Grosse Pointe Public Schools Middle School Study 18 May 2009

Study Rationale Is there a middle level program design that better meets the needs of middle school age students other than the 6-period day structure now offered in Grosse Pointe? If the middle level 6-period day design currently in place can’t or won’t be changed, are there changes that should be made within the confines of the 6- period day program structure that would better serve middle level students in Grosse Pointe?

Committee Membership MembersBrownellParcellsPierce Core TeachersBill Deneau Margaret Bubeck Chris Geerer Deb Duffey Bill Thompson Claudia Zwirner Elective TeachersGina FrancisStefani MakowskiBonnie Middledorf Spec. Ed TeachersMary GoodheartKathy LetscherAndrea Lappin- Roth CounselorMarie Fachini-KurlyDenise MannsAngie Niforos ParentSuzy DaudlinKaren FontaniveTeri Brown Admin.Mike DibMark MulhollandJudy Gaffrey

Information Gathering Process Internet & Literature Search Meet with Dr. Rettig Metro Bureau Survey Parent Survey Staff Survey

Recommended Middle School Program Components Based on the developmental characteristics of middle school-age children and the recommendations found in related middle school literature, the Study Committee supports the following program components:

Recommended Middle School Program Components Student grouping by team Team time for professional planning and communication and parent communication Increase exploratory/elective learning opportunities for students PE and Health requirements for students

Metro Bureau and Staff and Parent Survey Results Staff Survey: 135 Respondents Parent Survey: 284 Respondents Metro Bureau Survey: 32 School Responses

Viable Program Structure Options 7-period day schedule 6-period day schedule 8-period day schedule

Conclusions 6-period day is the most common schedule Grosse Pointe is unique in several areas of the middle school program: – Student choice electives – Foreign Language Study – Honors courses in all 4 core areas at 7 th and 8 th grades – PE and Health not required – Music can be taken daily at both 7 th and 8 th grades Teaming, and to a lesser extent, advisory are much less common than 5 years ago

Recommendations The committee concluded that given the parameters within which we operate (cost containment and program priorities), the only current feasible schedule is the 6-perioid day schedule now in operation in our middle schools in Grosse Pointe. The committee recommends returning to some form of a middle school program format which would feature the important middle level program components named in this report when/if the economic conditions and the funding levels might again support such a program design.

Next Steps Develop a common grading scale at the middle level. Review and update elective course curricula. What do we want of our advisory program? Without teaming, is there another way to support students and maintain parent communication? Is there a different/better way to support 6 th grade students as they transition to the middle level?

Grosse Pointe District Web Page Full report Parent survey results and comments Staff survey results and comments