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Strategy and Progress Report
Goal One: Achieve and sustain the highest levels of student achievement.UPDATED 4/6/2011 | Strategy 1.1: Develop and implement a comprehensive, District-wide literacy plan.Person Responsible: U. Harel, Curriculum Coordinator for Grades 1-8 Upcoming - K-3 Teachers will receive PD in May/June
- Additional PD will take place during summer
- Aligning Core Curriculum will being in spring and continue in summer
- Interim Reading Assessment will be recommended by the committee
Milestones Met - 4/5/6 Teachers are using Balanced Literacy Strategies in classrooms
- Principals participate in Literacy walks
- Principals received PD in Balanced Literacy
Progress
6th grade teachers have received Balanced Literacy PD and are receiving coaching. We continue to purchase support materials. Principals are participating. In Walk thrus to observe Literacy Strategies that are currently being implemented. The Literacy Materials and Assessment Committee has been formed and will make recommendations in the coming weeks. | Strategy 1.2: Meet AYP goals in Mathematics.Person responsible: V. McKay, Assistant Superintendent Upcoming - Summer professional development program for alignment of elementary pacing guide with the new Common Core standards.
- New cohort of six middle grades math teachers will be selected for the Poincare Institute at Tufts.
- High School Graduation Initiative (HSGI) grant will be used to implement an enhanced credit recovery program in math at Somerville High School. This three year grant will lead to development of a “math path” that will utilize “blended” learning -- a teacher combined with online content. This approach will allow under-credited students the opportunity to proceed through the SHS math course sequence based on demonstrated competency rather than seat time.
Milestones Met - Two math coaches working effectively with support from CIA office; six middle grades teachers are participating in a master's level program of study in mathematics through the Tufts Poincare Institute;
- Increased participation of at risk elementary students in after-school tutorial program.
- Technology assisted math course implemented at Full Circle High School; after school program being provided for at risk 9th graders at SHS.
- MAP assessment data used to plan instruction and interventions;
Progress
510 students now participating in elementary After School Tutorial Program (up from 230 last year) with focus on literacy and mathematics. Student Growth Percentile (SGP) for all Somerville grades in Math increased from 43 (2009) to 45 (2010); Composite Performance Index (CPI) increased from 68.6 to 69.5. Mid-year MAP data shows growth at elementary level, district-wide.
| Strategy 1.3: Expand the appropriate inclusion of students receiving special education benefits in the general education.Person responsible: D. Connell, Special Education Director Upcoming Milestones Met - Four students previously educated in out of district placements have returned to SPS programs this school year with inclusion goals in their IEPs. These students have significant disabilities/challenges and their school-based teams have been successful in designing and supporting appropriate opportunities for inclusion in their schedules.
- The district has invested in technology that is designed to provide access to instruction for students who are disabled. Kurzweil (text to speech), Dragon-Naturally Speaking (speech to text), Smartboards in inclusive classrooms at SHS and WHCS are some of the investments leveraged with ARRA monies.
Progress Inclusion of special education students in general education academic instruction significantly increased during the 2010-2011 school year. The addition of an Inclusion Specialist position at Healey has increased the capacity of special education staff to provide support during academic instruction. As a result of this additional staff, more students have been successfully supported in inclusion at Healey.
This is one of the District's Long Range Goals. | Strategy 1.4: Reintroduce foreign language instruction in elementary grades.Person Responsible: J. Cummings, Supervisor of World Languages No changes over the last reporting period Upcoming Milestones Met Part-time, middle grades Italian teacher hired (Masters level) Grant-funded middle grades Italian language instruction piloted at the Healey School, September 2010 - $20,000 FY 11 C.A.S.IT. Italian Language grant secured by the District
Progress - All students in the 7th and 8th grade at the Healey School are currently studying Italian one day per week.
| Strategy 1.5: Support expansion and growth of middle grades academic program.
Person Responsible: V. McKay, Assistant Superintendent Progress
This is one of the District's Long Range Goals. Upcoming - District wide meetings for teachers by content area. Summer professional development, Common Core curriculum alignment.
Milestones Met - Continued support for the Middle Grades Project, including professional development for new library-media staff.
- Content area PD including: subject area meetings; coaching in ELA and Math with emphasis on supporting new teachers; Social Studies (Gr 8) curriculum implemented; partnership with Tufts Poincare Institute for Math PD.
- Support for team meeting time for planning
- Foreign Language instruction at Healey (Italian) implemented
Progress
Increased opportunities for student leadership; more elective opportunities for students; improved content rigor; highly qualified staff in place. |
| Strategy 1.6: Develop an organized, consistent, accessible, curriculum-linked but not curriculum-driven voluntary after-school learning program for elementary students which (a) complements the school day, (b) provides students with opportunities to expand their knowledge, skills and attitudes through high quality, developmentally appropriate academic enrichment activities, and (c) fulfills some needs of parents/guardians by providing homework help and a safe and secure after-school environment.
