1. Burlington Public Schools
Instruction Report
October 2009

2. Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.
--William Butler Yeats

3. “Education is the best investment .”
--Excerpt from Speech
by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke
Before the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

4. Who We Are . . . Our Demographics

5. A Local, Global Community
There are now 17 different languages used by students in the school system;
Gujarati and Portuguese with the greatest second language representation;
Of the 248 graduates of the Class of 2008, 193 attended BHS all four years.

6. Burlington Public Schools NCLB Ethnicity Subgroup Information
October ,650
October ,712

7. Burlington Public Schools Subgroup Information Free and Reduced Lunch Count

8. 2008/2009 Student Changes Need for more second language support
(2008)/2009
Delta
Title I
(142)/234
+92
LEP
(43)/61
+18
FLNE
(381)/404
+23
Need for more second language support
Title I amounts decreasing while the population served is increasing.
ELL is the primary focus of DESE Corrective Action Plan.

9. Take Home Message
Burlington is becoming more diverse. We view diversity as an opportunity for students to experience locally the global community that they will be experiencing as adults.

10. The When . . . --Chinese Proverb
      
       
     
The When . . .
“When planning for a year, plant corn. When planning for a decade, plant trees. When planning for life, train and educate people.”
--Chinese Proverb

11. Take Home Messages
We need to stop planning for the 21st century as we are almost through its first decade.
THE WHEN IS NOW!

12. The What . . .

13. Federal and State Performance Measures

14. Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

15. To Make AYP in 2009
A student group must meet: (A) a student participation requirement, either (B) the state’s 2009 performance target for that subject Or (C) The group’s own 2009 improvement target, And (D) An additional attendance or graduation requirement

16. Changes in AYP Benchmarks (Adequate Yearly Progress)
AYP is part of NCLB and is based on MCAS Scores;
The baseline remains at 90.2% in English; and
84.3% in Math for ;

17. ELA AYP State Performance Targets
Percent
Interesting Cocktail Party Tidbit is that what constitutes 100% is set by each state. I like to pick on Tennessee…
While some states (Texas and Colorado) rushed to lower standards, Virginia to its credit maintained their high standards…
The idea is for the federal test NAEP to be used to bring all of the state standards in line.
School Years

18. Math AYP State Performance Targets
Percent
School Years

19. The Nine AYP Subgroups as Defined by the MA Regulations in response to the NCLB Act
Aggregate (all students)
African American/Black Students
Hispanic Students
White Students
Limited English Proficient (LEP) Students
Low Income
Special Education
Native American
Asian or Pacific Islander
Note:
The same student may fall within five of these subgroups and be counted five times. If s/he does not pass an MCAS, it counts against the school and division all five times.
Subgroup populations over 40 contribute to AYP

20. 2009 Subgroups Not Making AYP
District English Language Arts (ELA) AYP (Based on MCAS Results)
Grade Spans
District and
School Levels
2008
2009
2009 Subgroups Not Making AYP
Grades 3-5
Aggregate No
Yes
Asian/Pac. Islander; Low Income
All Subgroups
Grades 6-8
Special Education; Low Income
Grades 9-12
A district is newly identified for improvement if it fails to make AYP in the same subject area and all grade-spans, for students in the aggregate or any subgroup, for two consecutive years. A district will have no accountability status if it makes AYP in the same subject area for at least one grade-span for two consecutive years.

21. District Mathematics AYP 2008-09 (Based on 2008-09 MCAS Results)
Grade Spans
District and
School Levels
2008
2009
2009 Subgroups Not Making AYP
Grades 3-5
Aggregate
Yes
Special Education; Low Income
All Subgroups No
Grades 6-8
White; Special Education; Low Income
Grades 9-12
A district is newly identified for improvement if it fails to make AYP in the same subject area and all grade-spans, for students in the aggregate or any subgroup, for two consecutive years. A district will have no accountability status if it makes AYP in the same subject area for at least one grade-span for two consecutive years.

