Culture and Equity Study ALLISON OLSZEWSKI

Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) Total Number of Students WhiteBlackOther Hispanic 179, 04064%28%8% 67% 229 schools 212 countries 162 languages

School Information – Independence Elementary  Located in Winter Garden, Florida  Opened in August, 2015  Principal was hired in May  Asked to open new school after turning around a failing school  School Improvement Plan Goals:  MTSS and Common Planning

Staff Information- Independence Elementary Total NumberWhiteBlackHispanicOther Administrators250% 00 Teachers5075%15%5% Non instructional staff 1533%10%53%7%

Student Information- Independence Elementary Total Number of Students WhiteBlackHispanicOther 73956%5%29%10% ESE Free/Reduced Lunch 10%30%

Marginalized Groups  ESE  ESOL (Spanish and Portuguese)  Minority (Black and Asian)  Free/ Reduced Lunch

Achievement/ Performance Data Kindergarten: Overall Reading Low8% Low Average13% Average11% High Average31% High38% Kindergarten: Asian Reading Low14% Low Average29% Average0 High Average14% High43% Kindergarten: Black Reading Low0 Low Average0 Average0 High Average100% High0 Kindergarten: Hispanic Reading Low17% Low Average14% Average17% High Average36% High17% Kindergarten: White Reading Low4% Low Average12% Average10% High Average26% High48% Kindergarten Reading Data

Achievement/ Performance Data First Grade Reading Data First Grade: Overall Reading Low12% Low Average12% Average24% High Average25% High27% First Grade: Asian Reading Low0 Low Average67% Average0 High Average0 High33% First Grade: Black Reading Low25% Low Average0 Average0 High Average25% High50% First Grade: Hispanic Reading Low22% Low Average9% Average24% High Average20% High26% First Grade: White Reading Low6% Low Average12% Average27% High Average28% High27%

Achievement/ Performance Data Second Grade Reading Data Second Grade: Overall Reading Low9% Low Average7% Average15% High Average27% High43% Second Grade: Asian Reading Low0 Low Average0 Average0 High Average0 High100% Second Grade: Black Reading Low13% Low Average0 Average25% High Average25% High38% Second Grade: Hispanic Reading Low17% Low Average6% Average23% High Average26% High29% Second Grade: White Reading Low5% Low Average9% Average9% High Average28% High48%

Achievement/ Performance Data 3-5 Common Assessments: Pre-Test Average: 62% on target Benchmark 1: 76% on target 14% increase

Survey Results: Organizational Results Average Score: 4.62Average Score: 4.43

Survey Results: Curriculum/ Extra Curricular Programs Average Score: 3.95 Average Score: 4.38

Survey Results: Curriculum/ Extra Curricular Programs Average Score: 4.43Average Score: 4.43

Survey Results: Extra Curricular Activities Average Score: 4. 29Average Score: 4.40Average Score: 4.25

Survey Results: Professional Learning/ Development Average Score: 4.57

Best Practices for maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment (already in place) according to Staff  School newsletter sent home weekly  Positive comments are made daily to staff  Student and parent-centered activities like Fun-Run, conference nights, etc.  Proud Eagle (student of the week)  Common planning  Team Meetings  The school has open communication   All stakeholders on campus are treated with equal respect  Our campus environment is once of civility and cooperation  Strong leadership team  Volunteer opportunities are posted and ed  Different ideas and opinions are welcomed and respected  Frequent parent s home to communicate and keep everyone informed  Strong SAC  Involved PTO

Best Practices for maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment (already in place) according to Principal  The school has a code of civility  Establish norms with our stakeholders regarding meetings and activities that occur on campus  Be visible  Collaborate  Listen, learn, lead

Best Practices for equitable opportunities and participation (already in place) according to Staff  Tutoring  Students placed in classrooms with differentiated instruction  Clubs are offered to all students  Accommodations for students with specific needs  Gifted classes are offered  Common planning  Many resources  Intervention  Enrichment  Small group and Whole group instruction  Students work in collaborative groups  Our school embraces diversity and all students are accepted and appreciated, and also have an opportunity to participate  Programs and clubs are available to all students  All activities are set up to include all students  Teachers work together to help students to work together  PTO is very involved in organizing events

Best Practices for equitable opportunities and participation (already in place) according to Principal  Leader must roll out the opportunities and support the charge  Leader must create a positive and inclusive school environment  The school has many clubs that are reflective of our student population  Second Language parent group to assist with decision making

Best Practices for developing practices that motivate students to improve student achievement (already in place) according to Staff  MTSS interventions  Tutoring  Schoolwide incentives (school wide and classroom)  Provide activities that all students can participate in  All students participate in awards, programs, and celebrations  Weekly student recognition  Our media center offers a variety of materials from many cultures and countries  Enrichment clubs  Teachers know their students and have created a curriculum that includes a sense of cultural awareness  Assigning students who are new to the country a buddy who speaks the same language

Best Practices for developing practices that motivate students to improve student achievement (already in place) according to Principal  Incentive Program  Student Recognition Program  Using data to ensure all students are successful  Intervention groups to close the achievement gap  Second Language parent group to assist with decision making

Best Practices for professional development (already in place) according to Staff  MTSS Meetings/ Trainings  Multiple trainings  MAP data analysis  Training in i-ready and Lexia  ELL trainings  Professional development is offered weekly that relates to events/ activities  ESE trainings  All staff came back early for professional development

Best Practices for professional development (already in place) according to Principal  MTSS Training  Marzano Training  Ethics Training  Intervention Training  Data Meetings  Focus on ESOL students

Recommendations from Surveys ◦ A book study on cultural diversity ◦A training in Universal Design ◦Something to involve our Hispanic families since we have a large number of non-English speaking students and families ◦Conduct a student interest survey

Additional Recommendations and Comments  Professional Development in ESOL strategies (since that was the lowest ranked area on the survey)  Hire an additional Portuguese-speaking staff member  Continue data meetings and help teachers disaggregate data by subgroup  Plan a school culture night  This is a brand new school  We are trying to build a culture of inclusiveness  We still have not received all ordered curriculum  We still have not received all ordered supplemental resources