City Council Hearing 9.27.

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Middle Grades Education

DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson
District of Columbia Public Schools | 1200 First Street, NE | Washington, DC 20002 | T 202.442.5885 | F 202.442.5026 | dcps.dc.gov

Middle Grades Education

Agenda
Why do middle grades matter so much?

How is DCPS doing in middle grades?

What is DCPS doing to improve middle grades? Whats next?

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

Middle Grades Education

Three Goals of Middle Grades Education

1. Developing Academic Literacy 2. Meeting Socio-Emotional Needs 3. Exploring Interests & Developing Passions
Because few students make big gains from 8th to 10th grade, we must deliver 9th graders who are ready for HS

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

Middle Grades Education

Three Goals of Middle Grades Education

2. Meeting Socio-Emotional Needs
28.2% of 8th graders have had sexual intercourse 10% of 8th graders have tried to kill themselves 18.4% of 6th graders have missed school in the past 12 months because they felt unsafe at school or on their way to/from school 13.9% of middle grades students have been afraid of being beaten up at school in the past 12 months 14.2% of middle grades students have had a drink of alcohol (more than a few sips) in the past 30 days 15% of middle grades students were in a gang or crew in the past 12 months
-- 2010 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey
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Middle Grades Education

Three Goals of Middle Grades Education

3. Exploring Interests & Developing Passions

A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering on cold iron.
-- Horace Mann

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

Middle Grades Education

Agenda
Why do middle grades matter so much?

How is DCPS doing in middle grades?

What is DCPS doing to improve middle grades? Whats next?

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

Middle Grades Education

Weve come a long way since 2007 . . .

55%

Reading % Proficient, by Grade

Math % Proficient, by Grade

51%

50% 46% 45% 44% 44% 43% 41% 40%

49%
47%
Gr. 3

45%

Gr. 6

43% 42%
40% 38%

40%

Gr. 4

35%

Gr. 5 Gr. 10

Gr. 4 Gr. 7
Gr. 8

30%

25%

Gr. 3 Gr. 6 Gr. 10 Gr. 5 Gr. 8 Gr. 7

20%
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

Middle Grades Education

. . . yet there is much work to do

Failure Rate for 9th Algebra English I Grade Core Courses I

First-Timers Repeaters 34% 45% 24% 38%

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

Middle Grades Education

. . . yet there is much work to do

Percent of Students Promoted to Next Grade Level, 2007-08 to 2008-09
100%
95% 94% 95% 95% 96% 95% 95% 91% 93% 82%

80%
70% 59%

Promotion Rate

60%

40%

Only 59% Promote

20%

0%

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

11th

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

Middle Grades Education

Agenda
Why do middle grades matter so much?

How is DCPS doing in middle grades?

What is DCPS doing to improve middle grades? Whats next?

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

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Middle Grades Education

What is DCPS doing to improve middle grades education?

Great People
School Leaders Teachers

Great Connections
Hopes & Dreams Ward Plans

Great Schools
Academic Plan Supports & Interventions

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

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Middle Grades Education

What is DCPS doing to improve middle grades education?

Hart Middle School

Great People
School Leaders Teachers

Great Connections
Hopes & Dreams Ward Plans

Replaced principal Great Formed partnerships

Schools

2011 DC CAS Math +13% ELA +8%

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

Academic staff Reconstituted Plan Focused on culture Supports & Interventions

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Middle Grades Education

What is DCPS doing to improve middle grades education?

Great People
School Leaders Teachers

Great Connections
Hopes & Dreams Ward Plans

Great Schools
Academic Plan Supports & Interventions

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

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Middle Grades Education

What is DCPS doing to improve middle grades education?

Great People
School Leaders Teachers

Great Connections
Hopes & Dreams Ward Plans

Great Schools
Academic Plan Supports & Interventions

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

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Middle Grades Education

What is DCPS doing to improve middle grades education?

Great Connections
Hopes & Dreams Ward Plans

Great People
School Leaders Teachers

Great Schools
Academic Plan Supports & Interventions

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

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Middle Grades Education

What is DCPS doing to improve middle grades education?

Great People
School Leaders Teachers

Great Connections
Hopes & Dreams Ward Plans

Great Schools
Academic Plan Supports & Interventions

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

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Middle Grades Education

What is DCPS doing to improve middle grades education?

