AYP/STUDENT IMPROVEMENT

Key Initiatives and Workshops
to Assist Districts with NCLB Goals
By: Mary Jenatscheck

Surveys of Enacted Curriculum
One key initiative is a pilot grant project with the Surveys of Enacted Curriculum (SEC). Three regional school districts are grant recipients: Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, United South Central, and Sleepy Eye. Through SEC, teachers are surveyed on instructional content and practices. The results of the surveys offer multiple comparisons of curriculum alignment around the Minnesota standards within and between grade levels and buildings. Districts receive further data as a result of the surveys on professional development, homework, and assessment.

Through the grant, district recipients receive compensation for taking the survey and for attendance at a follow-up two-day data retreat. SEC is a time-saving addition to any district involved in a curriculum mapping study. SEC is available to any school district at a cost of $12.50 per teacher plus trainer costs. If interested in hearing more about carrying out the surveys please contact Mary Jenatscheck at 507-838-8310.

Linking Assessment to the Standards — SIOP — Four Block Literacy
“Linking Assessment to the Standards” was a February workshop offered at SCSC by the AYP Service Providers. The topic of assessment is critical to a district’s understanding of their ongoing progress and needs toward student achievement around the standards.

“Sheltered Intervention Observation Protocol (SIOP) Part Two” was offered February 28 at SCSC. This workshop was back again by popular demand, with presenter/trainer Jana Hilleren Garcia leading the two-part series. SIOP places its focus on the needs of the ELL student in the general education classroom.

The final workshop for February which took place on February 29 was the Four Block Literacy with presenter Dr. David Koppenhaver. Four Block is a holistic and scientifically-based method of meeting the literacy needs of K–12 special education students or students in need of a Response to Intervention (RtI). The Four Block method is a multi-level and multi-approach instructional technique. A follow-up session will will be held in June for those who attended February’s workshop.

New Algebra Standards Require Advance Planning
The new requirement of algebra for eighth graders in 2011, requires districts to look ahead and begin planning now. It is of critical importance that districts are preparing now for this requirement. Current fifth-graders will be the first grade level needing to meet this requirement and should now be receiving instruction on the revised standards. Due to the urgency around this requirement, during the week of June 16–20 a workshop will be held for general education majors wanting additional background with the revised algebra standards. During each of the five days, the morning will be spent on algebra content and the afternoon on instructional strategies around the standards. To register go to: www.mnscsc.org and click on Events.