Program for Accelerated Learning

1. Program for Accelerated Learning Appoquinimink School District 2010 Plan for Implementation Priority 2, goal 1

2. Strategic Plan Scope of Work • Provide more learning opportunities that engage, challenge and advance the achievement of our more academically talented students.

3. Stakeholder involvement • Parent input is an essential first step and therefore the decision was made to hold a parent focus group. • Each principal was contacted to submit at least two parent recommendations for participation on the focus group. • Fourteen parents were invited and nine accepted

4. Questions Cont’d • Wednesday, June 23rd the focus group was held at the training center. Parents were grateful that the district is exploring additional ways to challenge this group of students. • The following questions were asked for parental response:

5. Questions: • What are the greatest concerns that your child has expressed about their academics? • What experiences have you had that have led to your concerns about your child’s academic experience? • How do you want your child’s instruction to be different from what they are currently experiencing?

6. Questions cont’d: • What characteristics does your child demonstrate that makes you believe he/she should be in an accelerated program? • What type of program would you like to see your child involved in? • What areas would you like to see us address when the program is designed?

7. District-wide committee: • Board member-Mrs. Joanne M. Christian • Parents----Karen Aniunas and Carolyn Recla • Teachers: Ana Anderson ,Cheryle Spells, Kerri Roesch, Patti Pyle, Jesse Lauver ,Katherine Bin -Yusef and Sandra Smithers • Administrators: T.J.Vari, S.Pepukayi, R.Grauver,V.Perrine,D.Kolakowski,L.Lybarger, D.Panchisin • Facilitator---Marion E.Proffitt

8. Our plan of action: • Develop a common definition/ profile of the student identified for accelerated learning • Develop a criteria for student selection • Research and review various forms of acceleration • Decide by levels what our initial launch activities will be for the first year (2011-2012)

9. Plan of action ( completed) • Compile a list of the most commonly asked questions regarding acceleration and research for information • Compare responses/concerns from the parent focus group and district wide committee • Present program status to the full board • Hold district -wide informational meetings • Visit and solicit information on successful programs from neighboring states

10. What would the numbers look like today? 97th%ile and above? *DSTP • Reading---------- 388 students----8.9% • Math------------- 340 students----7.8% • Both-------------- 94 students----- 2.2% • Math or Read----- 634 students---- 14.9% *MAP: • Reading----------- 213 students---4.9% • Math--------------85 students----2.0% • Both---------------36 students-----0.8% • Math or Read------264 students----6.2% Not including 1st, 8th, 9th, or 10th grade

11. Demographic Analysis for Students Identified as in the 97th Percentile in Math OR Reading

12. Program Name and Definition: • The program will be entitled: Accelerated Learning Program. (ALP) • What is the defining purpose? • The purpose of the Appoquinimink Accelerated Learning program is to provide opportunities which will advance the education of students who demonstrate a compliment of high academic ability, task commitment, maturity and creativity.

13. Student selection criteria: • 100 points possible—95 points required* • 80 points—97%ile on standardized test math or reading—spring scores 20 points—Portfolio work samples---10 points teacher recommendations-5 points report cards---5 points * No appeal process

14. Are there exceptions? • Consideration will be granted to the students who fall between the 95th and 97%ile If those students are to be considered they will take the Otis Lennon (OLSAT) which is a cognitive abilities test. Cut scores will be established with the guidance of a team of our psychologists: • Test consist of various areas depending upon grade level such as: reasoning, classifications, analogies, verbal comprehension and verbal reasoning and other areas.

15. How will the process work • Each building will have a team to facilitate the ALP identification process. Categories for membership will be identified for committee make-up .i.e. teacher, administrators ,psychologist etc. • Process will be monitored by the superintendent’s designee

16. When can students be considered • Students will be considered each year through grade seven. The same criteria will be in force unless changes are made through the superintendent or his designee. School level adjustments will not be recognized. • Planning meetings will be held monthly through June 2011 • A district wide committee will plan the program launch for August 2011

17. Why have an Accelerated Learning program? • According to Megan Dobyns: Identifying the most gifted and talented students is incredibly important if we hope to cultivate our country’s most valuable resources. Many criticize it as elitist and unfair (Gallagher &Gallagher).

18. Why an accelerated program?cont’d On the contrary, not identifying them so they can have the proper program can be unfair to the children who need the program as well as to our society that will ultimately benefit from cultivating their potential (Colangelo & Davis,2003).

19. Why do we need this? No one wins when our system does not match the educational program offerings to the needs of our diverse population of students.

20. In the future Community informational meetings will be held. District psychologist will serve as consultants for alternative testing process. Tentative Spring 2011 deadline: • Program designs will be completed by design teams (teachers, specialists and administrators) • Program components will be announced. • Timeline for phase -in will be submitted to the superintendent • Other areas for discussion –considerations at the high school level for advice on course selections • Thanks to Jeff Klein for researching the data to support the need for program development.