Aldine School District Best Practices for Educational Excellence

1. The Road to Broad Dr. Wanda Bamberg, Superintendent of Schools June 29, 2010

2. The District

3. District organization • 5 Vertical Areas • Organized by Feeder Patterns • 1 Magnet Strand High Schools 9th Grade Schools Middle Schools Intermediate Schools Elementary Schools EC/Pre-K Centers

4. 68.2% Hispanic 27% African American 1.5% Asian 2.2% White 0.01% Native American Student Demographics 62,792 Students • 85.0% Economically Disadvantaged • 69.0% At-risk • 32.1% LEP • 7.2% Special Education • 22.7% Mobility Rate • Districtwide Title Program Data from 2010 PEIMS

5. Aldine’s Economically Disadvantaged students achieved higher average proficiency rates than their state counterparts in reading and math at all grade levels.

6. NCEA Best Practice Framework 5 Themes 3 Levels

7. Theme I: Curriculum and Academic Goals Curriculum Journey Model of Instruction (MOI) Alignment* Assessment*

8. Curriculum Journey The Aldine Plan • Identification of Skill • Strategy for Instruction of Skill • Assessment of Mastery of Skill • Adjustment to Ensure Mastery

9. District Practices • Developed Benchmark Targets • Developed Benchmark Target Assessments • Worked with Triand to develop a comprehensive Instructional Management System that includes TEKS, Benchmarks, Assessments, Lesson Plans, Resources, and a Data Analysis System • Planned professional development to train teachers in scope and sequence, instructional strategies and assessment.

10. Model of Instruction Based on the work of Fenwick English

11. A System Wide Curriculum Management Plan • A system wide curriculum philosophy – also in board policy • System wide expectations • Scope and sequence for the system • Consistent curriculum guide format which is user friendly – establishes a reasonable work load • Coordinated central functions including assessments • Connected system wide data collection, feedback, and use in the schools (Fenwick English)

12. District Scope & Sequence

13. Theme II: Staff Selection, Leadership and Capacity Building Theme III: Instructional Programs, Practices, and Arrangements

14. Alignment at All Levels • Leadership is the Key • Board • Superintendent • Cabinet – 6 Assistant Superintendents 5 Area Superintendents • District Department Heads • Building Principal • Campus Staff

15. Building Capacity Grow-Your-Own Programs/Philosophy • Paraprofessionals to Teachers • Student Teachers to Aldine Teachers • Academies for Teachers to APs • Academy for New APs • Interviews with Experienced APs with Cabinet • Academy for New Principals • Strong Culture of Hiring from Within the District

16. District Leadership-Board of Trustees Board Governance vs. District Management Policy Development to Guide District Reform and District Improvements Building Capacity to Develop Board Members

17. District Alignment District Guidelines, Scope and Sequence, Resources, Professional development, Assessments Based on Data Vertical Implementation based on Specific Vertical Needs including Professional development and additional Assessments Campus Level Implementation based on Specific Campus Needs including Professional Development and additional Assessments Teacher Level Implementation based on Specific Student Needs Tighter District Implementation in Times of Crisis

18. District Professional Development • Aligned to district goals and district plan • Address the acquisition, mastery, and application of academic skills • Common Sessions for All Teachers • Principals Trained First! • Numerous additional opportunities for professional development on afternoons, Saturdays, and during summers

19. Vertical Professional Development • The Model Classroom Project – John Samara • Three part objectives • Questioning strategies • Rubrics and student products • Quality Lessons and Instructional Alignment – Dr. Shirley Johnson • Customer Service Training

20. Collaborative Planning Sessions • Leadership Team • Department Chairs • Departmental Meetings • Cross-Curricular Meetings

22. Theme IV: Monitoring, Compilation, Analysis, & Use of Data

23. Using Data for All Decisions Processes Programs Policies Structure Curricula Instruction Resources(HR & Stakeholder) Positive Change In Outcomes Data /Goals Planned Change

24. Monitoring Systems and Using Data: Common Assessments • District-wide in core subjects each six weeks • District-wide – 3 week assessments in science and math • Campus-based assessments more frequently • Provides leading data • Provides 1st indication of need for intervention byteacher and student

25. Teacher Screen – Benchmark Exam

26. Teacher Collects Data from TRIAND

28. Team Approach Principal AP(s) Skill Specialist(s) Department / Grade Chair Teachers Program Director(s) Area Superintendent

29. Aldine Vertical – Bridge Building • Focus on student and learning • Purpose to discuss the Brutal Facts • Representatives from core content areas • PK – K • 4th – 5th • 6th – 7th • 8th – 9th • 9th – 10th • Facilitated by Skills specialist • Meetings held during school day

30. Theme V: Recognition, Intervention, and Adjustment

31. Recognitions • Celebrations at each meeting-district, vertical, board meetings • Celebrate Growth and Meeting Goals • Publications • Incentives for Teachers-State Plan (district plan discontinued • APPLE Celebration

32. Accelerated Schools-Intervention • Team • Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, Area Superintendent, Program directors, and Principal. • Six Weeks data meetings • Brutal facts • Plan of Action

34. Sample District Interventions • Funding and Personnel Support • Accelerated School Plan • Professional Development • District Policies-Trailer Courses, Re-teach/Reassess • District Systems to Support Campus Systems-Data system, Scorecard/Data (Baldrige) • District Improvement Plan • Peer Review

35. Sample Building Interventions • Transition/Prevention Program • Grad Prep Math & Reading Labs • Parent Conferences • Academic Contracts • Mandatory Tutorials • Re-teach & Re-assess • Pullouts & Saturday Schools • Credit Recovery Program • NG Make-up Classes

36. QUESTIONS?