The Rockwood School District Visit

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The Rockwood School District Visit

• Reading Intervention Program
• Tuesday, October 25, 2005

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Visiting Team to Rockwood, MO

• Jeffrey Smith, Assistant Superintendent for
  Academic Services
• DeVeria Gore, Reading Coordinator
• Karen Thompson, Director of Curriculum and Staff
  Development
• Angelina Hopkins, Minority Achievement Supervisor
• Liz Beckhouse, Elementary School Principal
• Byron Bishop, Middle School Principal
• Lynda Byrd-Poller, Middle School Principal

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Purpose of Visit

• To gain an understanding of the Rockwood School
  District Reading Intervention Program
• To learn about strategies and/or organizational
  components used by Rockwood that may be used to
  augment the WJCC Reading Program

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Academic Services Work Agenda

• Programmatic Focus for the visit
• What is the framework for the program?
• What are the major components?
• How are students identified?
• What diagnostic instruments are used?
• How much time is devoted to reading intervention
  strategies?

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Academic Services Work Agenda

• Programmatic Focus for the visit
• Who provides the interventions?
• What staff development training has been
  provided?
• How often do you assess students and what
  instruments do you use?
• How are parents involved in the reading
  intervention program?

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Academic Services Work Agenda

• Human Resources Focus for the visit
• What human resources were added to implement the
  Rockwood Program?
• What is the ratio of staff students at each
  level?
• Were job descriptions for any existing staff
  revised?
• What staff development/training was done prior to
  and following initial implementation?

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Academic Services Work Agenda

• Budget Focus for the visit
• What is the local districts financial
  commitment?
• Were additional funds budgeted for the Reading
  Intervention Program?
• What state/federal funding is utilized in the
  Reading Intervention program?

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Itinerary Tuesday, October 25, 2005

• 745 830 a.m.-- Elementary Overview Tamara
  Rhomberg, Coordinator of K-5 Reading Intervention
• 900 1100 Classroom Observations, Stage 1,
  Stage 2, Stage 3 classrooms at Kellison
  Elementary School
• 1130 100 p.m. -- Travel and Working Lunch
  with Rockwood administrators
• 100 145 p.m. --Secondary Overview Kathy
  Ryan, Coordinator of K-12 Language Arts and
  Secondary Reading Intervention

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Itinerary Tuesday, October 25, 2005

• 200 230 p.m. Classroom Observation at
  Rockwood South Middle School
• 200- 300 p.m. Meeting of WJCC Supervisor of
  Minority Achievement with Rockwood Director of
  Student Achievement
• 245 630 p.m. Team work session

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School District Profiles

• County population
• Rockwood 111,000
• WJCC 66,000
• Tax Base
• Missouri school divisions are fiscally
  independent Schools may levy taxes directly
• School population
• Rockwood 21,990
• WJCC 9,820

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School District Profiles

• Subgroup populations
• Rockwood (2003 data from School Matters. com)
• Caucasian 84
• African American 12
• Low SES 13
• WJCC
• Caucasian 71.3
• African American 21.5
• Other 7.2
• Low SES 21.3

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School District Academic Indicators

• Reading Achievement Grade 3
• Communication Arts- Rockwood (Missouri Assessment
  Program)
• 57 Proficient or AdvancedRockwood
• 35.1 Proficient or AdvancedState of Missouri
• Reading WJCC (Standards of Learning)
• 74(3rd) and 89 (5th) Pass and Pass Advanced
  WJCC
• 77 and 85 Pass and Pass Advanced State of
  Virginia

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School District Academic Indicators

• Reading Achievement Grade 7/8
• Communication Arts- Rockwood, Grade 7
• 52 Proficient or AdvancedRockwood
• 32.5 Proficient or AdvancedState of Missouri
• Reading WJCC, Grade 8
• 80 Pass and Pass Advanced WJCC
• 72 Pass and Pass Advanced State of Virginia

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School District Academic Indicators

• Reading Achievement Grade 11
• Communication Arts- Rockwood, Grade 11
• 37 Proficient or AdvancedRockwood
• 22.9 Proficient or AdvancedState of Missouri
• Reading WJCC, Grade 11
• 91 Pass or Pass Advanced -- WJCC
• 89 Pass or Pass Advanced State of Virginia

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School District Academic Indicators

• SAT Scores
• Rockwood (2004) 591 Verbal, 593 Math
• Missouri (2004) 587 Verbal, 585 Math
• WJCC (2005) 526 Verbal, 520 Math
• Virginia (2005) 516 Verbal, 514 Math
• National (2004) 508 Verbal, 520 Math
• National Board Certified Teachers
• Rockwood 5
• WJCC 11

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Programmatic Focus- Elementary

• Reading Intervention Framework--Rockwood
• Stage 1
• Students at or below 10th percentile
• Ratio of 12 (Kg. and 1st) and 16 (2nd-5th)
• Taught by certified Reading Specialists and
  Reading Intervention Teachers
• 30 (Grades K-1) to 60 minutes (Grades 2-5)
  supplemental instruction daily

