Date: Fri 26-Mar-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

school-improvement-plan

Full Text:

Schools Seek To Coordinate Performance Assessment

BY ANN MARIE COHEN

Newtown's six public schools are working closely together in an effort to

establish coordinated standards for assessment of student performance. To that

end, an integrated School Improvement Plan has been presented to the Board of

Education during sessions held this month.

John Reed, Superintendent of Schools, said the principals realize that they

should know what is going on in all six schools, not only their own. The

principals explain that by being able to determine where students' strengths

and weaknesses lie, teachers can more effectively tailor instruction to the

individual.

This knowledge can be helpful in providing students with the best education

during their 13-year attendance in the district.

The six schools have goals in common. They realize the urgency of preparing

students for a rapidly changing society. In order to realize this monumental

goal, a student must possess problem-solving skills, maintain flexibility, and

be able to communicate effectively.

The technological needs of the student directly relates to the need to

communicate effectively. Each school examined how technology was being used as

a tool for learning. As funds become available, they go towards staff

training, accessibility to computers and replacement of older equipment that

has become obsolete. Internet access, upgraded computer labs, and equal access

are all considered optimal for student learning.

While each classroom and school may use different methods of teaching,

assessments need to remain constant throughout the district. Schools are

implementing new ways for students and teachers to evaluate work.

Spreadsheets, student self-assessment, student-teacher conferences, and staff

member team meetings are some of the tools being used.

One common measure of assessment is the Connecticut Mastery Test that is

administered in grades four, six and eight. All schools included testing

results from the CMT within their school improvement plan.

Results indicated that scores fell on the written communication portion of the

CMT throughout the district. This finding has prompted several meetings among

reading consultants and administrators. The possibility of a change in

difficulty or format of the test was considered, but did not adequately

explain the drop in scores.

Each school faces its own unique challenges. Next year Middle Gate will have a

new principal replacing Gary Hexom. The middle school will also hire a new

principal to replace Les Weintraub. The appointed administrators will have new

ideas to continue to move the schools forward.

Sandy Hook has its challenges with its burgeoning student population of 674,

and its projected enrollment of nearly 700 for next year. Donna Page,

principal of Sandy Hook school affirmed, "We are proud of our positive school

culture and want to maintain the feeling of a small school, even as we grow

larger. Yet, an expanding student enrollment does affect an operation of a

school and the feeling, which permeates the building. A school operating with

a student population of 300-400 is just not the same as operating a school

with a population that is close to 700."

Dr John Reed enjoyed the enthusiasm generated by administrators and staff when

reviewing their school improvement plan. "I would like to emphasize that this

is a work in progress," said John Reed. "It is on-going, and is an integral

part of how we try to provide continual improvement to student's learning. I

celebrate the work our schools have done. To improve, we must be willing to be

critical of ourselves and set goals. If we do not, we deprive ourselves of

growing with the children."