South Hadley Public Schools

 SOUTH HADLEY IMPROVEMENT PLAN

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Goal 1:       Increase the achievement of all students

      Objectives for 2008 - 09:

    a.  Increase the percentage of children reading at or above Level 16 by the end of Grade 1 to 80% or higher (in 2007-08 77% reached this level) and reduce the percentage reading significantly below grade level to 5% (in 2007-08 10% were at Level 10 or lower).

• 1. Increase SPED staffing and the amount of time SPED teachers work with children in first grade who are at risk for reading failure. Instill philosophy that all children can learn to read and that this task begins early.

• 2.  Literacy Coordinator or Reading Teacher will provide additional support to first grade classrooms' reading instruction, through programmatic leadership and in-class modeling.

      b.   Increase percentages of students who score Proficient or Advanced on ELA and Math tests to 10% above Massachusetts averages.  Decrease failure rates to less than 5%.  Currently most MCAS results for South Hadley are above Massachusetts averages:

                  Percentages of South Hadley students scoring

• 1. Provide support for implementation of revised Investigations and CMP mathematics programs in Grades K-8.

•   Write new K-8 curriculum that identify all major units of study and the materials that support them.  Develop format for writing standards, correlating them to the Massachusetts Frameworks and establishing benchmarks for achievement.

• c. Increase the percentage of graduates who attend 4-year colleges to 70% by 2011 (currently about 50% go directly to 4 year colleges and another 10% do so after completing a community college program).

• 1. Review and change, if indicated, expectations of students in Advanced Placement courses. Increase the percentage of students who score 3 or above on Advanced Placement tests.

• 2. Conduct early college planning meeting for parents of students in Grades 5-8.

• 3. Complete survey of past graduates to document college completion rates, career paths and effectiveness of their education in South Hadley.

EQUITY

Goal 2:       Expand the inclusion initiative.

Objectives for 2008-09:

•a.       Increase the percentage of students who are able to successfully complete their education in South Hadley.

1.   Initiate a high school alternative education program for students at risk of dropping out of South Hadley High School.  Assess the success of the program and its effectiveness compared to other alternative programs.

            2.   Expand Academic Support program for ninth grade at-risk students.

3.   Increase support for the development of reading skills at middle and high schools.

4.   Continue support for summer school programs at the Mosier, Middle and High Schools.

•b.      Review the need for substantially separate classrooms at the Middle School and Mosier School.

Goal 3:       Foster positive school culture that respects differences and values achievement.

Objectives for 2008-09:

•a.       Coordinate school-wide discussions of bullying and cyber-bullying and the role schools can play in reducing bullying behavior.

COMMUNICATION

Goal 4: Increase communication with staff and parents about school goals and their accomplishment.

Objectives for 2008-09:

•a.       Meet with parents at each school to discuss student achievement goals and to hear parents' expectations for and concerns about their children's education.

•b.      Publish two newsletters for parents and the community.

•c.       Develop and maintain a new school district website.

MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING

Goal 5: Plan for the future needs of the schools.

      Objectives for 2008-09:

•a.       Continue planning for future elementary facilities with the Elementary School Building Committee.

1.   Rewrite and submit a Statement of Interest to MSBA for a Plains School building project.