PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:  Middle School
 
 

RELATED GOALS:

Quality Education, Competency and Proficiency in Basic Studies, Student Achievement, Technology, Alternatives, Communication, Special Education

 
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

1. To develop and increase staff proficiency in the use of technology through computers, databases, word processing, spreadsheets, CDROM, and telecommunications including the Internet and e-mail.

2. To enhance instructional delivery by implementing current "best practices" in middle level education.

3. To develop and increase student proficiency in reading, listening, and speaking skills.

4. To develop and increase student proficiency in mathematics concepts, problem solving, computation, measurement, algebra, geometry and data analysis.

5. To develop and increase student proficiency in citizenship, history, geography, economics, government and law.

6. To develop and increase student proficiency in science using the scientific method to describe, analyze and solve problems in the environment and society based on scientific knowledge.

7. To develop and increase student proficiency in writing using appropriate punctuation, capitalization, spelling, sentence structure, grammar and organization while varying word choice, following a logical order, and conveying a message to a given prompt.

8. To enhance instructional delivery by integrating critical and creative thinking skills across the curriculum.

9. To continue to support the differentiation of instructional strategies to better meet the needs of all learners.

10. To provide students with the support needed to meet the requirements of the promotion policy.

11. To provide a summer intervention experience for sixth and seventh graders who fail one or more core courses.

12. To provide a summer intervention experience for sixth and seventh graders who fail three or more proficiency courses and are truant 10% of the year.  This is a mandate from Senate Bill 55.
 

1. Off Grade Proficiency writing and mathematics tests for all students in grade 7, evaluating basic writing and mathematical skills.

2. State mandated Proficiency Tests for all students in grades 6 and 8 in writing, reading, mathematics, citizenship and science.

3. California Achievement Test (CAT) for all students in grades 7 and 8, a norm referenced test in vocabulary, reading comprehension, language mechanics, and language expression; teacher-made tests, textbook tests/projects and possibly portfolios.

4. California Achievement Test (CAT) for all students in grades 7 and 8, a norm referenced test in mathematics computation, concepts and applications; teacher-made tests, and textbook tests/projects.

5. California Achievement Test (CAT) for all students in grades 7 and 8, a norm referenced test in spelling using correct structural units, vowels and consonants; teacher-made tests, textbook tests/projects and possibly portfolio work.

6. California Achievement Test (CAT) for all students in grades 7 and 8, a norm referenced test in study skills including organizing information, analyzing information, interpreting graphics and using reference sources; teacher-made tests, and textbook tests/projects.

7. California Achievement Test (CAT) for all students in grades 7 and 8, a norm referenced test in science including science processes, life science, physical science, earth and space science topics; teacher-made tests, and textbook tests/projects.

8. Test of Cognitive Skills for all students in grade 8, in nonverbal skills, memory and verbal skills.

9. Competency Based Education pre/post assessment for all students in grades 6-8.

10. Quarterly grade distribution information and grade point average for school.
 

1. Compare baseline standardized test data gathered from the 1995-96 and 1996-97 school year with data for 1997-98.

2. Compare ability and achievement on the CAT/5 in conjunction with the "Anticipated Achievement" scores for students in 8th grade.

3. Analyze proficiency passage rates as determined by first time administration at the grade level using '95-'96 data as the baseline data.

4. Compare Competency Based Education scores on the pre- and post-tests.
 

1. Provide funds to increase availability and use of technology by teachers for improving instruction through additional computer hardware/software, and by continuing to upgrade current classroom computers.

2. Provide funds to increase availability and use of technology by students for improving instruction through the use of additional software packages.

3. Provide funds to support additional proficiency intervention through the purchase of software and other materials and instructional supplies.

4. Provide funds to support science and social studies courses-of-study implementation through the purchase of supplemental materials and supplies.

5. Provide funds to support mathematics course of study through the purchase of supplemental materials, manipulatives, software programs and other instructional supplies.

6. Provide funds to support the shift in instructional strategies in science through the purchase of additional materials, laser discs, software programs and instructional supplies.

7. Provide staff with building memberships to select professional organizations in order to access new research and findings (ex: NMSA, OMSA, NCTM, NSTA, ETC.).

8. Support IDEA and the Alternative Service Delivery Option model for implementing new state standards.

9. Provide funds for planning an alternative educational option for approximately 45 middle school students whose behavior is preventing them and their classmates from optimizing their learning potential.

10. Provide funds for a multi-age remediation team for 30 students whose skills in English and Math are 3-4 grade levels below their grade placement.

RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

1. Implemented new mathematics and social studies curricula and encouraged use of new instructional strategies.

2. Conducted workshops with staff on higher order thinking skills, critical thinking and interdisciplinary curricular threads.

3. Conducted monthly department sessions for all science teachers to exchange and share skills to improve instruction.

4. Conducted workshops with teams about interpreting and correctly using the CAT/5 results for intervention and enrichment, as well as how to correlate CAT/5 results with OPT learner outcomes and strands.

