Accelerated Schools

1. Accelerated Schools Will the Missouri Accelerated Schools project suit Central Middle School to a ?

2. What is the Missouri Accelerated Schools project?

3. What did we think? • At the conference, I learned many things. However, I did not learn much to help us in our decision on whether or not to adopt the Accelerated Schools Program. The conference seemed geared towards the schools already participating. -- Amanda Lane • I learned from talking to teachers of Accelerated Schools, that they work together making decisions, etc. I definitely think the biggest asset of the program would be for unifying the staff and consistency! -- Vickie Howard

4. Things I liked about the Accelerated Schools project: • The potential for an infra structure for the decision making process in our school. • The chunk of the decision process I really like is data driven decisions. • The excellent strategies and techniques which are shared. • Through this model, our staff has the opportunity to be one of the leading schools in our area. • The time to move on this is now, not in a few years. • In my opinion, with the state cut of funds which will most likely occur no later than next year, I really believe this is one of the few projects the state will financially give support to because it works. • The belief this process holds educators accountable for outcomes in their schools. • As educators, many of us have griped and complained for years about not having any say in the decision making process. This is our opportunity to have some direct control over issues which affect us and the students.

5. The challenges • The challenge of our staff letting go of our individual differences and working as a cohesive unit. • This will require a great deal of time and effort (but I believe we could rise to the level needed to accomplish the tasks.) • Focusing our complete attention at future training sessions. ----Cathy Kapfer

6. A Bright Light – Frank Ellis • I really enjoyed the session on school governance. I learned about the process and how the basic set up is structured. I learned that it really does take your teachers to make this a success. I am looking forward to groups of people to help with the process of educating kids. This is an organized process that will help CMS do things better. • I also like to take it very slow when trying to implement something this sophisticated. It reminds me of Madeline Hunter’s Steps in the teaching process. It is something that we are already doing; however, not effectively. Therefore, we need this process to help the entire staff remain focused. Also, we would be one of the first to spear head this project in the district. What a bright light!

7. Students, Parents, Teachers, and Community • Parents and students and the community will be involved and trusting. • The powerful learning teams are of great importance. They work on student achievement. This is our primary focus. When we write our new vision statement, we will lock in student achievement. – Frank Ellis • I believe that the Accelerated Schools project would fit perfectly with my teaching. My dream when I came to CMS was to engage in interdisciplinary teaching. This process would facilitate that while focusing the instruction on our student’s weakest skills. • This process would help to draw us together as one faculty. -- Pam Dumey

8. Accelerated Schools Visit Reports • Why become an accelerated school? • Where does the funding come from and how do we use it? • What is the process for writing the grant? • How do we schedule meetings? • When did the regional coordinator meet with your faculty? • How do we prove that accelerated schools work? • Who does the work? • How much time is involved? • How do we get all teachers participating?

9. Unity of Purpose AcceleratedSchools is a PROCESS not a PROGRAM.

11. Accelerated Schools School Governance: Making the Process Work

12. School Governance Structures • Governance in Accelerated Schools is the process for communication and decision making. • Ties to 3 principals: • 1. Unity of Purpose: Vision • 2. Building on Strengths: All members (parents, students, teachers, administrators) are included. • 3. Empowerment with responsibility: The responsibility for improvement is at the school site, and they are empowered to make decisions.

13. Primary Responsibilities • Communication Clearing house for information Communication link between stakeholders Maintain awareness of the vision • Decision-making School improvement Goal setting Other responsibilities such as professional development or allocation of funds Base decisions on the vision

14. School Governance Model • School as a Whole (SAW) includes parents, teachers, students and other stakeholders • Steering Committee is made up of cadre representative, parents, teachers, students and other stakeholders • Cadres are groups of teachers, parents and students that create plans to address primary areas of need in the school • Ad hoc committees are groups of teachers that address specific areas in the building

15. Empowerment • Inclusion of all stakeholder • Focus on the vision • Clear responsibilities and tasks • Decision making ability • Control of resources

16. Recruitment • Parents Willing to make a commitment Trained to understand the process • Students Trained to understand the process Assistance in understanding terminology • Teachers Willing to make a commitment Representatives of all sections of the school

17. Attendance • Regularly scheduled meetings • Reminder letters to parents • Reminder to students • Agenda • Focus on tasks • Celebrate accomplishments

18. Agenda • Set ground rules at the beginning • Assign different tasks to different people • Have regular reports from cadres • Work to include all members of the committee • Give time for closure

19. Follow Through • Time needed to shift focus • Vision needed to give direction • Meaningful work needed to give purpose • Empowerment needed to give value • Responsibility needed to give authority • Reflection needed to maintain focus • Celebration needed to add fun!