Balliet School Springfield, MA Pathways to Improved Student Performance Conference 2002

Improvement Initiatives Data Interpretation School Structure Community and Parent Involvement

Data Interpretation Staff analyzes results of all tests on a continual basis National / state District School – Wide

NATIONAL / STATE TESTING ITBS ( prior to school year 2002 ) MCAS (Grades 3-5) OLSAT 8 Stanford 10 ( starting school year 2002 )

DISTRICT TESTING DRA ( Developmental Reading Assessment ) DRI ( Diagnostic Reading Inventory ) Basal Reading Tests

SCHOOL TESTING STAR Reading Test AR Testing Cornerstone Program ( Grades 3-5 ) Woodcock Reading ( Individual Students ) Key Math ( Individual Students ) Slosson Oral Reading Test ( Individual Students )

Results of Testing Ability grouping in language arts and math On-going assessment of all students to accommodate individual needs Remedial instruction Advanced academic instruction

School Structure Population High academic emphasis Classroom organization Student Teacher Assistant Team (STAT) Support staff O.A.S.I.S. Room Inclusion Teaching

Population Small students Urban 85% poverty 72% minority 19% mobility Racial Distribution 1% Asian 41% Black 31% Hispanic 27% White Special Ed Students 7%

ACADEMIC EMPHASIS with high concentration on Academic Emphasis Reading, Writing, and Math Inclusion at all grade levels

Academic Emphasis 2 1/2 hours of language arts daily 90 minutes of math daily PE, music, and art are integrated Science and Foreign Language Specials Accelerated Reading Program Cornerstone Program Minimal “down” time

Language Arts Initiatives for Improvement Reading Resource teacher District Reading Plan Accelerated Reading program in library Writing in all content areas Monthly writing samples Cornerstone program in computer lab

Math Initiatves for Improvement New math texts for all grades Daily journal writing Frequent open response questions used Academic Support Grant (after school) Mathematics Wall of Fame

Classroom Organization Grades K-2 Two classrooms per grade Two teachers per grade One Special Education teacher servicing all primary grades Grades 3-5 Two classrooms per grade Three teachers per grade

Support Staff Full time Counselor Full time Nurse Full time Librarian Foreign Language Teacher Reading Resource Teacher Science Resource Teacher Technology Resource Teacher 8 Paraprofessionals

O.A.S.I.S. ROOM Orientation Assessment Stability Intervention Services Individual support for new and established students who: Perform two or more years below grade level Have a language barrier Have poor attendance Exhibit disruptive behavior Show evidence of poor peer relationships O.A.S.I.S. teacher collaborates with classroom teacher

Inclusion Teaching Co-teaching/Consultation Embedded support and accommodations Collaborative teaching Simultaneous teaching Whole group cooperative teaching Active teaching roles

Inclusion Teaching Environment Meaningful engagement IEP students High Expectations Students taking responsibility Teacher and student as problem solver Individual goals

Community and Parental Involvement Hampden Bank business partner Hometown Buffet AR support Recorder music program PE program Student volunteers After School Program Springfield College Read-Aloud

Community and Parental Involvement Fund raisersMarch Madness Field trips Holiday Shop Book Fair June Carnival Spaghetti Dinner Two parent nights per year