5. Awarded a "Venture Partners" Grant for $5,000 to pursue staff instruction in the area of critical thinking skills and classroom instruction. (Roxboro Middle)

6. Designed, implemented and evaluated building staff development efforts for the October 10, 1997 professional day.

7. Competed in State History Day Contest, Northeast Ohio Regional Science Fair, Mathematics Tournament and National Science Olympiad. (Monticello)

8. Received a Service Learning Planning grant from ODE to implement service learning programs.

9. Implemented Pinpoint Program in conjunction with RapArt as an alternative for students on suspension.

10. Implemented Saturday study skills and Saturday Academy programs for grade 6.

11. Implemented a multi-age unit for sixth graders who did not successfully complete all sixth grade core courses.
 

Results of the Sixth Grade Proficiency Test - Spring 1997:

Writing: Seventy percent (70%) of the sixth graders passed the writing proficiency test, a gain of 12% from 1996.

Reading: The spring 1997 passage rate of 74% is an improvement over the 70% of 1996.

Mathematics: The mathematics proficiency test is a continuing challenge for our students.  However, this year's 40% passage-rate is an improvement over the 35% of last year.

Citizenship: The passage rate for the citizenship proficiency test increased from 58% in 1996 to 63% in 1997.

Science: The state reports 35% of sixth grade students passed the field test version of the science proficiency test in 1996 and 35% passed the science test in spring 1997.

Passing Five: In spring 1997, 28% of our sixth grade students passed all five required proficiency tests.
 

Comparing the spring 1996 and spring 1997 percentages of students who passed each test, we find gains in all subjects except reading.

Writing: Ninety-one percent (91%) of the Class of 2001 passed the writing proficiency test, a gain of 14% from 1996.

Reading: The spring 1996 passage rate of 81% exceeds the state of Ohio goal of a 75% passing rate for ninth grade students.

Mathematics: This year's mathematics proficiency 47% passage rate is not only an improvement over the 43% of last year, it is also our students' best "first attempt" performance since ninth grade proficiency testing began in 1990.

Citizenship: The passage rate for the citizenship proficiency test increased from 67% in 1996 to 74% in 1997, our best performance on a "first attempt" in seven years.

Science: The state reports 54% of our eighth grade students passed the field test version of the science proficiency test in 1996 and 59% passed the science test in spring 1997.

Passing Five: In spring 1996, 35% of our eighth grade students passed all four required proficiency tests.  Even though the number of required tests has increased to five, including science, 40% of the Class of 2001 passed all five required tests.  While for us the percentage is encouraging, it is still below the state standard of 75% we are required to meet.

PROGRAM BUDGET : MIDDLE SCHOOL
 

		97/98	98/99	Variance to
		Approved	Proposed	97/98 Budget	Percent
Object	Description	Budget	Budget	(col 2 - col 1)	Change
Personnel Services:
100	Salaries & Wages	5,143,006	5,469,907	326,901	6.36%
200	Benefits	1,405,040	1,448,658	43,618	3.10%
	Total Personnel Services	6,548,046	6,918,565	370,519	5.66%
	Personnel as % of Total	96.38%	96.54%
Non-personnel Services:
400	Purchased Services	38,474	32,865	(5,609)	-14.58%
500	Materials & Supplies	172,099	178,710	6,611	3.84%
600	Capital Outlay - New	26,903	24,731	(2,172)	-8.07%
700	Capital Outlay - Replacement	4,856	7,299	2,443	50.31%
800	Other Objects	3,489	4,338	849	24.33%
900	Other Uses of Funds	0	0	0	0.00%
	Total Non-personnel Services	245,821	247,943	2,122	0.86%
Carryover Encumbrances				0	0.00%
	Total Expenditures	6,793,867	7,166,508	372,641	5.48%

04/09/98 12:45 PM
99BUDDOC.WK4

MIDDLE SCHOOL
 

	1997/98 Budget	1997/98 Changes	1997/98 Actual	1998/99 Budget	1998/99 Changes
Instruction (CORE):
English	9.00		9.00	9.00
Language Arts	11.00		11.00	11.00
Mathematics	17.50		17.50	17.50
Reading	3.50		3.50	3.50
Science	16.50		16.50	16.50
Social Studies	17.00		17.00	17.00
Total Instruction (CORE)	74.50		74.50	74.50
Instruction (ENRICHMENT):
Art	3.00		3.00	3.00
Communications	0.84		0.84	0.84
Foreign Cultures	1.83		1.83	1.83
French	2.50		2.50	2.50
Health	3.00		3.00	3.00
Industrial Arts	0.50		0.50	0.50
Life Skills	0.33		0.33	0.33
Middle School Scholars Program	3.00		3.00	3.00
Music - Instrumental	3.00		3.00	3.00
Music - Vocal	3.00		3.00	3.00
Physical Education	6.00		6.00	6.00
Spanish	3.50		3.50	3.50
Technology	2.50		2.50	2.50
Technology Resource				3.00	3.00
Ungraded	2.00		2.00	2.00
Total Instruction (ENRICHMENT)	35.00		35.00	38.00	3.00
Total Middle School Instruction	109.50		109.50	112.50	3.00

 

March 23,1998: Revised
 

F-7

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