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Programmatic Focus- Elementary

• Reading Intervention Framework-Rockwood
• Stage 2
• Students in11th to 35th percentile
• Ratio of 16
• Taught by certified Reading Specialist
• Thirty minute supplemental instruction daily

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Programmatic Focus- Elementary

• Reading Intervention Framework-Rockwood
• Stage 3
• Students in the 35th to 49th percentile
• Ratio of 16
• Taught by certified Reading Specialist or
  certified elementary teacher with reading
  background
• Thirty minute supplemental instruction 4-5 days
  per week

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Programmatic Focus- Elementary

• Reading Intervention Framework WJCC
• 1st Grade Reading Recovery
• Students in bottom quartile
• 11 ratio
• Taught by certified Reading Recovery teachers
• 30 minutes supplemental instruction daily

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Programmatic Focus- Elementary

• Reading Intervention Framework WJCC
• 1st Grade Literacy Groups
• Students in bottom two quartiles (preference
  given to lowest quartile)
• 16 ratio
• Taught by certified Reading Recovery teachers
• 30 minutes supplemental instruction daily

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Programmatic Focus- Elementary

• Reading Intervention Framework WJCC
• Grades 2-5
• Individual or small group intervention
• Ratios of 11 to 16
• Taught by certified Reading Specialist or Student
  Support Teacher (trained in Primary Literacy)
• Scheduled time frames vary

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Programmatic Focus- Elementary

• Diagnostic Instruments K-1
• Rockwood
• Rockwood Comprehension Test
• Alphabet recognition
• Marie Clays Dictated Sentences
• Phonemic Awareness Measures
• WJCC
• Marie Clay Survey (complete battery) (Grades K-1)
  
• Wright Group Literacy Assessments (Grades K-1)
• Read and Retells

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Programmatic Focus- Elementary

• Diagnostic Instruments 2-5
• Rockwood
• Stanford 10
• Teacher referral
• STAR test
• Gates-MacGinitie
• WJCC
• Wright Group Assessments (Grade 2)
• Read and Retells
• WJCC Literacy Assessments (Grades 3-5)
• Cloze Tests

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Programmatic Focus- Elementary

• Reading Intervention Curriculum and Instructional
  Delivery
• Rockwood
• Balanced Literacy focused on reading and writing
  interventions
• Curriculum based on modified Reading Recovery
• Strategy-driven
• WJCC
• Balanced Literacy focused on reading and writing
  Interventions
• Reading Recovery (1st grade)
• Strategy-driven

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Programmatic Focus- Elementary

• Accountability
• Rockwood
• Quarterly Benchmark Test
• State Assessments
• AYP Results
• WJCC
• WJCC Literacy Tests every nine weeks
• State Assessments
• AYP Results

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Programmatic Focus- Elementary

• Staff Development
• Rockwood
• All Elementary Reading Intervention Teachers are
  trained on the instructional frameworks which
  were developed for each stage
• Monthly staff development for elementary Reading
  Intervention teachers during contract day

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Programmatic Focus- Elementary

• Staff Development
• WJCC
• Reading Recovery training
• Primary Literacy training
• All Student Support Staff
• Reading Specialists who are not formally trained
  in Reading Recovery
• Selected classroom teachers (1st and 2nd grade,
  Special Education)

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Programmatic Focus- Middle School

• Target populations
• Rockwood
• Qualifiers Students in 1st-25th percentile
• At Risk Students in 26th 42nd percentile
• WJCC
• At Risk Students failing the Reading SOL (less
  than a score of 400) and students below grade
  level

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Programmatic Focus- Middle School

• Identification Criteria
• Rockwood
• DRP
• Other standardized measures (including STAR)
• Qualifiers are mandated by School Board to take
  the Reading Intervention class
• At risk students are enrolled based on DRP as
  space allows
• WJCC
• STAR
• Standardized test measures
• Teachers recommendation
• Grades

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Programmatic Focus- Middle School

• Staffing
• Rockwood
• Language Arts Teachers
• Ratio 115
• Two English teachers per team
• Additional 18 FTEs were hired for secondary
  Reading Intervention
• WJCC
• One Reading Specialist per middle school
• One SOL Support Teacher per middle school
• Teacher student ratios vary

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Programmatic Focus- Middle School

• Curriculum and Instructional Delivery
• Rockwood Intervention Class
• Focuses on reading and writing
• Scheduled as a students English class
• Ratio 115 in that class
• Delivered by Language Arts teachers
• Regular Language Arts class has a 90 minute block
  daily

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Programmatic Focus- Middle School

• Curriculum and Instructional Delivery
• WJCC
• Focuses on reading and writing
• Reading Specialists provide intervention on the
  Wheel or through pull-out sessions
• Regular Language Arts Class has a 45 50 minute
  block daily
• During testing windows, most Reading Specialists
  are not available for direct instruction

