1	Update Improving Student Achievement at the Middle Grades Through Whole School Reform
2	Mission The mission of middle schools is to prepare students for success in a rigorous program of high school studies that will allow them to enter a postsecondary institution without the need to take remedial courses and prepare them for an entry level job with a promising career pathway
3	Data At five of the six middle schools, 43% or more of students failed to meet mathematic standards on the 2004-2005 ITBS (Table 1, p. 6) At four of the schools, 42% or more of the students failed to meet reading standards on the 2004-2005 ITBS (Table 2, p. 6) Only one school met their Annual Yearly progress goals for ITBS for 2004-2005 Overall, the performance of our 8^th grade students lags behind state performance levels Although narrowing at the elementary level, the achievement gap is not showing the same progress in our intermediate schools (Tables 3 and 4, p. 7)
4	SREB “Making Middle Grades Work” Site Visit A team of MMGW school improvement consultants visited each of our middle schools in the spring of 2005 During the three-day visits, team members observed classrooms, reviewed data and interviewed administrators, teachers, guidance counselors, parents and students.
5	Summary Findings: What We Are Doing Right District standards have been developed Data is guiding decision-making All schools have improvement plans and have organized site-based teams Resources are directed to school improvement
6	Summary Findings: What are the Challenges? Provide a more rigorous curriculum Create school cultures based on high expectations Prepare teachers to work together to improve the quality of instruction Increase the awareness of students, parents, and faculty about what students need to know and be able to do to be successful in high school Develop a leadership structure that focuses on getting students ready for high school
7	How We Are Responding Challenge: Provide a more rigorous curriculum Response: Align courses to high school readiness standards Eliminate low-level courses
8	How We Are Responding Challenge Create school cultures based on high expectations Response Power of “I” Develop systems to provide extra help Establish behavior guidelines – enforce these guidelines
9	How We Are Responding Challenge Prepare teachers to work together to improve the quality of instruction Response Literacy across the curriculum initiative Keep the focus on improving instruction Use planning time for teachers to examine assignments and assessments for rigor
10	How We Are Responding Challenge Increase awareness of students, parents and faculty about what students need to know and be able to do to be ready to succeed in high school Response Investigate what successful high school students studied in middle school Develop a grade-specific advisory curriculum and train teachers to deliver effective lessons Implementation of a teacher advisement system
11	How We Are Responding Challenge Develop a leadership structure that focuses on getting students ready for high school Response Set annual goals regarding rigor Present progress reports Establish focus teams at each school to achieve goals
12	Parameters for Middle School Schedules Extend student day by up to 20 minutes. Increase math classes to a minimum of 60 minutes for all students. Increase language arts classes to 60 minutes in grades 7 and 8. Increase reading class to 60 minutes in grade 6. Continue READ I8O classes for 90 minutes for students who qualify in 6th grade. Provide a required reading class for students who do not meet proficiency, as determined by the DRP, in grades 7 and 8 (minimum of a semester and has met proficiency.) Exploratory courses will be formatted in “wheels” at all grade levels except world language in 8th grade, also band and orchestra. Develop a model for “extra help” for students both inside and outside the school day. Remember the impact special education students will have on this model. Industrial Tech will be included at all grade levels with career education integrated into Industrial Tech. Health is a required course. If offered at all grades – one quarter each year. If offered at one grade – full semester.
13	Parameters Continued . . . Art is offered in rotation all three years. Vocal music/general music is offered in rotation all three years. Family and Consumer Science is a required course and offered as part of a wheel. Technology instruction is required at all grade levels either through an integrated model or stand alone class. P.E. is required each year for a minimum of 90 days for all students. Second Step curriculum will be taught in Social Studies classes. World language will be part of the rotation in grades 6 & 7. Full year world language (Level I) will be offered in grade 8 only. Level II world language will be offered in grade 8 during the 2006-07 school year only. Each site has flexibility of doing focus lessons as they believe best.
14	Why Make Schedule Changes? All intermediates (except Walcott) are on SINA status and we have to do business differently. We are responding to data. We are responding to recommendations made in the MMGW report. Working toward becoming a “school district” rather than a “district of schools.” Still maintain culture of individual schools. Must meet Iowa Code for course offerings and teacher qualifications. Block schedule at all high schools now allows students to take six years of foreign language or four years of two world languages at the high school level. This permits more flexibility at the intermediate level.
15	What Do the Guidelines Allow us to Do? More time for reading and math Maintains the team time and exploratory components Flexibility when addressing focus lessons Advisory Period will continue to be discussed. Our goal is to implement an AP with more integrity to advisory philosophy.
16	Next Steps Coaching Visit Feb. 13, Feb. 27, 28 Continue with work we have started Analyze new ITBS results in March Modify achievement goals for next year as well as plan supporting staff development