Salt Lake City School District

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Salt Lake City School District

K-8 Schools Exploring A Choice for the Future
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Whos Involved?Hillside, Clayton, and Their
Feeders

• Beacon Heights
• Dilworth
• Highland Park
• Nibley Park
• Whittier
• Indian Hills (1/2 Hillside, ½ Clayton)

• Bonneville
• Emerson
• Hawthorne
• Lincoln
• Uintah

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What is a K-8 School?

• A school with a continuous grade span that begins
  with kindergarten or pre-K and ends after the 8th
  grade. David Hough
• Editor, Research in Middle Education

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Why is SLCSD Considering K-8?

• Current research on K-8 schools
• Consistent with Student Achievement Plan
• National move toward re-thinking middle grades
• Rebuilding Opportunity
• SLCSD enrollment data

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SLCSD Student Achievement Plan

• Choice Initiatives (Essential 6)
• Families and students have a variety of school
  or program choices including neighborhood
  schools, academies, magnets, and optional
  programs.

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SLCSD Data

• Over 5 years, SLCSD 7th grade enrollment is down
  7-13 compared to 6th grade.
• 7th 8th grade enrollment drops 2-3.
• 9th grade enrollment makes slight gains.
• District enrollment down 1 yearly.
• Choice options have been shown to attract and
  retain students.

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Transition Year Enrollments
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What Can a K-8 School Look Like?

• Some information from a survey of K-8 and Middle
  Schools, 2004.

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Structure of a K-8 School Day

• 5th grade most often in a self-contained
  classroom (similar to current settings)
• 6th grade mix of single classroom, uniform
  periods, and flexible block schedules
• K-8 schools can offer more options for 5th and
  6th graders depending on the design of the day
• Programs and Practices in K-8 Schools (2004)

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Structure of a K-8 School Day

• 7th and 8th grade 74 in uniform periods, 21
  in flexible block schedules
• Programs and Practices in K-8 Schools (2004)

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Facts about K-8 Schools

• Your school would keep your 6th graders to become
  the 7th grade class
• Those same kids would become the 8th graders next
  year
• Not necessarily many transfer students just
  neighborhood kids

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Facts about K-8 Schools

• 5th through 8th graders will
• Gradually add more teachers during the school day
• Gradually add more class taking options in their
  schedules

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Facts about K-8 Schools

• Benefits for kids and parents
• Long-term relationships with teachers
• Students stay closer to home
• Same school schedule as younger siblings
• Familiar building

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RAND Corporation (Largest Educational
Think-Tank in the US) Wonder Years Report

• Positive Findings
• Test scores slightly up for 13 yr. olds
• Achievement gap closing slightly
• Promising middle school practices available

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RAND Corporation Wonder Years Report

• Issues of Concern
• Mismatch between MS practices and philosophies
• Lack of common planning times
• Lack of advisory periods
• By middle school, U.S. student achievement lags
  behind other countries

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RAND Corporation Wonder Years report

• Six Recommendations Made
• Reconsider stand-alone middle schools to reduce
  transitions
• Offer interventions for lowest- performing
  students
• Adopt comprehensive disciplinary models focused
  on prevention

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RAND Corporation Wonder Years report

• Six Recommendations Made (cont.)
• Make use of proven professional development
  models for best practices at each level
• Offer parents information about teaching and
  learning goals
• Research programs that promote positive school
  climate and student well-being

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• What Journal Articles Report

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A Visible Trend

• Many Large districts are implementing K-8 grade
  configurations, including Cleveland, Denver,
  Phoenix, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee.
• Stated Reasons
• Enhance Academic Performance
• Improve Behavior
• Increase attendance
• K-8 Bunch, District Administration 2005.

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One Journal Summary

• Many school systems conducting their own
  research are finding students in grades 6, 7 and
  8 who attend K-8 schools are scoring higher than
  their counterparts in other grade-span schools as
  measured by standardized and state assessment
  exams.
• D. Hough, 2005

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• K-8 Schools
• Potential Advantages, Concerns Design Issues

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Potential Advantages of K-8 Schools

• Data shows that fewer transitions better
  student outcomes
• Early research indicators of higher student
  achievement
• Parental involvement remains higher
• K-8 schools can often better implement
• the true middle school philosophy
• Students well-known over a longer period

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Other Potential Advantages

• Facilitates teacher teaming and planning
• Advanced options for younger students
• Additional sports opportunities possible
• Cross-age tutoring
• Flexible scheduling for all students

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Parent Concerns When Considering K-8 Schools

• Social, emotional, academic differences
• Schedule options classes and building
• Difference between K-5 and 6-8 philosophy
• Middle grade students interacting with younger
  students
• K-8 preparation for high school
• Dont get to experience advanced activities

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Issues for K-8 Design Consideration

• Choices must be made in the structure of a K-8
  school considering
• Student differences at each level
• Organization of electives and required courses
• Advanced options for students
• Best practices at both elementary and middle
  school levels
• Building re-fitting needs

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Exploring K-8 Schools Strategies

• Involve all stakeholders
• Read grade configuration literature
• Research districts with the same structure
• Consider best fit with community values
• Thoughtful consideration

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New K-8 Website

• Website Address
• http//www.slc.k12.ut.us/schools/k8/
• Visit the site to learn more about K-8 schools,
  find articles for your team, and keep current on
  meetings and dates.

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• Questions Please fill out the questionnaire
  provided and return to team members.