Person Responsible: V. McKay, Assistant Superintendent Upcoming
This is one of the District's Long Range Goals. - Continued program development to improve alignment with district Literacy Plan.
- Program planning to improve participation of middle grades students.
- Introduction of pilot clubs targeting middle grades students.
Milestones Met - Academic support (ACE-IT and SES program) integrated into a single afterschool program academic program with a structured curriculum . Seventy tutors hired and trained to use the new curriculum materials in collaboration with the CIA office and in alignment with the district Literacy Plan.
- Improved data reporting between after school programs and student information system to better track student progress.
Progress - 2010 MCAS and MAP data shows improvement linked to attendance with Academic Tutorial Program (ACE-IT/SES).
- Enrollment increases at both Academic After School and Community Schools
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| Strategy 1.7: Increase high school course and grade passage rates.Person Responsible: T. Ciccariello, Headmaster Upcoming - Monitor first quarter grades and failure rates
- Identify patterns of high failure rates.
- Inform teachers of failure rate data.
- Design a contract for failing seniors at the end of the second quarter.
Milestones Met - Data collected on 2009-2010 failure rates (comparison of first quarter failure rates to course failure rates).
- New grading policy.
Progress - All SHS students who participated in the summer 2010 credit recovery program in math successfully completed the program.
| Strategy 1.8: Improve student transition from high school to post-secondary activities or alternative placements.Person Responsible: T. Ciccariello, Headmaster Upcoming - Increase the #s of students taking ACT
- Tufts CAC hours have increased thereby allowing more student to access post-secondary planning services
- 9th grade visit to Tufts University are planned with 150 Grade 9 students in Apri; (1/2 the class visited in November)l
- Working collaboratively with the new CTE Director, position of CTE/Resource Counselor implemented
- Career plan format in place; Expect that all 120 Grade 9 Vocational exploratory students will have a career plan in place by June 2011
- All House counselors will be trained in completing career plans for Grade 9 & 10 students in their caseloads
- All Grade 9 & 10 students will have career plans by June 2011
- In June 2011, will continue to notify students classified as drop-outs & educational options (GED, ADP, re-entry to SHS)
- Will request a computer in each House be dedicated for use for online college application
Milestones Met - Maintained 78% of graduating class of 2010 attending post secondary institutions
- Increased # of College visits to SHS in October & November
- PD for English & Math teachers from College Board using PSAT data
- SHS First Questbridge Scholarship award for student in class of 2010
- In June 2010, notified students classified as “drop-outs” of educational options (GED, ADP, re-entry to SHS)
Progress - SHS is now an ACT testing site
- Let's Get ready SAT Prep classes ongoing with the max of 50 completing each session
- More students in class of 2011 applying for Questbridge Scholarship
- 2 students awarded Posse Scholarship in class of 2010; more students in Class of 2011 applying for Posse Scholarship
| Strategy 1.9: Enhance and improve the use of technology for instructional purposes.
Person Responsible: V. McKay, Assistant Superintendent Upcoming - HSGI grant for implementation of additional digital content for course instruction and credit recovery/acceleration
Milestones Met - Support for district technology renewal plan.
- Electronic report cards for Grades 1-5 implemented;
- Middle grades year-long technology project pilot implemented for grades 7 and 8.
- Blended approach to online/classroom learning being utilized for accelerated credit recovery and acceleration.
- Professional development for implementation of new “Smart” whiteboards.
Progress - Collecting parent/guardian emails for X2 and to increase communication possibilities (e.g. in Connect-Ed)
- Continue to support “parent portal” in X2/Aspen
- Teachers access assessment data on MAP website
- Distance learning opportunities at SHS, Full Circle and SCALE expanded
- Expand definition of distance learning opportunities and increase usage of available distance learning technology to provide global learning opportunities
- Local web tools for storing, searching and modifying unit and lesson plans launched
- DESE and locally developed/hosted curriculum planning tools linked and promoted among staff
- Grant-funded accelerated credit recovery courses at Full Circle and in high school summer school utilizing, “blended learning,” instruction that combines online learning with classroom teaching.
| Strategy 1.10: Continue to improve local formative and summative assessment program.Person Responsible: V. McKay, Assistant Superintendent Upcoming - As part of Year 1 of Literacy Plan, study implementation of a more frequent interim assessment such as Progress Monitoring.
