Middle School Task Force Licensure & Staffing Chair: Greg Lawrence Co-Chair: Jeanette Brethour Angie Gunion Nancy Sims-West

“The most important factor affecting student learning is the teacher.” - Robert Marzano

IF WE CONTINUE WITH A K-6 AND 7- 8 MODEL, WE WILL NEED TO ADD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. This would require boundary changes and a shift in staffing assignments at the elementary level.

IF we move to a 6-8 Middle School model, can we do that with our current staff?

There are many different certifications/endorsements that would allow a teacher to teach middle school.

Middle School Teacher Requirements K-6 Endorsement: Can teach any subject up through the 6 th grade K-9 Endorsement: Can teach any middle level assignment through 9 th grade ELEMENTARY ENDORSEMENTS

Middle School Teacher Requirements Subject Endorsement: Can teach that subject at the middle school level Example: A math endorsement would allow teacher to teach any math class through grade 8 MIDDLE LEVEL ENDORSEMENTS

Middle School Teacher Requirements 7-12 or 6-12 Endorsement: Can teach the subject on the license down to and including 6 th grade A secondary science endorsement has a few more parameters, depending on the specific area of science study SECONDARY ENDORSEMENTS

If a 6-8 middle school model is implemented, what would this mean for Shawnee Mission teachers?

Current Licensure Elementary Endorsements Currently 88 6 th grade teachers in SMSD 58 have a K-9 endorsement 28 have a K-6 endorsement

Current Licensure Middle Level Endorsements 20 6 th grade teachers have a middle level content- area endorsement 9 are certified in one content area for middle school 5 are certified in two content areas for middle school 6 have another middle school certification (such as art, special education)

Current 6 th grade teachers could meet the demand of a middle school model th grade teachers Average of students per class Can accommodate 2,200-2,640 sixth graders - Expecting approximately 2,000 6 th grade students any given year

Licensure Enhancement Teachers could choose to add a middle school endorsement in a specific content area by taking a praxis exam:  $120 for the test  $20 for a study guide (optional)  $60 to update the teaching license with Kansas

Other staffing considerations if we decide a 6-8 Model is best for our students:

What would we want a 6 through 8 middle school to include that might affect staffing?

6 th Grade Separate PE classes Separate elective classes to give the opportunity to try many different things 6 or 9-week courses rather than semester Sports Clubs

#1 Consideration: What is best for our students?