Date: Fri 02-Apr-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

school-improvement-program

Full Text:

School Improvement Plan Would Coordinate Student Assessment Systemwide

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. The

integrated School Improvement Plan has been presented to the Board of

Education for its review.

Superintendent of Schools John Reed said the school principals realize that

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

being able to determine where students' strengths and weaknesses lie, school

administrators believe teachers may more effectively tailor instruction to the

individual.

The six schools have goals in common in their quest to prepare students for a

rapidly changing society. To this end, students must possess problem-solving

skills, maintain flexibility, and be able to communicate effectively.

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

communicate effectively, according to the principals, so 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,

according to the school administrators. Internet access, upgraded computer

labs, and equal access were all considered optimal for student learning and

were listed as a common goal.

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

assessments need to remain constant throughout the district, according to the

principals. Newtown 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. K-8 schools included testing

results from the CMT within their school improvement plan. The high school

administers the CAPT test.

CMT results indicated that scores fell on the written communication portion of

the test throughout the district. This finding has prompted several meetings

among reading consultants and administrators. The data from results are

complex and are given careful analysis, according to the administrators.

Assistant Superintendent Robert Kuklis noted, "There has been a frustration

with the writing portion of the CMT. Its format is limiting and is 45 minutes

in duration. Students are to edit mistakes found on a document they're

unfamiliar with. The problem is, students should be editing either their own

work or work they have familiarity with. Forty-five minutes on a given day

cannot fully capture the whole writing process. Students may not be used to

this form of testing, so more practice should be provided."

The district has been doing a great deal of work on writing skills. Principal

Les Weintraub and his teaching staff at the middle school have adopted a

writing tutorial program for students who did not meet proficiency standards.

"Teachers see performance improvements that are carrying over, with students

reading at a higher level," Mr Weintraub said.

Schools will continue to promote a strong reading/writing connection. Focus

will be given to strengthen expository writing, revising and editing skills,

according to the improvement plan.

Each school faces its own challenges. Next year, Middle Gate School will have

a new principal replacing Gary Hexom. Newtown Middle School will also hire a

new principal to replace Les Weintraub.

Dr John Reed has invited parents to a brainstorming session that will address

traits most desired in the principal hired to replace Mr Weintraub. The

information gained from this discussion will be used in the interview process

for the new candidate, according to Dr Reed.

Sandy Hook faces 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," she said. Limited space makes the

transference of music and art programs on a cart, a potential reality. This

compromises the quality and efficacy of the program, according to Mrs Page.

Dr Reed emphasized that the School Improvement Plan is a work in progress. "It

is ongoing, and is an integral part of how we try to provide continual

improvement to student's learning," he said. "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."