Valley Tech Student Enrollment

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The Use of Data in Developing a Holistic Learning
Environment
What gets measured gets done
October 29, 2003
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• The Blackstone Valley 13 communities steeped in
  a history of innovation, invention and business
  success

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Dual Education

• 850 students in Grades 9-12
• 15 Vocational Technical Programs
• All students complete

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15 Career Technical Programs
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We Believe

• All students can master complex academic and
  technical concepts.
• Schools must create an environment that
  encourages students to succeed.

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Our Goals

• Raise System Expectations
• Encourage Students to Take the Right Courses
• Change Classroom and Laboratory Practices
• Involve Parents, Employers and the Community
• Improve Student Assessment
• Increase Student Learning

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Identifying Student Needs
Grade 8

• Stanford Diagnostic Testing
• Collect IEP and 504 plans
• Transition meetings held at sending school
• Wilson Reading screening
• Follow-up Wilson screening at sending school
• Data processed and student schedules developed

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Identifying Student Needs

• Grade 9
• Stanford Diagnostic Testing
  Harrington-OShea Pre Post-MCAS
  Diagnostics Study Strategies
  self-assessment
• Grade 10
• Pre Post-MCAS Diagnostics
• Grade 11 12
• TestWiz analysis (scheduling and
  curricular revision)
• MCAS (retest)
• NAEP (every other year)

All data is available to faculty through the
computer network
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Class of 2003 Stanford Diagnostic Test Results
Blackstone Valley Tech reduced the number of
incoming students (class of 2003) below grade
level in reading from 60 to 39 in ten months.
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Class of 2003 Stanford Diagnostic Test Results
Blackstone Valley Tech reduced the number of
incoming students (class of 2003) below grade
level in math applications from 41 to 22 in ten
months.
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Percentage of Students Passing ELA - MCAS
Percent Passing
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Percentage of Students Passing Math - MCAS
Percent Passing
School Year
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MCAS Advanced/Proficient First Attempt
Percent Passing
43
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English Language Arts
Math
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Strategies for Success
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District Strategies for Success

• Increase Technology Reading/Math
  Lab Students/Staff accessibility to technology
• Staff Training Professional development Involv
  e everyone Mentoring program
• Increased time on task 193 school
  days Modified block scheduling Remediation/resou
  rce programs Cross-curricular initiatives

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Across-the-Curriculum Initiatives

• Reading Across the Curriculum
• Writing and Thinking Across the Curriculum
• Math Across the Curriculum
• Study Strategies Across the Curriculum
• Respect Across the Curriculum
• Portfolio Assessment
• Standards Based School Counseling
• School Based Health Center/NFL

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Steps to Integrating Across the Curriculum
Efforts

• Identify what you want to improve (baseline)
• Form multi-disciplined teams
• Create tools and develop curriculum
• Pilot
• Train staff
• School-wide implementation
• Evaluate (benchmark)

What gets measured gets done
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ELA and Reading
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Reading Across the Curriculum was supported by
the following facts

• Reading proficiency is essential to learning most
  subjects including the trades, sciences, and
  mathematics.
• The majority of BVTs incoming students are two
  or more grade levels behind in reading ability.
• All vocational and academic instructors assist
  students to become better readers.

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Writing Across the Curriculumwas guided by four
core beliefs

• Students must write frequently and for a variety
  of purposes.
• Students must consciously apply writing skills
  learned in English to every writing endeavor.
• Faculty buy-in is essential to any initiative
  calling for mass revision of teaching methods.
  Keep it simple! Make it user-friendly!
• Students need to be held accountable for their
  best writing efforts outside of English class.

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Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum
Specific Strategies

• Align Curriculum to the Mass. Frameworks
• Piloted R.A.C. in selected shops
• Asked all teachers to increase the amount
  of reading and writing
• Shared successful strategies and assignments
  with colleagues created toolbox
• Piloted W.A.C. using English dept. and
  selected shops
• Trained staff in Collins Writing Programs
• Provided teachers with time to collaborate
  English dept. became in-house experts

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Mathematics
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Strategies for Increased Student Achievement in
Mathematics

• Raise standards through curriculum alignment and
  assessment
• Increase math integration and a create a common
  focus by forming a Math Across the Curriculum
  team
• Create safety nets

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Mathematics Specific Strategies

• Align Courses and Curriculum to the Math
  Framework
• Departmental Final Exams for all courses
• Pre and Post Testing
• Create Interdisciplinary Strategy Packets
  (tools)
• Math Problem of the Month
• MCAS Math Camp
• Remedial Computer Math
• Graphic Calculators for all courses
• Open Response Problems for each course
• Increased use of math manipulatives

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Curriculum Map Algebra I / Geometry Topics /
GRADE 11
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Curriculum Map Algebra I / Geometry Topics /
GRADE 11
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Student Services Data Driven Initiatives
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The Role of the School Counseling Program

• In 1999 the BVT Leadership Team initiated
  multiple changes to move from a responsive or
  reactive mode to a proactive, engaged and
  measurement driven student support system.

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The American School Counselor Association has
created the National Model for School Counseling
Programs to connect school counseling with
current educational reform movements that
emphasize student achievement and success.
- (ASCA, 2003).
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Blackstone Valley Techs
Counseling Model
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Pilot and Refine Service Delivery
Initiatives

• Personal Social Strand
• Respect Across the Curriculum
• Depression Screening
• Integrated lessons with Health Department
• Peer Mediation
• Activities Fair
• Staff In-services
• School Based Health Center

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Pilot and Refine Service Delivery
Initiatives

• Career Strand
• 30 Career Guidance Classes grades 9-12
• Job Shadowing
• Job Internships
• Work/Study
• Cooperative Education
• Postsecondary Planning Workshops

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Pilot and Refine Service Delivery
Initiatives

• Academic Strand
• Study Strategies Initiative
• Student Support Team
• Groups for MCAS re-takers
• Counseling for academic failures
• 4 year academic plans
• Weekly schedule building meetings with
  Assistant Principal

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36 Million Building Expansionand Rejuvenation
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For Information on the workshops in Reading,
Writing, Math, Career Guidance to be offered
March 16 17, 2003 at Blackstone Valley Tech
contact Rich Brennan John G. Thomas
508-529-7758 x 3041 jthomas_at_valleytech.k12.ma.us