Watertown Public Schools Schools Committee Budget & Finance, and Curriculum Subcommittees January 21, 2010

Stages of Successful Implementations EXPLORATION INSTALLATION INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION FULL IMPLEMENTATION INNOVATION SUSTAINABILITY

Curriculum Task Forces and Leadership Councils K-5 Math K-3 Reading Science Early Childhood Elem WCAP/Map Data Teams 3-5 Reading & Writing Advisory Elem World Language Advisory Professional Development Council T-I-P Council Teacher Evaluation Design Team Universal Design for Learning Advisory Autism Council (proposed)

Elementary Program Presentation Overview Commonalities in Presentation  Curriculum Task Forces  Professional Development  Common Assessements  Educational Technology  Curriculum Liaison Differences at Elementary School

Early Childhood Early Childhood Programs o Integrated Preschool o School based PreK classes o Tuitions Task Force Accomplishments o NAEYC Accreditation o Curriculum Alignment Preschool - K o Assessment Protocols  Creative Curriculum Preschool/PreK ($) o Professional Development Next Steps o Preschool -Grade 3 curriculum/assessment alignment o Align Creative Curriculum with Kindergarten Assessment Early Childhood Grants

Reading K-3 Task Force o Continuation of work o Focus on Vocabulary and Management o Need to address writing and language 3-5 New Task Force o Focus on coherence o Integration of curriculum Refinement of assessment o MAP K-5, QRI-5 Ongoing Professional Development Technological Solutions and Enhancements

Mathematics Think Math o Textbooks o Consumables o Benchmark assessments Think Central o 10 year contract (Currently in negotiations) o On line resources (toolbox) FASTT Math o Grades 2-5 Tier 3 Math program

Science Focus on consistent, current and effective science curriculum for grades 3-5 among the three schools Utilize on-line resources for virtual experiments and scientific exploration Expand Science Task Force web page to share common resources and materials Create common end of unit assessment questions Infuse non-fiction leveled text at grade levels Create common vocabulary units K-5

Social Studies Teaching American History Grant Establish a Task Force Align Curriculum Pre-K through Grade 5 Provide for Professional Development opportunities for Preschool-Grade 5 Teachers Infuse additional non-fiction leveled text at all grade levels Create common vocabulary for units Preschool-Gr 5

Response to Intervention (RTI) WCAP- Building Based Data Team 3 Tiered instruction system o Tier 1 = Core Curriculum = Task Force o Tier 2 = Targeted Support = BBDT o Tier 3 = Specialized Instruction=Student Service Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Implementation Tier 2 Reading Expand RTI protocols Professional Development Challenges

Common Expenses Shift from District to Schools Math Consumables Reading resources (on-line subscriptions) Reading interventions HWT (Handwriting without Tears) Brain Pop (Science) District Financed: FASTT Math Learning Commons

Special Education All elementary schools o specialized instruction for specific learning disabilities o inclusion support for significant disabilities o related services District based programs for special populations o autism o neurodevelopmental o language based Professional Development Technological Solutions and Enhancements

After School Programs Common Vision and Opportunities Child care Enrichment o Academic o Sports and recreation Academic assistance Funding Considerations Cost vs. no cost Access and support for all

Differences and Challenges Enrollment trends, class configuration and staffing Impact of district-wide programs for student services Physical Plant

Typically we have two classes per grade with one multi-age grouping due to particular class of students Sharp increase in ELL population o 7% to 14% in last two years Staffing necessary for district wide elementary Learning Support program at Cunniff School (neurodevelopmental)

Enrollment: Current Projected Class Configuration 26 classes PreK -5th Average class size 21 Incoming and outgoing discrepancy Student Services Maintain and grow Autism K-5 Language Based 2-3 & 4-5 ELL Physical Environment Learning Common Furniture Cafeteria - sound abatement Preschool

Enrollment Trends Outgoing 5th grade 60 Projected K 79 Class Configuration 20 Classrooms PreK-5 may need +1 Student Services Maintain Grow District Based Return Reading Position to Intervention Services Physical Environment Learning Commons Cafeteria