Print
E-mail
Comment
Share
Schauer addresses API/AYP scores for elementary district
 |
| Galt Joint Union Elementary School Superintendent Karen Schauer, Ed.D., is still waiting for final special education test results that will determine if the district is going to be in the first year of Program Improvement in the federal No Child Left Behind program. |
Schools superintendent believes district is ‘on the right track’
By Dana Edlund-Staff Writer
In a recent interview with The Galt Herald, Galt Joint Union Elementary School District Superintendent Karen Schauer, Ed.D., addressed the state’s Academic Performance Index (API) and the federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) report based on the test scores of students. Last spring, elementary students throughout Galt took the Standardized Testing and Reporting Program (STAR) tests, and those tests are used to measure the progress of the district, its schools and students.
Q. Several schools did well, a couple did really well in specific subgroups – what are they doing differently than the other schools who lost points or just made slight increases? What is the district doing to ensure all Galt kids receive the same quality education?
There are “pockets of academic excellence” across our school district that are demonstrated through district and state results. We think that effective implementation through training, instructional materials use and data use has been instrumental in some of the gains seen at Lake Canyon, Valley Oaks and Marengo. We also had an opportunity at Fairsite to see what kinds of instructional practices were successful with kindergartners and first graders. This year, all schools will use these successful practices and curriculum materials. Our school and district coaches will be able to help with implementing this change, by training teachers, modeling lessons and helping teachers with planning.
It is important that every school shares best practices across grade levels and the school district. We are intensifying this effort through team collaboration, academic conferences and coaching within and across schools. Our goal is every subgroup 80 percent proficient with district assessments and every subgroup meeting AYP targets for the 2009-10 school year through Great First Teaching efforts.
Q. The effects of combining Greer Middle and McCaffrey Middle – did you achieve the desired outcome? What about them only making 18 of 25 criteria – since the criteria is based on “proficient or better,” shouldn’t we be concerned our children are below proficient?
This is the first year for AYP and API for the new McCaffrey Middle School as a 7-8 school. The AYP and API scores reflect baseline results for this new middle school configuration that changed from two 6-8 schools in 2007-08 to one grades 7-8 middle school during the 2008-09 school year.
Even with this first year of reconfiguration, middle school district-wide STAR scores improved from the previous year for the following grade levels: Eighth grade language arts, geometry, science and history/social science.
With our Great First Teaching efforts that concentrate on quality instruction, ongoing data use and coaching support, we believe the right changes have been made and expect significant middle school performance improvement when we receive AYP and API results next year. Title 1 funds are now going to every GJUESD school that helps us move forward to close the achievement gap K-8.
Q. Is the district taking into consideration, when placing and paying teachers, the pressure of making AYP for Title 1 schools?
All GJUESD schools are receiving Title 1 funds and can become a Program Improvement school if targets are not met for two consecutive years. Our district expectations are that all schools will meet state and federal standards whether Title 1 or not. Valley Oaks was not a Program Improvement school last year.
Q. Greer is a Title 1 school and in Program Improvement. With those extra funds and oversight, why are we not seeing the changes there that we see elsewhere in the district?
Last year was considered the final year of Fairsite Elementary School. Greer Elementary is a new school this year and is not in Program Improvement. The closing of Fairsite, along with boundary changes, resulted in new staff joining veteran school staff with a principal in her second year of leadership at the school. With the Great First Teaching coaches, instructional assistants and even greater data use, I expect more significant growth at Greer Elementary for 2009-10.
I am expecting every GJUESD school to implement Great First Teaching efforts. We have the people power and tools to see significant gains, but implementation needs to be more consistent.
Q. Special Educaion scores are low, federal criteria not met. The statewide average for these students on the STAR test is increased. Other districts are improving – what happened in Galt? District wide we lost 27 points – and by not making our 25 criteria, we are in PI – so what happens next? What changes can we expect to see in our Special Ed services?
Our AYP results are not final for special education at this time. The state is determining final scores and will inform us in November whether or not our special education results will result in our district beginning Year One Program Improvement. Our director of education services is working with special education teachers to make sure the Individual Education Plans more effectively align with standards-based learning assessed on state tests. In addition, our Great First Teaching model includes every teacher monitoring every student, including special education students, in meeting the school district’s 80 percent proficiency target on trimester tests.
On Sept. 14, the state department of education waived the requirement for our district to notify parents of the Year One Program Improvement status until the new test results for special education students are determined in November.
At this time, the state is determining performance levels for grades 6-8 students in special education. These students took a new state test called the California Modified Assessment (CMA). Once the state determines these results, we will know for sure whether or not we are in Year One Program Improvement as a district.
