INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 196 Rosemount‐Apple Valley‐Eagan Public Schools Educating our students to reach their full potential Middle School Program Review Task Force June 23, 2010 Present: Dan Wilharber, Tom Pederstuen, Trevor Johnson, Rich Wendorff, Mary Thompson, Mary Kreger, Mark Parr, Jackie Magnuson, Joel Albright, Steve Troen and Julie Olson Absent: Noel Mehus, Pete Zak and Dave McKeag I. Results from meetings in the buildings with Jane, Mark and Steve were discussed. The main themes and/or feedback comments were: 1. A strong need for accountability for 8th grade students. 2. An opportunity to learn: how and what is the best use of time during the day (i.e. mid‐day and length of class periods). 3. Opportunity to meet all students’ needs. 4. How will the House Concept be affected? 5. We need to look at the whole child not just test scores. 6. What are the avenues for feedback and/or input to the Task Force? 7. Staff expressed a desire to be involved in the process of determining the new concept. II. Principals report using Breaking Ranks survey criteria. Should the EIP Team/Leadership Team fill out this survey for comparison? Survey will be reviewed at the Middle School Principals’ Meeting. III. Review of feedback from “Feedback/Comment Box” and Parent Survey Accountability and rigor are the main themes from the feedback/comment box. According to the Parent Survey, parents are looking for the following: 1. Require high teacher quality 2. Increase rigor 3. Improve school environment 4. Improve teacher/parent/school communication 5. Review student schedules Percentage of comments in relation to list of criteria from question # 5 ‐ “What part of the middle school do you believe needs to be improved?” 5% Instructional consistency 10% Standards based instruction 13% Proportion of instruction time in core classes Clear intensive prep for HS/PS Almost 13% Multi‐tiered systems of support 22% Availability of choice/options of classes 27% Climate of high achievement Percentage of comments in relation to list of criteria from question # 14 ‐ “Please tell us your suggestions for improvements in our middle schools.” 32% A need for a climate of high achievement/rigor 20% Student support 18% More choice options requested 11% Core Classes/Blocked Classes 8% Prep for high school Other emerging themes from the survey:  Improve communication from schools to parents  Communication from teachers to parents not just by using SchoolView or Moodle  Questions on the quality of Student Led Conferences  Desire for more writing in our curriculum  School Discipline Overall feedback from Parent Survey Main Themes, parents would like to see more:  Rigor  Accountability of students  Better use of time/day  More structure  More choices and/or options  Expectations of high achievement  Teacher quality  Student support  Improve communication IV. Revisit list of criteria or middle school research and site visits Instructional consistency ‐ all buildings and subjects should be consistent within all middle schools/buildings in the district. Standards‐based instruction. Have all programs aligned (Regular education, ELL, Special education). Multi‐tiered systems of support. V. VI. What is the cost to evaluate programs ‐ compare with other districts? A climate of high achievement‐ how is it measured‐ look at the historical pattern, culture, climate, what are the expectations? Proportion of instruction time in core classes. Availability of choice and/or options. Clear intensive prep for HS/PS Grade 8 to 9. Program evaluation‐ How do you measure effectiveness? Schedule (Student Day). Teacher day ‐ time and how is it used? Should there be more team planning, time for collaboration? What type of professional development model should be used? Communication, not just through technology‐ a need for creative face time not only at conferences After/before school activities What does the Master Schedule look like? Establishment of what models and/or schools to look at A discussion of which schools to visit? Trevor Johnson, Rich Wendorff and Mary Thompson will investigate which schools to visit and make a list for the next meeting. Steve Troen will establish a grid of priority criteria to take when viewing and talking to other schools. Next step(s) Draft of a list of criteria, a list of schools and decide who will go on site visits.