Great Schools Academic Plan Supports & Interventions

Great Great I can be nothing but optimistic for the Connections People chances of kids in this city. The District is not only ahead of many cities, but the Hopes & School quality of the work was really quite good. Dreams Leaders We were impressed.
-- Michael Casserly, executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools, on the Academic Plan, Washington Examiner (9/18/11)

Ward Plans

Teachers

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

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Middle Grades Education

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Rollout Plan

2011-2012 Focus: Reading K-12 ELA 6-12 LIT-R K-2 Math

2012-2013 Focus: Math 3-12 Math

2013-2014 Focus: Writing

2014 2015 P.A.R.C.C. ASSESSMENT

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Middle Grades Education

DCPS Frameworks

We must do for PLAN and INCREASE EFFECTIVENESS what we did for TEACH
District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

Academic Plan SY1112: Focusing all 3 parts of the TLF on improving literacy

Middle Grades Education

Unit Overviews Scope and Sequence

120 Min Literacy Block CCSS Literacy Instruction

Common Core SS

Learning Cycles

Data Cycles

Paced Interims
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Middle Grades Education

What is DCPS doing to improve middle grades education?

Great Schools Academic Plan Supports & Interventions

Whole School: Full Service Schools Great Great (FSS), Advisory, Early Warning Systems, Connections People Afterschool Programs

Hopes & School Student-Level: ReadingLeaders & Math Dreams Interventions Ward Plans Teachers
Transitions: IGP, High School Fair, Common Application
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District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

Middle Grades Education

1) Full Service Schools (FSS) works when it is implemented with fidelity

Whole school restructuring model for 12 middle schools Collection of best practices, including instructional planning, collaboration, intervention, and wraparound care DCPS is examining which components are most effective
District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

Results with high-fidelity implementation Math proficiency ELA proficiency Behavior Incidents Suspensions
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Middle Grades Education

2) Advisory provides a caring adult and dedicated time to non-academic support

90% of ECs 40% of Middle Schools Students explore interests, careers, colleges
Small groups with caring adults
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Middle Grades Education

3) Early Warning Systems pilots will lead to a district wide Response-to-Intervention program

Browne EC SY 10-11 Attendance Behavior ELA Math

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

Reduction in # of off-track students 85% 38% 9% 18%

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Middle Grades Education

4) Afterschool Programs provide additional support in academics, enrichment and wellness

32 of 34 middle grades schools Academic Power Hour extends the day

Led by DCPS & Community-Based Organizations
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Middle Grades Education

5) Research-based interventions target students struggling in reading and math

Intervention
Read 180 Just Words Apangea

% of Schools Using the Intervention

Middle 100% 47% 67% EC 40% 25% 40%

Oyster-Adams SY 10-11 Read 180 Results % of students making 2+ years of growth 83% % of students scoring proficient on DC CAS 50%
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Middle Grades Education

6) Individual Graduation Portfolios (IGP) support and empower middle grade students through transitions

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

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Middle Grades Education

6) Individual Graduation Portfolios (IGP) support and empower middle grade students through transitions

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

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Middle Grades Education

7) High School Fair & Common Application will increase student choice and equitable access to specialty schools
High School Fair @ Eastern HS: November 19, 2011
Common Application Opens: November 19, 2011 Common Application Closes: January 6, 2012 Selections Announced: March 26, 2012 (estimated)
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Middle Grades Education

What is DCPS doing NEXT to improve middle grades education?

Scope and Sequence for 6-8 grade science, social studies, world languages, Great art, Great and PE music

Great Schools Academic Plan Supports & Interventions

Connections

People

Hopes & School Dreams Leaders IB programs at Deal, Hart, Eliot-Hine Ward Plans Teachers
More support for Advisory and Math intervention

Pre-AP professional development

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

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Middle Grades Education

Agenda
Why do middle grades matter so much?

How is DCPS doing in middle grades?

What is DCPS doing to improve middle grades? Whats next?

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

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Middle Grades Education

We have ensured every 6-8 grade student has access to:

Art, Music & PE Core Subjects

Teachers using the same Scope and Sequence, Unit Overviews, and Interim Assessments
Teachers supported through the same professional development
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Middle Grades Education

We WANT every 6-8 grade student to have access to:

Credit-bearing Algebra I Credit-bearing World Language Appropriate interventions

Robust extracurricular and athletics programs

Teachers who can collaborate with a team to meet students needs
District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011 33

Middle Grades Education

We need to conduct a thoughtful analysis and then have some difficult conversations
Whats working? Co-location @ CHEC Middle School @ Jefferson Academy Education Campus @ Francis-Stevens

What are our options?

Bigger schools More resources
District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

Creative problem-solving & community partnerships

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Middle Grades Education

Questions

District of Columbia Public Schools | September 27, 2011

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