Charter School Presentation May 2008 From the Page to the Stage Getting the Work Done!

Smoke Rise ES Overview Goals Increase school community partnerships. Employ data-driven instructional decision making. Increase professional development programs and continue to provide professional development opportunities for teachers Expand the use of technology in our school and create more opportunities for teachers Implement instructional strategies and learning activities to address the areas of reading comprehension, vocabulary, mathematics, and science across grade levels.

Our Mission The mission of Smoke Rise Elementary is actively striving for the personal best of each student by developing his or her full intellectual, creative, and physical potential to become lifelong learners and contributors to a global society.

Our Beliefs– All children have gifts and talents. All children should be given the opportunity to grow mentally, morally and physically strong. All children should have a caring and creatively engaging learning environment.

Our Goals - Increase school community partnerships. Employ data-driven instructional decision making. Increase professional development programs and continue to provide professional development opportunities for teachers Expand the use of technology in our school and create more opportunities for teachers Implement instructional strategies and learning activities to address the areas of reading comprehension, vocabulary, mathematics, and science across grade levels.

Overview of Initial SRE Charter Survey 1. The three aspects of SRE that are most important to students: There was a high level of agreement between both parents and teachers that Math studies were of the highest level of importance to SRE students. There was also a strong agreement between the two that English/Language Arts was important to SRE students. Teachers indicated that Technology was of high value to students while parents only ranked Technology fifth (5th) out of nine (9) items. Parents viewed Science as the second most important aspect of our current offerings while teachers only marked Science as sixth (6th) our of nine (9) items.

Explore the possibility of becoming a charter school. A large majority of both parents and teachers support exploring charter at SRE. Parents who support the exploration do so strongly (44.3%). However, 19.4% of parents are either unsure or against exploring charter. A strong majority of teachers are supportive of charter exploration (90.9%), but less enthusiastically than the supportive parent segments.

Parents should volunteer at least 10 volunteer hours each year. Teachers strongly support the idea of parent volunteer hours, with (70.6%) in strong favor of this concept. Parents show support but with less enthusiasm (38.6% strongly support; 34.5% support) and the percentage of parents which actively opposed the concept is (10.4%).

Most important cultural areas in a charter. Parents ranked Differentiation as most important (#1) in a charter culture and teachers ranked that concept as second (#2).

Potential Curriculum Foci Teachers ranked Real World Math as most important (#1) in a charter curriculum and parents ranked that concept as second (#2).

All Parents Join the PTA The percentage of parents who disagree with this approach reaches almost (13.2%) and parents who strongly support the idea is 2.4% lower than those who support involvement hours. However, teacher support for the concept is very strong (84.8%).

One of our approaches is to include research into the exploration of future careers and occupations of the 21st Century. In addition, we plan to implement enhanced subject area studies in Math, Science, and Technology.

Academic Program Priority Areas Innovative Approaches in Math Instruction Innovative Approaches in Science Instruction Innovative Approaches in Technology Implementation Innovative Approaches in Communication / Language Arts

Organizational Priority Areas Innovative Approaches in Parental Involvement Innovative Approaches in Community and Business Partnerships Innovative Approaches in Governance

Meeting Date / Time GroupAgendaWhat will be accomplished April 30, :45 PM Group 1 Introduction Elect Team Leader Organize team Initial research on instruct. innovations Paper copy of (3) different approaches in priority academic areas May 7, :45 PM Group 1 Review research results Discuss current issues in research Complete 1 st draft of research for priority academic areas Research Team Agenda and Timeline

May 8, :00 PM Group 2 Introduction Elect Team Leader Organize team Initial research on Organizational Innovations Paper copy of (3) different approaches in organizational priority areas May 14, :45 PM Group 1 Finalize research results to include implementation, assessment and budget considerations Final draft of research for priority academic areas May 15, :00 PM Group 2 Review research results Discuss current issues in research Complete 1 st draft of research for organizational priority areas

Research Team Agenda and Timeline May 28, :00 PM Group 1 & 2 Review research process Share results Discuss recommendations and additions Complete the requirements of conversion charter petition: Educational Program; Assessment Methods; Parental & Community Involvement; Governance Structure

Research Team Objective Conduct research that will support the mission, goals and beliefs of the school and the priority areas identified by teachers and parents.

Research Team- Group 1 Innovative Instructional Approaches In Math Innovative Instructional Approaches in Science Innovative Instructional Approaches in Technology Innovative Instructional Approaches in Communications / Language Arts

Questions & Discussion