Progress - Teachers use of assessment data in ongoing teacher team/PLC meeting to plan instruction; elementary teachers provided with a color-coded student roster with recent assessment history.
| Strategy 1.11: Improve and expand opportunities for parents/guardians and families to engage in school-based activities that support their student's learning and development.Person(s) Responsible: Sarah Davila, Nomi Davidson Upcoming Ongoing menu of district-wide family engagement workshops organized by the Somerville Family Learning Collaborative; support to principals in developing school-based parent/guardian involvement plans; work with PIC and Volunteer Coordinator to develop district and school-based capacity for oral interpretation and written translation Information about summer opportunities and programming disseminated on the SPS website and at a Summer Activity Fair
Milestones met Staffing plan for organizing and sustaining District improvement plan-related to family and community engagement to support student learning Sustainable funding plan for organizing and developing the Somerville Family Learning Collaborative Parent/community advisory meetings and forums hosted to support the development of the Bullying Plan, Afterschool Programming, and on-going improvements to the Shape Up Somerville and social competency plan. Parent/guardian English and computer classes offered to families of LEP (limited English proficient) students Leadership development training offered to School Improvement Councils, PTA, and PACS (Parent Advisory Councils) Eighteen Somerville Family Learning Collaborative parent/guardian workshops offered during first and second quarter (October – March) Four Volunteer Trainings offered Translation and interpretation provided at PTA meetings with the support of the PIC and Volunteer Coordinator
Progress Parent/guardian English classes expanded to include the following locations: Capuano Early Childhood Center, ESCS at Edgerly, Healey, Somerville High School and Winter Hill Community School More than 200 parents/guardians have participated in Somerville Family Learning Collaborative classes, workshops, and events in the second quarter of programming Computer class offered for parents to gain skills in accessing the internet to support their child’s learning
| Strategy 1.12: Participate in planning and pilot implementation of "SomerPromise/Somerville Promise Alliance".Person Responsible: V. McKay, Assistant Superintendent, J. DeFalco, Healey School Principal Upcoming Release of RFP for service provision. Begin fund-raising First meeting of governance board Progress
- Formalization of governance structure with approval by Somerville BOA; implementation of the governance structure and decision-making authority and prioritization of projects.
- Data sharing agreements completed.
- Ongoing meetings with active participation of all stakeholders in the target area.
| Strategy 1.13: Facilitate unification of the Healey School and the Choice Program.Person Responsible: T. Pierantozzi, Superintendent Upcoming - District response to final recommendations being prepared to support further discussion on the unification
- Rough cost estimates for some elements of the unification recommendations are being developed
Milestones Met - Two reports made to the School Committee (January and March 2011) regarding the recommendations of the Healey/Choice Site Council.
- Wiki created to secure community participation on the internet
- Decision made to unify the Healey School and the Choice Program, 6/24/2010
Progress - Following a period of public discussion the School Committee affirmed, on 6/24/2010, a vote to unify the Healey School. Vote language detailed below.
- Timeline for developing the strategic plan for unification created.
- Monitoring of on-going progress referred to Education Programs and Instruction Subcommittee of the School Committee.
Please visit www.somerville.k12.ma.us/unify for information about the unification planning process. On June 24, 2010, the Somerville School Committee approved the following: The School Committee charges the Healey School Council with drafting plans for a unified K-8 Healey School based upon the educational philosophy and strong commitment to parent/guardian involvement outlined in the Choice Ad-hoc Document. The School Council should also include other best practices currently used at the Healey or other schools, while retaining its strong emphasis on literacy intervention and the continued revitalization of the Middle Grade Program. The new school will feature high expectations and a challenging academic environment for all students and will be officially established in September 2011. The Healey School Council should develop a structured process for its deliberations that is transparent, inclusive, and participatory. The School Committee will provide funds for a consultant to work with the Principal and the School Council beginning in September 2010. The proposal and its implementation must be in accordance with all collectively bargained agreements and collective bargaining principles; any elements of the plan that would result in a change of working conditions for employees are subject to negotiation. The School Committee recommends that the Healey School Council expand its membership in September 2010 to become even more broadly representative and to include more parents, teachers, staff, and community members in the design process for the new school. The Healey School Council should work closely with existing leadership, including the PTA, the Instructional Leadership Team, the Choice Council, and the Middle Grades Design Team. The School Committee expects the Healey School Council to provide regular updates to District education leaders for presentation to the Educational Programs and Instruction Subcommittee, beginning in October 2010. The School Committee requests a written progress report outlining key parts of a proposed school design plan by January 15, 2011. The full proposal will be reviewed by District education leaders and presented to the School Committee for its approval no later than March 1, 2011. |
| Strategy 1.14: Continue to improve English language learner achievement through ongoing staff professional development relative to training staff in ELL (English Language Learners) instructional strategies to meet category training requirements of Department of ESE (Elementary and Secondary Education) Person Responsible: District Administrator for Support Services and English Language Education and Family and Community Partnerships with Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Upcoming Ongoing professional development for ELL, General Education, and Special Education teachers in alignment with DESE ELL Endorsement Categories; “Masters” level ELL professional development for those teachers who have completed ELL Endorsement Collaborative with Lesley University for new Elementary ELL teachers in planning process
Milestones Progress ALL ELL Program Teachers are fully licensed (may or may not want to include this – big accomplishment, but should have been in place already) As of 11/1/10 Teachers who have completed ELL Endorsement Training: Category 1 – 167; Category 2 – 136; Category 3 – 210; Category 4 – 114; Fully Endorsed - 15
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