Granger Jr. High School Let’s Get It Started

1. Granger Jr. High School Let’s Get It Started “Three replicable systems essential for academic success” Robert Bleisch & Ruben Baeza Assistant Principal’s Granger Jr. High School

2. Who We Are: Community/Demographics 2. Where We Were: Dysfunctional School Culture 3. What We Did: Three replicable systems 4. The Results: Academic Champs!!! Overview

4. National City, CA Who We Are... • Highest poverty rate in the county ($15,000 per capita) • Highest violent crime rates in county • Highest unemployment rate in San Diego County (20%) • Highest immigrant population in the county • Highest adult illiteracy rate in the state • Lowest rents/property values in county

6. Population: 1078 Grade 7-9 Free Lunch 91% Eng. Lang. Learners 30% Hispanic 68% Filipino 19% White 5% African American 1% Who We Are cont.

8. Where We Were (2002)

9. Where We Were in 2002..(reality) Lowest performing school in district: -Year 3 PI -604 API Low attendance: -Lowest in the district Excessive Stu Problems: -Undisciplined & Rude Homework ????: -Unmotivated/Unprepared

10. Where We Were... Unsafe campus: -High Gang Presence -High Crime/Violence -Fights/bullying the norm Poor School Pride: -Few clubs/activities Low teacher expectations -Students have a right to fail Low parent involvement

12. What We Decided To Do

13. Granger’s Mission • To ensure all students realize their boundless potential through a system of learning distinguished by: • Enrichment & rigor • Recognizing achievement • Timely support & intervention • Safe & nurturing environment • Building character, respect & trust • A culture where success in the only option • A strong partnership between family, school & community

14. Increase Attendance

15. Increase Attendance cont. 1. Changed Attendance Policy: • Described the importance of coming to school every day. • Included research linking irregular attendance and crime, risky behaviors and school failure. • Informed that irregular attendance would not be tolerated- no excuses!!! • Shared information re the law in California. • Detailed progressive consequences

16. Increase Attendance Cont. 2. Comprehensive SYSTEM: • Positive reinforcement: - Increased class competitions (earn non-uniform days). - Quarterly recognition event (certificate and pizza/ice cream). - Griffin Dollars/school raffle (ipods, TV’s, games etc.) • Progressive Consequences: -Parent phone call (each abs) - Dr. Note Contract/Sat Sch(3rd abs). - PM O-RM (2 hr detention if no show to Sat Sch). - Pre-SARB meetings to sign attendance laws contract (5th abs). - Student Study Team (6th abs). - Student Attendance Review Board (7th abs). - Behavior Contract (8th abs)

19. Improve Behavior

20. Improve Behavior cont. • Changed Policy: - Instruction sacred !!!! - Empowered teachers to remove students - Teachers supported by admin

21. Improve Behavior cont. 2. Procedures revamped: - Every Referral tracked and documented - Immediate consequence assigned (2 hrs after-Sch) - Parents notified - Student picked-up/escorted at the end of the day. - Progressive discipline used - No teacher time or involvement required

22. Mandatory Academic Support “The Granger Model”

23. “The Granger Model” 1. Attitude of a Winner (resiliency philosophy) 2. Mandatory Academic Support 3. Six Step Folder Distribution SYSTEM 4. Five Research-based Principles of Intervention

24. It’s an ATTITUDE: believe in yourself, work hard, dream big and NEVER, EVER GIVE UP! We EMPOWER students:hold high expectations, provide support & encouragement. No hay pobrecitios:do not feel sorry: We view our studentsas capable, not broken!!! FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION! 1. Attitude of a Winner Resiliency Philosophy

25. 2. Mandatory Academic Support 1. Changed school policy (Mandatory HW ) 2. Informed parents (meetings, letters, phone calls) 3. Allocated Resources (10 tutors, ASP bus, Teacher Extra duty) 4. Immediate Interventions after-school (same day) 5. Changed the bell schedule (Moved Advisory) 6. Added Targeted Support (formal and informal assessments) 7. Defended Program (from attack!!!!)

26. TARGETED SUPPORT 1. Homework: Academic Enrichment Center (All) 2. Re-teach: Support Classes (Anyone- below 70% on a weekly CFA) 3. Re-teach: Blended SC (Anyone- informal assessments) 4. Re-teach: Saturday Workshops (Below 70% on Quarterlies) - -

27. Targeted Support cont. 5. Intensive Intervention: Rising Stars (Anyone- two or more F;s) 6. Intensive Intervention: Shinning Stars (Basic EL’s) 7. Intensive Intervention: 7th Period Classes (FBB, BB) 8. Credit Recovery (CR): Credit make-up 9. Review: ABC Intervention (P and A)

28. Six Step Folder Distribution SYSTEM 1. Folders Prepared (placed in AEC box) 2. AEC Box picked-up (by the end of lunch 1:15) 3. Daily List Prepared (emailed on Staff News) 4. Folder Sorted (according to room #) 5. Folders Distributed (during 6th per passing period) 6. students released to cafeteria (5 min early)

30. Research-based Principles of Intervention 1. DIRECTIVE 2. TIMELY 3. TARGETED 4. FLEXIBLE 5. SYSTEMATIC

31. The Results: Academic Performance Index (API) & Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

32. API Scores

33. API Subgroup Results 2004-2009

34. AYP Gains in Math 2004-2009

35. AYP ELA Results2004-2009

36. API Ranking 2009 West Side

37. Academic Success Granger (GJH) & National City Middle (NCM) • GJH:178 pts. in 6 yrs (604-782): 2003-2009; ranked 10 out of 10 on similar schools ranking • NCM:128 pts in 3 yrs (652-780): 2006-2009; ranked 10 out of 10 on similar schools ranking • GJH/NCM: Both pulled out of Program Improvement 1st year “GJH Model” implemented. • GJH/NCM: Top two performing similar school in the district (out of 7 schools in w/ similar demographics)

39. The SYSTEM is the solution!