1. Schenectady High School Removal from the NYSED Persistently Dangerous List September 2011

2. Contributing to Change Quarterly review of all Vadir data as an Administrative Team Quarterly review of all Vadir data as an Administrative Team Recognition by the administrative team that incidents were not happening in isolation Recognition by the administrative team that incidents were not happening in isolation Tracking of groups of students Tracking of groups of students Admitting we have a gang problem Admitting we have a gang problem Improved communication with law enforcement and other agencies including mental health support and gang task force Improved communication with law enforcement and other agencies including mental health support and gang task force The use of grounded researched based programs The use of grounded researched based programs Changes occurred over time Changes occurred over time

3. Proactive Approaches Safety plans to remove students from the building to avoid problems before an incident Safety plans to remove students from the building to avoid problems before an incident Change in building leadership – Associate Superintendent with a connection to students, staff, and community (former Middle School Principal) with a mission of building relationships and reducing incidents Change in building leadership – Associate Superintendent with a connection to students, staff, and community (former Middle School Principal) with a mission of building relationships and reducing incidents Hall sweeps and escort policy Hall sweeps and escort policy Voluntary tutoring for unique cases Voluntary tutoring for unique cases Expanded use of our electronic surveillance system over the past five years Expanded use of our electronic surveillance system over the past five years Use of our data to address problem locations, days, times, etc. Examples – Use of our data to address problem locations, days, times, etc. Examples – –Locations - main hallway where students loiter –Locations - outside the cafeteria –Days - before and after a vacation

4. Positive Trends 2010-11 Consolidated Action Plan Consolidated Action Plan –Summary of four major improvement plans and recommendations  DOL Grant  JIT (Joint Intervention Team) –Recommendations from NYSED  Incident Reduction Plan (NYSED)  High School Restructuring Plan –Now known as the School Improvement Plan –PLA - Persistently Lowest Achieving School (NYSED)

5. Positive Trends 2010-11 Established 9 th Grade Academy Established 9 th Grade Academy –Shared students and staff –Flexible schedule controlled by the team –Isolated repeat 9 th graders from first time 9 th graders – 10 Prep Program –Freshmen Seminar and Advisory –Additional Guidance Counselors assigned to grade 9 exclusively –Team approach to everything Small gains in 9 th grade data results after one year Small gains in 9 th grade data results after one year –7% decrease in discipline referrals for grade 9 –1.75% increase in the attendance rate for grade 9

6. Direction for 2011-12 9 th Grade Academy has been expanded to 10 th Grade Academy 9 th Grade Academy has been expanded to 10 th Grade Academy Professional Learning Communities have expanded to 30 PLC’s targeting critical subject areas, sub groups, and grade levels Professional Learning Communities have expanded to 30 PLC’s targeting critical subject areas, sub groups, and grade levels Mentoring, Case Management, Student Employment partnerships are all established Mentoring, Case Management, Student Employment partnerships are all established Need to reduce our use of suspension Need to reduce our use of suspension Need to improve our attendance rate Need to improve our attendance rate

7. Highlights for 2011-12 Focus on Improving the Instructional Program Focus on Improving the Instructional Program –Improving our Instructional Walks plan –Extensive professional development this past summer –Additional instructional technology –Standard lesson plan format –Establishment of Department Chair positions –Creation of five Assistant Principal positions –Addition of Instructional Coaches (pending) –Continue to improve our use of data to inform instruction –Proactive approach Response to Intervention changes –  Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) – MAP Testing Grade 9  Freshmen Seminar  Sophomore Seminar  Fundamental classes