Secondary Schools Task Force
Tuesday, December 7, 2005
4:00
– 7:00 p.m.
(There were handouts distributed at this meeting)
II. Looking to the Future
a. Commissioner’s Power Point Presentation
i. Final Word Protocol used to review presentation
b. College Preparation Needs (power point presentation – handout)
i. Most children do not know what it takes to be college ready (English and Math two big areas)
ii. The Educational Trust said rate of students moving onto further studies is around 72%
iii. Maine has a lower than national average for adults 24 or older with a bachelor’s degree.
iv. Private schools tend not to give remedial courses.
v. Comments:
1. Concern with measurement in years (hours in class vs. level of learning).
2. If remedial courses not taken in high school, students will NEED to take these at college – this determines their level of study.
3. How does NCLB affect this? DOE is now reviewing Learning Results – this is more a positive review.
4. With respect to the number of student days – Maine is the lowest in New England.
c. Current Portland School Graduation Requirements
i. Currently there is a Graduation Requirements Task Force run by Dana
Allen looking at increasing graduation requirements.
ii. The state will be requiring the class of 2012 to have four years of
foreign language. The length of time is due to budgetary issues and
fairness to students.
III. Review of Data
a. (Ken-handouts) What’s working and what are the strengths. Through Russell Quaglia Portland Public Schools has done the aspirations survey. Surveys were done in early October and data was compiled. Survey had about 120 questions. This survey was done nationally and done by roughly 11,000 students. When looking at data results, comparisons nationally are not made. The results were only looked at by school (i.e., there are 20 students at your school who feel they don’t belong)
b. Broke out into three groups – PHS (14), DHS (8), ELOB (7) and discussed small piece of survey results.
IV. Dinner
IV. School Presentations
a. DHS – three goals to increase the % of std who get a degree. 1-those who finish; 2-those who know and are able to do more; 3-increase level of collaboration; implementing something in September of 2006. Action teams 1) personalization (staff knowing students; students knowing schools); 2) diverse learning paths: Three questions a) what is personalization curriculum and how will we deliver that? b)Academic and social support; c) What should the freshman transition look like (middle to high school). Will have focus groups with students, rotating meetings with staff, family nights in January and February.
b. PHS – Four groups all given charge to raise % of students who may not be reaching their goals or goals set by student; 1) Looking at increasing completion rate; 2) College Level Transition – shift from having AP honors to college (general level) and are those students getting the opportunity to learn what they need to know; 3) 8th through 9th grade transition – looking at 9th grade teaming
c. ELOB – Still in the “forming” stage so this report is on what they are doing. CREW – Issues of belonging and community building. Not only personalization structure but democratic. Meets four times a week (3 for ½ hour 1 for 1 hour). 11 members in group with focus on who am I, how am I doing and where am I going. Job shadowing and college visits in the spring. Will deal with literacy, service, and governance.
d. PATHS – New position one year only – Program Developer (John Marcigliano). Intensive self-study with a goal for the school based on research to plot out a comprehensive plan for the future beginning in 2006. Where are the job opportunities and what kinds of courses should PATHS be offering? More and shorter courses so they can be college ready. How is this done? Looking at technical schools in Maine and New England.
e. Groups were given worksheets to list questions, comments, and suggestions for a school.
1. Creating Equity Through the Ground Up
2. Confronting the Challenge of Diversity in Education