Student Achievement

Promises Made

Promises Kept
  • Focus on making sure every child achieves at least one year’s growth for every year his/she is enrolled in our schools.
  • Identify strategies that enhance learning.
  • Help students develop skills in critical thinking and problem solving, communication and collaboration, creativity and innovation, and global literacy.
  • On Tuesday, August 21, 2012, the district’s special education department presented the Board of Education with information about some of it accomplishments from last year, as well as its plan for the 2012-2013 school year. Please click here to review the presentation.
  • On July 17, 2012, the Board of Education gave its formal endorsement of the district's recommendation to implement the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program at Brooks and Julian. Please click here to learn more about the program.
  • On June 12, 2012, the district presented the Board of Education with the results from the pilot of the Fast ForWord program that was conducted at several schools during the spring. Please click here for the PowerPoint that was presented to the board and click here for a summary of the results from the pilot.
  • FastForWord pilot presentation – Fast ForWord program is comprised of a family of research-based, intervention software products designed to strengthen attention, memory, processing, and language development. These products support existing curriculum, align to No Child Left Behind state mandates and contribute to AYP success. They also enhance cognitive skills that enable students to process information with greater speed and accuracy and lead to improved critical language and reading skills. The district implemented a Fast ForWord pilot program at Beye and Hatch during the summer of 2011. While this program was carried out in less than ideal conditions (included a 21-day break in the middle of the use of the product for many students), the data collected showed positive results.
  • Eighty-six students in grades one through eight had pre-test and post-test scores.
  • The average number of days students participated in the program was 46.
  • Approximately 78 percent of the students who were signed up for the program participated in it on the required days.
  • Approximately 91 percent of the students who were signed up for the program completed the assigned exercises on the required days.
  • There was a statistically significant difference between the pre-test scores and post-test scores across the group of participants.
  • Approximately 71 percent of the students who participated in the program showed gains.
  • The district continues to use various assessments to help measure student progress. For example, the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment designed by Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) is administered three times during the school year. This assessment is being used to determine each student’s instructional level and to measure academic growth throughout the school year, and from year to year, in the areas of Reading and Mathematics. Teachers receive immediate data during the assessments that they can use to inform their instruction to meet the needs of all students. You can also view how the district is using them to measure student growth and progress by reading the annual student performance report that was presented to the Board of Education on September 27, 2011.
  • Special education - The district continues to build a strong professional team, and is working with parent groups to accomplish parent advisory goals. We are expanding the Teacher Assistant Training Program, improving inclusion opportunities and developing and expanding programs for students with autism. In addition, a group of our students will be participating in the Special Olympics. On November 5, 2011, approximately 30 people attended the Parent and Teachers Talking Together workshop, which provided parents/guardians and school personnel with the opportunity to discuss their aspirations for children and offer suggestions for improving the district’s special education services.

Promises Made

Promises Kept
  • Strengthen the instructional framework and enrich the curriculum through changes that require minimal financial investment.
  • Changed the summer school program from one that is mandatory for students who do not meet the standards in certain subject areas to one that offers students the opportunity to participate in the program based on a set of criteria that includes grades, assessments and teacher recommendations. These changes will take effect in the summer of 2012.
  • Improvements to the Gifted, Talented and Differentiation (GTD) program – The current GTD program has been more clearly defined. Services are being offered at all grade levels district wide, and are being implemented at each school using the same criteria. During the 2011-2012 school year, the district is piloting a Language Arts class for sixth graders at both middle schools. We are currently assessing our entire GTD program to determine if we are meeting the needs of our students.

Promises Made

Promises Kept
  • Enable our faculty and staff to build each student’s capacity to develop the skills necessary to function in a new and uncertain world.
  • Kindergarten Readiness Screenings - Through these screenings, we are able to effectively assess children’s skills and abilities prior to starting kindergarten, and are better equipped and prepared to meet their academic, social and emotional needs during the school year. Each screening includes a brief meeting with the parents/guardians and a student assessment. While children participate in the assessment, parents/guardians complete a questionnaire that provides us with valuable information we use to get to know each child better, assist with the transition to kindergarten, and aid our efforts to create balanced classrooms—all of which will help us keep students on the path toward success.

Promises Made

Promises Kept
  • Promote a higher level of understanding of core areas.
  • In August 2012, District 97 participated in a teacher leader summit with District 90. During this summit, attendees gained a better understanding of Common Core and both districts developed teacher leaders who can support their colleagues in the implementation of the standards.

Promises Made

Promises Kept
  • Provide meaningful, relevant and challenging lessons that include interdisciplinary and project-based learning.