Average.

• The standardized test data indicates that 48 - 83% of LFDCS students were on grade level in grades 2 through 4;
• it also shows that, on average, students are below their appropriate grade equivalent level (with the exception of 2nd grade math).
• Comparisons with the Lawrence Public Schools are not possible since the charter school uses a different test from that used by the district.

In sum, the students that entered LFDCS performed at levels which were at or below national norms.

Have the students in this charter school made academic gains?
Insufficient Data.

LFDCS has administered the Brigance Diagnostic in the spring of 1996 and will be administering the Stanford-9 from this spring forward. This year's results are not yet available.

Lawrence Family Development Test Scores (Fall 1996)

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