Academic Achievement:

1
Academic Achievement
Community Engagement Meeting

• Grade Level Configurations

Joylynn Wilson, Superintendent Scott Hafertepe,
Chief Financial Officer Dr. Judy Sclair, Asst.
Superintendent Human Resources Dr. Chauna
Williams, Asst. Superintendent Curr.
Instr. Karl Scheidt, Director of
Operations September 9 and 13, 2008
2
Introduction

• Immediate academic needs
• Pathway II
• Grade level configurations

3
Themes from CES I

• EFFECTIVE (ALL students)
• CHALLENGING (rigorous across ALL levels)
• ACCOUNTABLE (ALL stakeholders)
• DESIRABLE ( consensus)
• GROUNDED IN EQUITY( access opportunity)
• RESEARCH BASED (proven successful)

4
Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP)

• Approved by SDUC Board of Education and the
  Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
  (DESE)
• Five Overarching Goals
• Academic Achievement
• Highly Qualified Staff
• Facilities, Support, and Instructional
  Resources
• Parent and Community Involvement
• Governance and Administration

5
Pathway IIDistrict-Wide Reform Pre K - 12

• Alternative Grade Range
• Developmental and Emotional Support
• Rigor Best Practices
• Appropriate Course Offerings
• Increased AP Honors Offerings
• College Prep / Career
• Student Centered
• Experiences /Socialization
• Project Based Learning
• Equity in Access and Opportunity

6
Pathway IIVerbatim Responses

• Best possibility for long-term improvement
  results
• System wide accountability administration and
  parents
• Make our students ready for the world
• Obvious that this path produces what community
  has been involved with at previous forums and
  making statements in favor ofcommunity wants
  improvement Pathway 2 is improvement.
• Our kids will be able to compete not only locally
  but nationally in the global market
• Empower the school district to make necessary
  changes for making U. City Schools the
  destination of choice
• Financial stability for District
• Having high academic standards for everyone

7
The Imperatives

• Academic Achievement
• Address the Various Learning Styles of Students,
  Technology, Instructional Support,
• Individualized Learning Plans, Libraries, Stagger
  Start Times, Learning Communities,
• Data used to Drive Instruction, Essential Nine
• Family Community Involvement
• Home Visits, Parent Academies, Business
  Partnerships, Parent Liaison,
• Family/Community voice at all levels on all
  Committees, Parent
• Contracts, Schools more Receptive, Increased
  Visibility
• Finances
• Transportation Costs, Staffing, Savings vs.
  Increased Expenditures, Construction
• Costs, Salaries, Benefits, Materials and
  Instructional Resources
• Facilities
• Safe, Conducive for 21st Century Instruction,
  Preventive Maintenance,
• Infrastructure, Labs

8
Configuration Considerations

• Based on District/Community needs
• Number of students (district/buildings)
• Transportation and other financial cost factors
• Socioeconomic background of the student
  population and need
• Effects on other schools
• Number of transitions for affected students
• Programmatic offerings
• School building design and
• Effects on parent involvement.

9
Early Childhood ConfigurationPre-K Only (Current)

• Benefits
• Differentiated Instruction
• Learning through experiences
• Peer models for students receiving Special
  Education or Title I services

• Drawbacks
• Transportation
• Half day setting for students special needs
• Lack of variations across disciplines
• Lack of opportunity for cross grade collaboration
• Limited interaction with parentsStaff contingent
  on funding sources

10
Elementary ConfigurationKindergarten through
Sixth Grade (current)

• Benefits
• Neighborhood schools
• Older students become role models for younger
  students
• Reduction in elementary transition

• Drawbacks
• Middle school transition later
• Limited time for teacher collaboration
• Limited access to specialists (art, music, PE)
• Lack of departmentalization due to staffing

11
Early Childhood Configuration Pre-K-Kindergarten
Pre-Kindergarten through First Grade

• Drawbacks
• Transportation costs
• Early transitions

• Benefits
• Variations across disciplines
• Opportunity for cross grade collaboration
• Increased interaction with parents
• Increased funding sources
• Program continuity
• Full-day Pre-K
• Possible feeder for elementary sites
• Peer models
• Potential for flexible schedule
• Provided for Pre-K

