When I last left, we were in the process of talking about accreditation. The question that has been asked by so many is why cant we get our schools accredited? First we need to look at how they are accredited. School accreditation ratings reflect student achievement on SOL tests and other approved assessments in English, history/social science, mathematics and science. Ratings are based on the achievement of students on tests taken during the previous academic year or on a three-year average of achievement. Schools receive one of the following ratings: Fully Accredited Elementary and middle schools are Fully Accredited if students achieve all of the following pass rates: • English — 75 percent or higher • Mathematics — 70 percent or higher • Science — 70 percent or higher • History — 70 percent or higher *High schools are Fully Accredited if: • Students achieve pass rates of 75 percent or higher in English and 70 percent or higher in mathematics, science and history; and • Attain a point value of 85 or greater based on the Graduation and Completion Index (GCI). As you know, PHS is our only fully accredited school. A school receives this rating if pass rates are below the achievement levels required for full accreditation. Schools that are Accredited with Warning undergo academic reviews and are required to adopt and implement school improvement plans. Schools that are Accredited with Warning in English and/or mathematics also are required to adopt instructional programs proven by research to be effective in raising achievement in these subjects. A school may hold this rating for no more than three consecutive years. In addition, high schools earning a GCI less than the provisional benchmark for the year are rated as Accredited with Warning. Lets look at some scores: A.P.Hill-Accreditation denied, because in English, Math, and Science, the pass rates were below what was required. Peabody was denied because, the fell below the required pass rates. What is accreditation denied? Accreditation denied means that a school has failed to meet the requirements for full accreditation for four consecutive years. Our other Elementary schools were Accredited with warning. That means the schools adjusted pass rates for the four core subjects are below the achievement levels required for full accreditation. Schools that receive this rating undergo academic reviews and are required to adopt and implement school improvement plans. Schools that are warned in English and/or mathematics are also required to adopt instructional programs proven by research to be effective in raising achievement in these subjects. A school may hold this rating for no more than three consecutive years. In addition, high schools earning a GCI less than the provisional benchmark for the year are rated as Accredited with Warning. Lets ask ourselves what is the real problem as to why our schools cant get accredited? Parents. As parents it is our responsibility too make sure our children do their homework as well as come to school. Here are 8 steps that can be taken to improve parent teacher relationships thus improving test scores and some other things. 1. Introduce yourself to the teacher. Start the year off right. Don’t wait for a problem before making contact. Find a way to say hello, to help the teacher attach your face to your name, and to make a cordial connection. If the school limits contact immediately before and after school, email the teacher and ask if there’s a convenient time when you can just stop by. This isn’t the time to have a lengthy conversation. It’s a time to simply let the teacher know who you are and that you are a parent who is interested in your child’s education. 2. Introduce your child. Elementary classroom teachers often have 20 – 40 new children to get to know each year. (Secondary teachers and specialists like art and gym teachers may have as many as 200!) Help them out a little. Write a brief note or email to the teachers telling them a little bit about your child’s strengths and interests. Add a few goals and hopes you have for the year. If you have a particular concern or your child has a particular challenge, briefly describe that as well. Include phone numbers and times when you prefer to be contacted. 3. Go to “open house.” Teachers tend to be most interested in the families who show some interest. Open house, or back-to-school night, is a great time to get a sense of the teacher’s goals for the year and to learn about his or her approach. Most teachers spend hours preparing their classrooms and lessons. Take the time to really look around the room and to comment positively on what you see. This is not the time to corner the teacher with your own concerns. Other parents want time too. Instead, make an appointment for a parent-teacher conference to discuss your child’s strengths and goals. 4. Go to the parent-teacher conference prepared. Respect the teacher’s time. Get to your meeting on time and don’t overstay your assigned time. Take the time to jot down things you feel are going well as well as concerns. Share the whole list with the teacher right away. Then go back to each item together. You are much more likely to cover everything you want to cover if you are both keeping track. 5. Remember the Golden Rule. Always assume good will on the teacher’s part. People go into this profession because they like kids and they love the process of teaching and learning. Don’t go by anyone else’s (including your child’s) opinion – especially if it’s negative. Different people react to each other differently. Your best friend may not like someone you find to be terrific. Your child may need some help adjusting to a new teacher’s style. 6. Communicate regularly. Email is a great way to maintain a connection. Every few weeks, send a comment on what your child has brought home from school. Be sure to compliment the teacher on interesting lessons and to share moments when your child repeats something positive that happened at school. Thank the teacher for any special efforts on your child’s behalf. Let the teacher know early if a particular skill or subject is giving your child trouble. In addition, keep the teacher informed if there are issues at home that should be borne in mind if your child is struggling. Children don’t leave family crises (like a parent’s or sibling’s illness, pending divorce, parental stress) at home. Conversely, they don’t leave the excitement about an anticipated event (like a new baby, visiting favorite relatives, a special birthday) at home either. Kids who are unhappy and kids who are excited are often distracted from school work. 7. Help out. The strained economy is having an impact on schools. Many school systems have increased class size, reduced the number of paraprofessionals, and cut the supply budget. If you have the time, offer to help. Some teachers welcome parent involvement in the classroom. Reading to a small group for an hour each week can let the teacher focus on kids who need extra help. If you have a special talent or interest that is compatible with the curriculum, the teacher may appreciate having you do a guest appearance to enrich the class. Others appreciate it a lot when parents do some of the preparation for lessons at home and bring it in. Still others are enormously grateful when parents donate such items as tissues, pencils, and art supplies to the class. 8. Always ask before taking action. Schools have different policies for parent participation and donations. Finally, only together can we put our schools back where they belong, ON TOP!!
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 04:20:46 +0000
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