22. 2009 MCAS DATA
Pass Rates (Proficient and Advanced) and Trends in Percentages by Grade Level and Subject Area

30. Yearly Trends

31. Third Grade MCAS Trends 2003-2009
Percentage Passed

32. Fourth Grade MCAS Trends 2003-2009
Percentage Passed

33. Fifth Grade MCAS Trends 2003-2009
Percentage Passed
5th grade students have scored above the benchmark for the last 2 years in English.
You will notice growth in all core subjects.
History/Social Studies is the only subject in which students have not reach the benchmark.

34. Sixth Grade MCAS Trends 2003-2009
Percentage Passed
You will notice growth in all core subjects.

35. Seventh Grade MCAS Trends 2003-2009
Percentage Passed
5th grade students have scored above the benchmark for the last 2 years in English.
You will notice growth in all core subjects.
History/Social Studies is the only subject in which students have not reach the benchmark.

36. Eighth Grade MCAS Trends 2003-2009
Percentage Passed
When we look at our 8th grade students over time, we see growth in 3 core subjects – English, Math, and Social Studies.
Science leveled off.
The general trend in writing shows growth, but then you will note the decline this past year.

37. Grade 10 English MCAS Trends 2003-2009
Percentage Passed
This test is administered at the end the of 11th grade English course.
The last 2 years, students have exceeded the benchmark in both English (reading, literature and research) and writing.

38. Grade 10 Math MCAS Trends 1998-2009
Percentage Passed
This picture is worth 1000 words.
Even though we have not reached the benchmark in Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry, you see the steady growth toward that goal.

39. Grade 10 Science MCAS Trends 2003-2009
This is interesting data.
The pass rate for Earth Science seems to be have leveled off just below the benchmark at 69%.
For the last 3 years, Biology has leveled off above the benchmark.
Chemistry showed significant growth from 1998 to 2000 and only slight growth from 2000 to 2001.

40. Other Academic Benchmarks
Advanced Placement Tests Taken
Advance Placement Course Enrollment
College Courses Taken
PSAT/SAT Scores
Club Participation
Community Service

41. Advanced Program Data Program Type 2006-07 Count 2007-08 2008-09
Advanced Placement Tests Taken
Total Tests:
176
178
222
Advanced Placement Course Enrollment
Total Students: 117
Total Students: 116
Total Students: 130
Industry Certifications
College Courses Taken
16 BHS students participated in a Bay Path College course
11 BHS Students participated in a Bay Pay College Course
69 Students Participated in a Mass Bay Calculus Course
Virtual High School
(VHS) 5
28 ( still filling slots)

42. SAT Results 2001-2009 STUDENTS WITH SAT I MEAN SCORES
STUDENTS WITH BOTH SAT I AND II MEAN SCORES
Year
No.
Tested
Verbal/
Critical
Reading
Math
Writing
2001
189
490
512
2002
214
497
527
2003
208
517
543
2004
199
504
532
2005
212
511
542
2006
225
516
551
520
2007
232
521
539
509
2008
241
526
545
2009
213
546
519
Year
No.
Tested
Verbal/
Critical
Reading
Math
Writing
2001 55
2002 66
2003 61
2004 58
588
619
2005 64
608
633
2006 69
606
634
617
2007 48
624
639
603
2008 56
589
640
609
2009 52
600
644

43. Take Home Messages
In regards to MCAS, BPS need to focus on expecting more students to score in the proficient and advanced categories;
In regards to AYP, BPS need to focus on students in the following groups identified by NCLB:
Students who are Economically-Disadvantaged; and
Students with Disabilities.
The Division’s journey to excellence in student achievement is mapped using more than test scores – other measures need to be purposeful and public.

44. The How
“Organizations are well designed for the results that they achieve.”
-- Read this phrase many times but unsure who to credit

45. Expanding Opportunities Now
Focus on Increasing Capacity – Knowledge and Skill, Student Outcomes, Empowering Conditions;
Common Standards/Expectations;
Are Core Programs reaching 80% of Students
Increased Inclusion
Focus on Growth
PK-12 Student Expectations
Response to Intervention (RTI); and
Classroom Learning Walks

46. The Critical School Committee Questions
Are our core district reading and mathematic programs reaching 80% of our students?
If not, why not?

47. Concluding Take Home Message
Proficiency is NOT Excellence