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Programmatic Focus- Middle School

• Assessments
• Rockwood
• DRP August and February
• STAR September, December and May
• WJCC
• Standardized test measures
• STAR beginning and end of year

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Programmatic Focus- Middle School

• Staff Development
• Rockwood
• Offered monthly
• Marzano strategies
• Conferencing during SSR
• WJCC
• CARS (Creating Active Readers)
• Reading Workshop
• Marzano strategies
• Integrating Literacy and Technology in the
  Classroom

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Programmatic Focus- High School

• Rockwood
• Reading Intervention in 9th and 10th grades only
  (Missouri state testing is not a factor for
  graduation)
• At risk students are scheduled for a double block
  of English and receive one English and one
  elective credit
• Classes are team-taught by two English teachers
  (225)
• Staff development scheduled three times per year

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Programmatic Focus- High School

• WJCC
• One Reading Specialist half-time at each high
  school
• Present course (Lifetime Literacy) focused on
  seniors at risk for not graduating
• Class scheduled for one block at each high school
• Focus on reading and writing strategies

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Human Resources Focus

• Staffing-- Rockwood
• Elementary
• Additional Reading Intervention staff hired for
  every school
• Staff assigned annually based on need
• Middle School- English class with 115 ratio
• High School Team taught class for two blocks
  with ratio of 225
• 18 additional FTE hired for secondary program
  (translated for student population 8 for WJCC)

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Human Resource Focus

• Staffing-WJCC
• Elementary
• One Reading Specialist per building (who also
  handles testing)
• Two Reading Recovery teachers per building who
  serve 1st grade only
• One or two Student Support teachers per building
  who serve K-5

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Human Resource Focus

• Staffing - WJCC
• Secondary
• Middle Schoolone Reading Specialist and one SOL
  Support teacher per building
• High School ½ time Reading Specialist per
  building

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Budget Focus

• Rockwood
• 2 million cost for elementary program
• 457,000 offset by Title I funds
• 18 FTE hired for secondary program -- 841,500
  plus benefits (based on average salary of 46,753
  in 04-05)

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Budget Focus

• WJCC
• Additional budget needs will be identified during
  the future planning process

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2005-2006 Future Work Agenda Reading Renewal

• Propose full-time position for Reading
  Coordinator
• Propose releasing Reading Specialists from
  testing responsibilities
• Review and redefine the role of present Reading
  Specialists to include more direct instruction to
  students

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2005-2006 Future Work Agenda Reading Renewal

• Define 2006-2007 role of Student Support
  teachers/ SOL Resource teachers
• Investigate Phonological Awareness Literacy
  Screening (PALS)
• Grades 6-12 English Textbook Adoption

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2005-2006 Future Work Agenda Reading Renewal

• Establish 90 minute block for literacy
  instruction
• Middle School Scheduling Committee will
  investigate revisions to schedule
• To accommodate ILA block and reading intervention
• To provide reading support for identified
  students

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2006-2007 Future Work Agenda Reading Renewal

• Release Reading Coordinator from all
  responsibilities other than Reading/Language Arts
• Release Reading Specialists from testing
  responsibilities

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2006-2007 Future Work Agenda Elements of
Reading Renewal Plan

• Establish framework for Reading Intervention
• Determine levels of intervention (i.e. Stages 1,2
  and 3)
• Develop intervention-level curriculum frameworks
• Identify and select additional diagnostic
  instrument(s) to be used division-wide

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2006-2007 Future Work Agenda Elements of
Reading Renewal Plan

• Define criteria for enrollment and exit from
  Reading Intervention Program. (i.e. Stage 1,
  Stage 2, Stage 3)
• Establish procedures to monitor reading
  intervention
• Continue development of strategy-based literacy
  staff development plan
• Determine ongoing assessments to monitor student
  progress

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2006-2007 Future Work Agenda Elements of
Reading Renewal Plan

• Examine the equitable distribution of human
  resources (i.e. Number of Reading Intervention
  staff per building)
• Identify additional Reading staff development as
  part of Reading Intervention plan
• Utilize benchmark tests when funded

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Additional Considerations for Next Steps

• Consider the impact of core class size
• Rockwood (official enrollment 9/04)
• K-5 121
• 6-8 1 23
• 9-12 1 22
• WJCC (Staffing guidelines)
• K-2 1 20
• 3-12 1 25
• Algebra I and English 9 120

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Literacy Instruction Beyond the School Day

• Use latest reading achievement data to design a
  summer school reading program
• In collaboration with Minority Achievement
  Supervisor, develop framework for After School
  Intervention program

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Summary of the Work Ahead

• Review our Reading Intervention
• Focus
• Organization
• Intensity
• Resources
• Its not about the instruction but the
  structures and the levels of intervention beyond
  first grade.

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Building on the Strengths!
Reading Renewal