Strategic Planning Committee Minutes

 

August 5, 2004

 

 

 

The SPC reviewed the Results of an Aligned Curriculum data for the 2003-2004 school year. TAKS results indicated that the state as a whole improved and RFISD student scores increased more than the state. The state will increase the passing standards again this year. The standards will be at the panel recommendation level and will not increase after this year. Since the juniors have to meet the requirements for the sophomores of last year, the standards for the juniors will increase one more time next year. Commended performance overall increased, and the district will work to help more students to earn commended scores. The following analysis of the Results data was noted:

 

  • As the TAKS scores were analyzed, there were two areas that needed improvement in the district. In mathematics, students need to improve in percents/proportions/probability. In English language arts students need to improve in all three of the short answer categories.

 

  • The SAT is challenging this year in several fundamental ways. The test will no longer have analogy questions and will include mathematics through algebra 2. There will be a writing sample on the SAT for the first time. In 2004-2005 students will be allowed to take the previous form of the SAT, the revised form or both. We recommend that students take both forms of the test because students may report the better score of the two tests to the colleges to which they are applying.  

 

  • The SPC recommended that both the biology and the U.S. history End of Course (EOC) examinations have lost their value as assessments of student achievement since they have not been updated by the state for three years. The committee also recommended that the high school continue to use the algebra I EOC exam since it continues to be revised by the state. SPC noted that the high school Campus Improvement Committee needs to decide whether to continue to administer any of the EOC exams or not.

 

  • TEA will examine the number alternative of tests taken by special education students as required by their IEPs. These students will take either the State Developed Alternative Assessment (SDAA) or the Locally Developed Alternative Assessment (LDAA). The TAKS answer sheets will include information on whether the special education student takes the TAKS, SDAA or the LDAA and whether the student meets his/her goal as outlined in the IEP. This information is also part of the data reported for the No Child Left Behind Act.

 

  • The committee noted that gaps between the achievement of boys and girls were evident and the completion rate for high school was 100% with one student completing a GED. The attendance rate for all three schools was very good.

 

While the main focus of professional development will be the successful completion of the Teacher Technology Competency Certification, teachers will continue to revise and implement their performance tasks including integrated tasks. Kindergarten, fourth grade, elementary art, ninth grade social studies, English language arts and science and physics and music theory presented to the SPC last year. This school year the committee decided there would be two sets of presentations to SPC, both in the second semester. Presenters will bring samples of student work, list objectives and TEKS for the task, explain how they assessed the students and the results of those assessments and discuss revisions they will make for next year. The administrators for each campus will notify Rita Polen which presentations will be made for their campuses.

 

The committee planned the staff development for November 12. Teachers will work ½ day on their Integrated Performance Tasks or other Performance Tasks that need revision. They will incorporate some of their learning from their TTCC training into their performance tasks as well. In the afternoon they will work in their vertical teams sharing the revisions to their performance tasks and working on the continued alignment of the curriculum.

 

Since TTCC support will occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week, SPC will schedule their meetings on Wednesdays. The meetings will be as follows:

  • Wednesday, December 8, at 4:00 PM in room 21 at the high school
  • Wednesday, February 16, at 4:00 PM in room 21 at the high school with one set of presentations
  • Wednesday, May 11, at 4:00 PM in room 21 at the high school with the final presentations

 

Dick Wilson will facilitate the December meeting; Fritz Norman will write the minutes and Kay Magness will write a summary of the main ideas of the meeting.

 

SPC solicited teacher mentors specifically to help new teachers with Performance Tasks and with the Integrated Performance Tasks. Deb Pannabecker willsupport Jennifer Hooper, the new chemistry teacher; Fritz Norman will support Charlie Phillips, the new 6ht grade math teacher, and Kay Magness and Marhta Rouse will support Sarah Simmons, the new 6th grade English teacher and Francille Hatchett, the new 8th grade English teacher.

 

Next scheduled meeting:       Wednesday, December 8, 2004

                                                Randolph High School

                                                Room 21

                                                4:00 PM