1. 2015 Academic Presentation
(Based on data from School Year)
Tom Voelker
10/19/15

2. Goals for Presentation
Review impacts of shifting to Pa Core Standards
Provide deeper understanding of BHASD academic performance
Understand steps taken by District to improve academic performance
Review current curricular investigations

3. Standards Review National Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
42 states have adopted CCSS in some version (PA being one of those 42)
Interesting Fact: There are 19 different tests used to measure the same standards
Pennsylvania created PA Core Standards in English Language Arts (ELA) & Mathematics
2015 – First year PSSA was aligned to new standards
What did BHASD do to prepare for this shift?
Administrators and Teachers adjusted ELA and Math Curriculum
Communicate with Families
Spring 2015 – Curriculum presentation (LINK)
Fall 2015 – Academic presentation by building

4. Last Year’s Presentation
Focused on School Performance Profile (SPP)
Feedback was to look at more meaningful data
This Year’s Presentation
No SPP data K-8
SPP data for HS not released to date
Focus will be on data used to guide decisions as a district

5. Overview of Data Resources
Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA)
Grades (ELA, Math)
Grades 4 & 8 (Science)
Keystone Exams
Algebra 1
Biology
Literature
Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System (PVAAS)
Growth Model (need at least 2 years worth of assessment data)
SAT (not an acronym)
Critical Reading
Mathematics
Writing
ACT (not an acronym)
English
Math
Reading
Science
Writing (optional)
Advanced Placement Results (AP)
Various subjects

6. Overview of Performance
PSSA Results
Overview of Performance

7. PSSA Achievement

8. PSSA Achievement Points of Interest:
General regression of achievement after 3rd grade
Few “Advanced” students in Math starting in 5th grade
Strong 4th grade Science achievement data
Females out performed Males in ELA
Students identified as Economically Disadvantaged scored ~15% lower on both the ELA and Math PSSA
Students with IEPs struggled with the ELA, Math, and Science PSSA
Students receiving Title 1 support scored lower on the ELA, Math, and Science PSSA

9. PSSA Results Subject Analysis - ELA
Please keep in mind that the following graphs represent different groups of students.

10. 3rd Grade ELA PSSA Results
The Process:
Identify areas for growth
No more than 3
Research that area (
Develop action plan for addressing areas for growth
3rd Grade ELA PSSA Results

11. 4th Grade PSSA Results

12. 5th Grade PSSA Results

13. 6th Grade PSSA Results

14. 7th Grade PSSA Results

15. 8th Grade PSSA Results

17. Subject Analysis - Mathematics
PSSA Results
Subject Analysis - Mathematics
Please keep in mind that the following graphs represent different groups of students.

18. 3rd Grade Math PSSA Results

19. 4th Grade Math PSSA Results

20. 5th Grade Math PSSA Results

21. 6th Grade Math PSSA Results

22. 7th Grade Math PSSA Results

23. 8th Grade Math PSSA Results

25. Subject Analysis - Science
PSSA Results
Subject Analysis - Science
Please keep in mind that the following graphs represent different groups of students.

26. 4th Grade Science PSSA Results

27. 8th Grade Science PSSA Results

29. Overview of Performance
Keystone Results
Overview of Performance

30. Keystone Achievement
Literature
Algebra I
Biology

31. Keystone Achievement Points of Interest: Literature
Low math achievement
Few “Advanced” on Literature Keystone Exam
Students identified as Economically Disadvantaged scored ~15% lower on the Literature and Biology Keystone Exam
Students with an IEP struggled with all of the Keystone Exams
Algebra I
Biology

32. Keystone Results
Subject Analysis

33. Literature Keystone Results
The Process:
Same process as with the PSSAs

34. Algebra 1 Keystone Results

35. Biology Keystone Results

36. PVAAS Results
Overview of Growth

37. PVAAS

38. PVAAS

39. ACT/SAT Test National Average Critical Reading 495 Mathematics 511
Writing
484
Test
National Average
English
20.4
Math
20.8
Reading
21.4
Science
20.9
Composite 21

40. AP 70% Pass Rate Subject Totals Music Theory
Total AP Students in Your School: 39
School Totals for this View 5 4 3 2 1
Total Exams
Number of Exams 10 11 19 8 9 57
Percentage of Total Exams 18 33 14 16
100
Number of AP Students 6 7
Subject Totals
Music Theory
English Literature and Composition
United States Government and Politics
United States History 13
World History
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Statistics
Chinese Language and Culture
Spanish Language and Culture
70% Pass Rate
(score of 3+)

41.
“Americans with four-year college degrees made 98 percent more an hour…”

42. SUMMARY
Pros
Cons
Systems in place to drive District forward and address areas of growth
Benchmark assessments (CDTs), Department Heads, Data Dialogues, District Goals
Significant alignment work yet to do (specifically in math)
There is not a quick fix (this will take years)
Remediation time not always available with current schedule
Challenge (not a true “Con”): Finding the balance between educating the whole child and not stifling creativity while focusing on improving assessment results

43. Overview of Professional Development Plans
Instructional Methodology
Summative Data Analysis / Curriculum Conversations
PSSAs & Keystones
GOAL: Identify and close curricular gaps
Formative Data Analysis / Student Conversations
Classroom Diagnostic Tools (CDT) & STAR (not an acronym) assessment
GOAL: Best ensure students successfully progressing through curriculum
* The other major area of PD is centered on Instructional Technology.

