IMPLEMENTING THE NO EXCUSES UNIVERSITY EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM Jose Marti Middle School

The Process  Every No Excuses University campus works diligently to expose students to powerful college symbolism. This symbolism is seen in the college flags and banners hung on every door, felt though the close partnerships forged between classrooms and universities, and heard in the college chants that exist at each grade level.

No Excuses University Based on the following six exceptional systems: 1. Culture of Universal Achievement 2. Collaboration 3. Standards Alignment 4. Assessment 5. Data Analysis 6. Interventions

1. Culture of Universal Achievement Challenges vs. Excuses Challenges explain why a student is struggling… learning English, poor support, etc. Challenges can be overcome! An excuse is made when defeat is accepted and hope is lost.

1. Culture of Universal Achievement  We must be willing to confront the HARSH data about how our students are actually performing (or NOT performing).  We have to believe that our students have the right to go to college.  We have to be committed to seeing that they are ready.

2. Collaboration As we collaborate as a staff, we must be willing to individually commit to the following;  Clarity of Purpose  Driven by our one goal to ensure that every student is proficient or advanced.  Respectful of Time  Be prompt to meetings and make use of your time.  Professional Growth  Be open to learning new methods and seek ways to learn from one another.  Building Strong Professional Relationships  Praise one other, be honest with one other, support one another and celebrate with one another.

3. Standards Alignment  Curriculum Mapping  Tools for establishing a meaningful connection between state standards and classroom instruction.  Brings focus and alignment to state standards.  Encourages on-going reflection for best practices.  Curriculum Pacing  Charts the course for a yearly time frame and encourages on-going reflective and collaborative communication.  Provides instructional consistency from one grade to the next.

4. Assessment  Baseline (First week of School)  Mini-Benchmark Assessments (Regularly)  Interim Assessment (October)  Interim Assessment (December)  FCAT (March & April)

5. Data Analysis  After Every Assessment  Data must be gathered  Analyzed by grade, period and student  Goals must be set according to strengths & weaknesses

6. Interventions  SES tutoring  ELL tutoring  Middle School Enrichment Tutoring  Intensive Mathematics Classes  Intensive Reading Classes  Homeroom interventions Students in the lowest 25% have been grouped in homeroom to receive interventions and work using Compass Learning Students in the “bubble” group are together in homeroom receiving interventions from the specially selected teacher.

NO EXCUSES!!!!!!  It starts with us!  We are a C school. We worked hard, but we need to work smarter, together and more positively.  Our students come to us unprepared and lacking basic manners, it is up to us to teach them and motivate them.