I am not certain what we will find out for our special education subgroup in November; however, the fact that we made significant district wide subgroup growth for Latino, white, socio-economically disadvantaged, and English Learners is very promising for our academic direction for all students. I truly believe we are on the right track with Great First Teaching efforts for all GJUESD children.
Q. Several schools did well, a couple did really well in specific subgroups – what are they doing differently than the other schools who lost points or just made slight increases? What is the district doing to ensure all Galt kids receive the same quality education?
There are “pockets of academic excellence” across our school district that are demonstrated through district and state results. We think that effective implementation through training, instructional materials use and data use has been instrumental in some of the gains seen at Lake Canyon, Valley Oaks and Marengo. We also had an opportunity at Fairsite to see what kinds of instructional practices were successful with kindergartners and first graders. This year, all schools will use these successful practices and curriculum materials. Our school and district coaches will be able to help with implementing this change, by training teachers, modeling lessons and helping teachers with planning.
It is important that every school shares best practices across grade levels and the school district. We are intensifying this effort through team collaboration, academic conferences and coaching within and across schools. Our goal is every subgroup 80 percent proficient with district assessments and every subgroup meeting AYP targets for the 2009-10 school year through Great First Teaching efforts.
Q. The effects of combining Greer Middle and McCaffrey Middle – did you achieve the desired outcome? What about them only making 18 of 25 criteria – since the criteria is based on “proficient or better,” shouldn’t we be concerned our children are below proficient?
This is the first year for AYP and API for the new McCaffrey Middle School as a 7-8 school. The AYP and API scores reflect baseline results for this new middle school configuration that changed from two 6-8 schools in 2007-08 to one grades 7-8 middle school during the 2008-09 school year.
Even with this first year of reconfiguration, middle school district-wide STAR scores improved from the previous year for the following grade levels: Eighth grade language arts, geometry, science and history/social science.
With our Great First Teaching efforts that concentrate on quality instruction, ongoing data use and coaching support, we believe the right changes have been made and expect significant middle school performance improvement when we receive AYP and API results next year. Title 1 funds are now going to every GJUESD school that helps us move forward to close the achievement gap K-8.
Q. Is the district taking into consideration, when placing and paying teachers, the pressure of making AYP for Title 1 schools?
All GJUESD schools are receiving Title 1 funds and can become a Program Improvement school if targets are not met for two consecutive years. Our district expectations are that all schools will meet state and federal standards whether Title 1 or not. Valley Oaks was not a Program Improvement school last year.
Q. Greer is a Title 1 school and in Program Improvement. With those extra funds and oversight, why are we not seeing the changes there that we see elsewhere in the district?
Last year was considered the final year of Fairsite Elementary School. Greer Elementary is a new school this year and is not in Program Improvement. The closing of Fairsite, along with boundary changes, resulted in new staff joining veteran school staff with a principal in her second year of leadership at the school. With the Great First Teaching coaches, instructional assistants and even greater data use, I expect more significant growth at Greer Elementary for 2009-10.
I am expecting every GJUESD school to implement Great First Teaching efforts. We have the people power and tools to see significant gains, but implementation needs to be more consistent.
Q. Special Educaion scores are low, federal criteria not met. The statewide average for these students on the STAR test is increased. Other districts are improving – what happened in Galt? District wide we lost 27 points – and by not making our 25 criteria, we are in PI – so what happens next? What changes can we expect to see in our Special Ed services?
Our AYP results are not final for special education at this time. The state is determining final scores and will inform us in November whether or not our special education results will result in our district beginning Year One Program Improvement. Our director of education services is working with special education teachers to make sure the Individual Education Plans more effectively align with standards-based learning assessed on state tests. In addition, our Great First Teaching model includes every teacher monitoring every student, including special education students, in meeting the school district’s 80 percent proficiency target on trimester tests.
On Sept. 14, the state department of education waived the requirement for our district to notify parents of the Year One Program Improvement status until the new test results for special education students are determined in November.
At this time, the state is determining performance levels for grades 6-8 students in special education. These students took a new state test called the California Modified Assessment (CMA). Once the state determines these results, we will know for sure whether or not we are in Year One Program Improvement as a district.
I am not certain what we will find out for our special education subgroup in November; however, the fact that we made significant district wide subgroup growth for Latino, white, socio-economically disadvantaged, and English Learners is very promising for our academic direction for all students. I truly believe we are on the right track with Great First Teaching efforts for all GJUESD children.
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of galtheraldonline.com.
