• Grade 3 Retention - "State Standards for Progression in Reading."  The Rules Meeting is January 3, 2014, from 2:00 to 3:00 P.M. at the State Board Room, Second Floor, Grimes State Office Building, 400 East 14th Street and Grand, Grimes State Office Building, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0146.    YOU may attend this meeting or send your position in writing by 4:30 P.M. on January 3 to Mike Cormack (Mike.Cormack@iowa.gov), Rules Coordinator, Iowa Department of Education, Second Floor, 400 East 14th Street, Grimes State Office Building, Des Moines, IA  50319-0146.  
• In a recent survey completed by Iowa ASCD members, the respondents noted the following
•  78.4% of respondents do not support the retention of third graders.
• If a student were to be considered for retention, the respondents would rely on multiple sources of data with 91.2% giving highest priority to recommendation of the classroom teacher.  One respondent noted, "I would want plenty of evidence of research-based strategies having been used in the child's classroom over time."
• More than half of the respondents had not retained a student in grades K-3 in the past five years because of insufficient skill/knowledge in reading.
• 90.2% of respondents have a four-year-old preschool with 28.4% of them offering the preschool five days a week with at least four hours of student participation per day.
• 45.1% of respondents offer a summer program focused on literacy in K-3.  Those who do not offer a summer program noted the reason as lack of funding for staff and transportation.
• 76.5% of respondents do not offer a before- and/or  after-school program focused on literacy, noting that the reason is the lack of funding for staff and transportation.   

So how has Clinton High School achieved these changes?  It has been accomplished through a "systematic and streamlined approach," shares Superintendent Deb Olson.  Key supports that are in place include the following:

• Reteach and enrichment within classes, often resulting in "mixing the kids" on Friday's to assure the appropriate supports.  
• PLCs for teachers, counselors and administrators that assure common prep time, a focus on students and their learning, and identification of changes/supports to enable success. Each PLC addresses power standards, focus lessons, checks for understanding, analysis of data, and common formative assessments.  They meet weekly for 60 minutes and two times per month during early dismissal.  Data boards are shared with the entire staff three times per year. 
• CHS data teams that meet weekly to check on progress of each student, including academic, behavior, and attendance progress and determine if each is due to a "skill or will" deficit.  These teams meet every Wednesday in the data room to identify the  supports needed to enable success for the students.  They often lead to home visits, recommendations to teachers, assignment of students to study tables at lunch or after school, check in/check out, or escorts for students.  Close monitoring is making a difference! Interventions may last as short as a week if it is working or for the full trimester for ongoing support if needed.  
• Study Tables at Lunch:  These are held during lunch for students failing core courses in grades 9th and 10th. Junior/Senior study tables are based on trends in failures. Supports are provided to the students at the grade-level study tables by the At-Risk Staff - teachers, administrators, and para-professionals. There is also an AP/Honors Study Table for students with a C or below; these are monitored by AP teachers.   
• Contact log on Infinite Campus which has helped with streamlining supports and contacts.   
• Counseling program that assures classroom guidance lessons, homeroom lessons/activities, career seminars, 4-year plans and career/educational portfolios for all students. They also provide small-group work - e.g., 9th grade transition, anxiety, girls' leadership, study skills, individual counseling. 
• Homeroom Study Tables provided when a failure trend is recognized.  These are monitored by content teachers.
• Check in/Check Out and escorts to classes are provided as needed for issues related to attendance, academics, behaviors, and/or organization.
• 6th Period - After School Contracts:  When students are failing two or more classes, individual contracts are issued and students attend these study tables after school.  The at-risk staff members, who have a modified staff schedule, provide the needed support.
• Home Visits are made as needed and recorded in the Contact Log.   
• Reading Lab for students who received a non-proficient score in reading on the Iowa Assessments.  This pullout reading program meets twice per week.   The students are making an average of 1.1 to 1.24 year's growth in reading level after 10 weeks in the course. 

To schedule a visit, contact Superintendent Deb Olson or High School Principal   Karinne Tharaldson Jones.  They will also be presenting at the Iowa ASCD Curriculum Academy on April 11.  Mark your calendars now! 

Register today for a special workshop just for you - Advocating on the Hill with Your Stories! The first 50 registrants for this professional opportunity on February 12 will learn how to leverage change with legislators. ASCD Director/Iowa ASCD Director Dr. Pam Vogel and ASCD Legislative Committee Member/Iowa ASCD Director Dr. Susan Pecinovsky will lead this authentic learning opportunity.

Registration is $50 for members of Iowa ASCD and $90 for non-members. Upon registration you will receive access to tools for advocacy and influence, including talking points for major issues (e.g., competency-based instruction, teacher leadership, readers by third grade, kindergarten readiness, instructional time, teacher and principal evaluation, professional learning), sample letter and telephone script for contacting your legislators, and a rubric to evaluate your skills in advocacy. Iowa ASCD will also provide you with contact information about your legislators so that you may schedule visits "on the hill" as part of this opportunity.

A block of rooms has been reserved for February 11^th at the Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel (515.244.2151).  Be sure to ask for the Iowa ASCD block of rooms.

Agenda:

                                                                                                          

February 12, 2014, 8:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.          

Location: Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel, 401 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA

• Continental breakfast and working lunch provided
• Legislative Update - Dr. Brad Buck
• Professional Learning with Drs. Pecinovsky and Vogel 

February 12, 2014, 1:00 - 4:00 P.M.             

Visits "on the hill" (Capitol - East 12^th and Grand)  

• Meet with Democratic Caucus of the House Education Committee
• Meet with Republican Caucus of the House Education Committee
• Meet with YOUR Legislator(s)
• Informal (and optional) meeting at the Capitol to debrief visits with legislators and share possible next steps for Iowa ASCD members around advocacy and influence 

Register NOW! - Contact Bridget Arrasmith with name(s) of registrant(s), district and mailing address, e-mail address(es), phone number as well as check or purchase order. She can be reached at the following address: 

• Iowa ASCD, Drake University, School of Education, Room 123, 3206 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA  50311  
• Phone: 515.271.1872
• FAX: 515.271.2233
• E-mail: Bridget.Arrasmith@drake.edu

 

You may register online as well with a credit card at the following URL on the Iowa ASCD website: 

https://iowaascd.org/index.php/events/event-registration/ 

 

 

Register Now! Limited Space!

 

The registrants will receive $50 coupon toward attendance at an upcoming conference in 2014-2015!