1. Paula Feynman Cambridge Public Schools pfeynman@cpsd.us
Excellence Gaps
3 Easy Steps to Measure and Address Them at the District Level
Paula Feynman Cambridge Public Schools

2. Step 1: Define the Excellence Gap

3. What is the Excellence Gap?
The Excellence Gap refers to the disparity in the percent of marginalized verses privileged students who reach advanced levels of academic performance.

4. % Advanced NAEP 4rth Grade Reading
Talent on the Sidelines, Plucker, Hardesty and Burroughs (2012)

5. % Advanced NAEP 8th Grade Reading
Talent on the Sidelines, Plucker, Hardesty and Burroughs (2012)

6. % Advanced 2011 NAEP 4rth Grade Math
% advanced correlates with % disadvantaged students in each state

7. % Advanced 2011 NAEP 8th Grade Math

8. Step 2: Inspire Action!

12. Step 3: Bridging the Excellence Gap
Using a Response to Intervention (RtI) Model

13. Improvement Cycle What are we trying to accomplish?
How will we know that a change is an improvement?
What changes can we make that will result in improvement?

14. “WIN”ning Strategy to Address Gaps
Biggest Areas of Gap:
Math
Technology
Literacy
Students need more than Academic Support:
Family Engagement, Guidance, Counseling
Cohort Building
Leadership and Scholar Identity Development

15. Multi Tiered System of Support Model (MTSS)
Consistent with existing
RtI Framework
Identification,
goal setting, progress
Monitoring
Facilitates
knowledge of model
Research shows that the number one variable in determining the success of the model is staff knowledge of the model. One advantage of using RtI is that our staff is already familiar with it, so this image and the process of identification, goal setting and progress monitoring all align with what they already know.

16. “WIN”ning Strategy to Address the Excellence Gap

17. Identification Not real data! Image from

18. Next Steps 1) Coordinate Summer Programs 2) Mentor Connections
3) Look for existing opportunities
Math Clubs
National History Day
Morning Announcements