12
Elementary ConfigurationFirst Grade through
Fifth Grade or Second Grade through Fifth Grade

• Benefits
• Program consolidation
• Extended Pre-K 1 setting
• Cross grade buddy possibilities
• Comprehensive MAP preparation
• Possibility for congruent school wide programming
• Teacher cross grade collaboration
• Pre-K / Kindergarten feeder school

• Drawbacks
• More grade level sections
• Transportation Costs
• Before and after Transitions

13
Middle School ConfigurationSixth Grade-Eighth
Grade

• Benefits
• Extended middle school experience
• Opportunity for course design that Leads to
  education beyond high school
• Focus on academics, social, and emotional needs
• Advisory period
• Transition to high school

• Drawbacks
• Students are not self-contained
• Student maturity
• Perceptions about middle school

14
Current ConfigurationPre-K K-6 7-8 9-12
Pre-K?60 Pre-K Students
PK60 4-6 Pre-School Classes of 15 each
Kdg.-6th ?1,730 Students Six Elementary
Buildings
Kdg.263 First242 Second249 Third237 Fourt
h233 Fifth268 Sixth243
7th-8th ?442 Students
Seventh197 Eighth245
9-12?1,039 Students
Ninth334 Tenth282 Eleventh243 Twelfth180
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Configuration 1Pre-K-1 2-5 6-8 9-12
Pre- K-1st ?Approximately 550-600 Students
Pre-K60 4-6 Pre-School Classes of 15 each Kdg.
263 First263
2nd-5th ?Two Buildings Approximately 475-500
Students Three Buildings Approximately 316 333
Students
Second242 Third249 Fourth237 Fifth233
6th-8th ?Approximately 675-725 Students
Sixth268 Seventh243 Eighth197
9-12?Approximately 1,100 Students
Ninth245 Tenth334 Eleventh282 Twelfth243
16
Configuration 2Pre-K-1 2-6 7-8 9-12
Pre-K-1st ?Approximately 550-600 Students
PK60 4-6 Pre-School Classes of 15 each Kdg.
263 First263
2nd-6th ?Two Buildings Approximately 600-625
Students Three Buildings Approximately 400 562
Students
Second242 Third249 Fourth237 Fifth233
Sixth268
7th-8th ?Approximately 675-725 Students
Seventh243 Eighth197
9-12?Approximately 1,100 Students
Ninth245 Tenth334 Eleventh282 Twelfth243
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Configuration 3Pre-K-K 1-5 6-8 9-12
Pre-K-K ?Approximately 325-350 Students
PK60 4-6 Pre-School Classes of 15 each Kdg. 263
1st-5th ?Two Buildings Approximately 600-625
Students Three Buildings Approximately 360-416
Students
First263 Second242 Third249
Fourth237 Fifth233
6th-8th ?Approximately 675-725 Students
Sixth268 Seventh243 Eighth197
9-12?Approximately 1,100 Students
Ninth245 Tenth334 Eleventh282 Twelfth243
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Considerations / Imperatives

• Enrollment (district/buildings)
• Transportation and other financial cost factors
• Economic background of the student population and
  need
• Effects on other schools
• Number of building changes for affected students
• Programmatic offerings
• School building design and
• Effects on parent involvement

19
Summary

• What configuration outlined in the presentation
  do you think best meets the needs of our
  students?
• List your reasons for selecting this grade
  configuration. How will it benefit students?
• What concerns need to be addressed in order to
  successfully implement this grade configuration?

20
Like District Comparisons

• Please find on your tables comparisons from
  surrounding school districts with similar
  enrollment or configuration options.
• Kirkwood School District R-VII
• Jennings School District
• Lindbergh School District
• Ladue School District
• Clayton School District

21
Field Trips

• SEPTEMBER 22, 2008
• Early Childhood MRH Early Childhood Ctr.
  
• Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District
• Elementary Conway Elementary
• Ladue School District
• Middle Hazelwood North Middle School
  
• Hazelwood School District
• SEPTEMBER 24, 2008
• High School Kirkwood High School
  
• Kirkwood School District R-VII
• Buses leave McNair Admin. Bldg. at 600 p.m.
  sharp
• Buses return McNair Admin Bldg. approx. 815 p.m.
  830 p.m.
• Please sign up for one visit due to space
  availability
•