44. Next Steps
Teachers/Administrators benchmark students and monitor growth using available resources (e.g. – CDT & STAR)
Dir. of CIT and Principals meet quarterly for “Data Dialogues”
Review progress of students
Department Heads
Continuous curriculum review
Piloting programs/resources (Math)
Meeting with other schools/teachers having success

45. Online Resources CDT STAR ST Math IXL Math Read 180 Digits SmartMusic
What are some of the electronic resources we have available to help provide formative assessment feedback to teachers?
CDT
STAR
ST Math
IXL Math
Read 180
Digits
SmartMusic
MicroType6
Other Vendor Resources
* This is an instructional shift for many of our teachers.
* Needs to be done in a way which doesn’t stifle creativity

46. Curricular Investigations
STEM course offerings in K-8
Focus: hands-on, project-based, collaborative, creative (engineering, computer science, etc.)
8th grade Art
FCS to HS as mandatory “Practical Living” course
Pre-Kindergarten Program

47. District Goals vs Comprehensive Plan
Systems are in place
Data analysis an ongoing process
Need for formalized process once every 3 years is minimal

48. Tentative District Goals
I. INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP: Maintain focus of instruction and student learning
CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT
Continued emphasis on aligning curriculum vertically between grades (K-12) and horizontally across classrooms at the same grade level and across sections of the same course.
Continue to implement annual curriculum review cycles.
INSTRUCTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
Professional development focused on instructional methodology, utilizing assessments to drive instruction, as well as the effective use of technology in the instructional setting.
Evaluate, research and implement efficiencies in the academic program through an analysis of staff utilization, scheduling considerations and course offerings within each building.
DATA-DRIVEN & INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION
Guide & support Administrators/Staff in identifying & implementing a range of appropriate data sources. Effectively analyze and use data to drive decision-making regarding individualized student instruction.
Empower Department Heads to analyze and utilize data in curricular discussions and decisions.
EFFECTIVE USE OF STUDENT ASSESSMENTS
Continue to utilize a variety of balanced assessments which are linked to curriculum standards and content.
Use assessment results to inform instructional modifications which support the development of a customized education program for each student. Adapt lesson plans, instructional practice and differentiated supervision through small group instruction to meet the needs of students.
TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION
Foster the use of instructional technology in the classroom district-wide.
Continue to research and implement electronic curriculum (i.e., e-books).
Leverage technology as a platform by which individualized instruction occurs.
School Year Specific Target Goals
Create opportunities to balance the standards- driven educational model:
Examine current instructional methodology to incorporate creativity in student learning/instruction.
Expand science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) offerings.
Develop and implement curricula to prepare students for everyday living.
Emphasize the use of data results (standardized assessment, benchmark assessments, curriculum-based assessment) to guide decisions for instruction.

49. Tentative District Goals
II. STUDENT PERFORMANCE / ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Ensure that students receive a high quality education that prepares them for success in an ever-changing 21st century global society
Achieve a graduation rate of 92% or higher (PDE 4-year cohort model).
Achieve attendance rate of 95% or higher for each building.
As required by Federal legislation under “No Child Left Behind (NCLB)”waiver, improve the School Performance Profile Score per building.
Accentuate the importance of reading skills district-wide with a focused effort at Elementary School.
Continue to support Reading through Title I Reading (K-5) and specialized reading support for students K-3 (iRead)and 4-12 (Read 180.)
Integrate partnerships with United Way and local resources to support reading instruction for students in grades 1 and 2.
School Year Specific Target Goals
Narrow achievement gaps on federal and state- wide accountability assessments:
Closely analyze Pennsylvania standardized assessments results based on the PA Core Standards and curtail instruction to fill necessary gaps in English Language Arts, Mathematics and Science.
Continued emphasis on improving secondary math skills in students.
Monitor the effectiveness of the newly developed Honors General Science course for 9th grade students.

50. Tentative District Goals
School Year Specific Target Goals
Effectively use exemplary educators for professional development during in-service training.
Adhere to PDE mandates to develop a new Comprehensive Plan model for the school district including a revaluation of the professional development and student services plans for the school district.
Professional Development goals for will focus on:
Instructional Methodology - Depth of Knowledge, Rigor, Using Assessments to Drive Instruction (2nd year goal: Close Read/Text Complexity).
Instructional Technology - Implement resources to better engage and individualize instruction for all students.
Data Analysis - Utilize available resources to better identify student comprehension of curriculum. Use data to drive instructional decisions.
Curriculum Conversations - Provide opportunities within the professional development schedule to analyze data and make necessary adjustments to curriculum in order to better align to PA Standards/Assessment requirements.
III. STAFF DEVELOPMENT: Sustain and strengthen a culture and climate of high expectations and continuous learning for staff
Develop and nurture a culture in which staff members regularly use student data, current research, best practices, and theory to continuously adapt instructional practices and achieve improved results.
Utilize the District Professional Development Committee to develop the district professional development opportunities for the coming school year to support District goals and individual Building needs.

51. Tentative District Goals
IV. TECHNOLOGY: Effectively utilize technology resources to facilitate a comprehensive technology plan to increase effectiveness of instruction and student learning
Continue to facilitate a seamless integration of technology to support curriculum and teacher instruction for optimum student learning.
Implement and support electronic curriculum throughout the school district curriculum.
Support 1:1 devices for all students K-12 and teacher devices.
Analyze network infrastructure to ensure it will continue to support all technology initiatives.
School Year Specific Target Goals
Analyze programs and make purchasing recommendations to capitalize on electronic media to support the academic programs.
Research online assessment tools to shift lesson preparation from grading to individualizing instruction for students based on student performance.