Galt Teacher wrote on Oct 22, 2009 12:26 PM:
" Good question. The parents have the power to effect change. Some questions they might ask about the budget are:
Why is this district paying consultants and laying off teachers?
Why are there 11 curriculum coaches instead of 11 more teacher in the classrooms?
Why did the district cut staff to the middle school when the student population increased?
As a Galt teacher I urge the community to get involved, we are being asked to do more with a lot less and unfortunately the students are ultimately the ones who suffer. "
Why is this district paying consultants and laying off teachers?
Why are there 11 curriculum coaches instead of 11 more teacher in the classrooms?
Why did the district cut staff to the middle school when the student population increased?
As a Galt teacher I urge the community to get involved, we are being asked to do more with a lot less and unfortunately the students are ultimately the ones who suffer. "
alf wrote on Oct 23, 2009 11:11 AM:
" the district cut staff at McCaffrey because we do not need that many asst. prinicipals, however, in my opinion, the should have gotten rid of the 2nd principal too. as for the other hiring, layoffs, they removed some of the dead wood, more needs to happen. teachers that are speaking out are probably ones that are the deadwood. teachers need to be held accountable and the district is trying to do that. no more same ol' same ol' get used to it. we demand quality teachers at all of our schools. if those people would put in the effort, they will be employed, rewarded and recoginzed. no more bs. it's being fixed. slowly it will happen. "
Galtmom wrote on Oct 23, 2009 4:45 PM:
" Way to go Dana...Some direct questions that were ducked but, you did your best. Until a new board and administration gets into the elementary district things will continue to decline. Think folks...Who was the Principal at the PI status Greer Middle?? OH...I know he's now the director of Special Education...OH who was the Director of Curriculum when schools were in PI status...OH I know our Now Superintendent...If someone is not effective let's promote them to oversee the district as a whole...SMART? Not! "
Galt Teacher 2 wrote on Oct 23, 2009 6:06 PM:
" Please parents come to the next meeting at McCaffrey. Ask questions! Be there in person. They want to cut music programs and librarians from the schools. These are important for the kids to have... "
Galt Citizen wrote on Oct 26, 2009 9:12 AM:
" Alf, I agree that the deadwood needs to be removed and policies changed. Your demand for quality teachers is valid, but remember, the first teachers to be laid off are the newest, often young, energetic, hardworking teachers. With the CTA and tenure policies, how can these teachers be kept while the ones you refer to as "deadwood" stay in the district? "
Galt Teacher 2 wrote on Oct 26, 2009 11:18 AM:
" Alf-I know for a fact that some of those teachers who were cut are GREAT teachers! Cuts should have come from the top...McCaffrey comment I agree with. They do not need two principals. "
alf wrote on Oct 29, 2009 12:55 AM:
" i believe that they should have kept the great, hungry, first & second year, younger, lower paid teachers over the ones that are paid much more, yet are not doing anymore that required. we need to get rid of the "I will work hard for 2 years, get tenure, then i'm set' attitude. just look around at any school here in town. we need to get rid of this. something needs to happen, otherwise we will not progress. "
itsagaltthing wrote on Oct 29, 2009 6:17 PM:
" A quick solution is to cut EVERYONE's salary by 10%. yes including the Supt. & that good for nothing director of special services. He was inapproachable as a principal and worse as a district administrator. However, he is set for life with benefits because he holds the "Director" title. A little investigating should also be happening with the Fiscal "Director" who wants to move funds according to what she sees fit not to the needs of the students. She is definitley out of touch with what sutdents need. Whne was the last time she stepped on to a school site to see what is going on? She hasn't! She''s just worried about driving her $65k car. "
Parent wrote on Oct 31, 2009 8:29 AM:
" Alf, I don't think you quite understand the situation. Parents need to take an active role in their child's development and education. We all had different teachers, good and bad, growing up and found a way to do the work and get the job done. Relieving parents of all responsibility for their child's education and putting it on the teachers is not quite right. The progress you want to see needs teacher work, but also our work as parents and students. "
alf wrote on Nov 2, 2009 8:44 PM:
" I do not believe i said that it was all up to the teachers, I would like to see the parents involved. i know i am. it is critical that they get involved. we should make it mandatory for them to get involved if they want to see their kids advance. there are way too many parents who do not care. they say they are, but come around when their kids are performing during band, choir, science events, arts, etc. seems to me the only time they come around is during football. and then, some of those do not. it's just sad. we also need admin. to step up and get involved. there are times I have to wonder what is going on there at the schools. "
Galt Citizen wrote on Oct 21, 2009 9:03 PM: