Dr. Scott T. Ebbrecht Director, Assessment and Alternative Education
OVERVIEW Westerville City School District s Summer Learning Opportunities High School OGT/OST Intervention, Current Grades 11-12 High School Summer School, Entering Grades 9-12 Credit Recovery Course Advancement Middle School Summer Intervention, Current Grades 6-8 Elementary Summer Splash, Entering Grades 2-8 Secondary Summer Splash, Entering Grades 6-12 Elementary Summer Intervention, Current Grades K-3 and 4-5 Almost Kindergarten, Pre-School Age, Entering Kindergarten
Technology Utilization / Instructional Approach One to one initiative each student has his/her own Google Chromebook Blended Approach Through a blended approach, particularly in our high school courses, the student has greater control over time, place, and pace of instruction. Yet, we wholeheartedly believe there is no substitute for the relationship and face to face direct instruction teachers provide their students. Such interaction supports enhanced understanding of the content and serves as a foundational pre requisite for successful course completion. Therefore, teachers are available every day to meet student needs.
Digital Curriculum/Content/Platforms Apex (Grades 9 12) Apex Learning digital curriculum courses align to our State s learning standards and our traditional course offerings. STAR (Grades K 8) STAR Reading is an online assessment program for students typically in grades K 8. The program uses a combination of the cloze method and traditional reading comprehension passages to assess a student s overall reading achievement. The program is designed to provide teacher s with individual student data quickly and accurately. It typically takes a student 10 15 minutes to complete an assessment and reports are available immediately upon completion. STAR Reading correlates with Accelerated Reader. Lexia (Grades K 8) Lexia Reading is a technology based reading program intended to increase reading proficiency for all students kindergarten through grade 4 and at risk students grades 4 8. Lexia digital content uses a blended instructional approach that automatically places students at the proper level to develop their foundational reading skills with a recommended number of minutes per day. Skill development focuses on phonological awareness, phonics, structural analysis, automaticity/ fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The program provides explicit, systematic, adaptive learning on foundational reading skills, scaffolding students as they struggle and advancing them to higher levels as they demonstrate proficiency. Teachers are provided data driven action plans unique to each student. Dreambox (Grades K 3) Dreambox digital content uses a blended instructional approach that incorporates adaptive learning technology and collects more than 50,000 data points during every hour a student uses it. The program immediately adjusts the lesson and the level of difficulty, scaffolding, sequencing, number of hints, and pacing as appropriate. This allows students, whether struggling or advanced, to progress at a pace that best benefits them. TenMarks (Grades 4 8) TenMarks provides immediate and targeted intervention on specific math topics. The program analyzes precisely the areas in which the student is struggling, and assigns an "Amplifier." The Amplifier diagnoses the root cause of the issue and provides instruction to fill the gaps. After the Amplifier, the student receives a do over assignment that measures the effect of the instant remediation.
High School OHIO Graduation Test (OGT)/Ohio s State Tests (OST) Who? Students who did not pass specific section(s) of the OGT Why? What? Students are offered a 7-day intervention on specific sections not passed After 7-day intervention, tests are administered for each section Students need to pass all sections of OGT, or meet other State-approved options, to receive a Westerville City Schools high school diploma
OGT: Indicators of Success Number of students successfully passing a given test in which they have not demonstrated proficiency in the past Graduation Rate
High School Summer School Who? For students entering grades 9 and above Why? Ability for students to recover credit and advance courses for the subsequent school year Ability for students to take Physical Education frees up their course schedule during the school year so they can take courses such as Band, Choir, Orchestra, Advanced Placement, IB, Honors, College Credit Plus Opportunities (good hair, no sweat, avoid locker room) What? Credit Recovery Course Advancement Courses English Language Arts (blended approach) Mathematics (blended approach) Science (blended approach) Social Studies (blended approach) Physical Education I and II Health (blended approach)
High School Summer School: Indicators of Success New Credits Earned Credits Recovered Graduation Rate
Middle School Intervention Who? Students currently in grades 6-8 selected/referred by building teachers, counselors, and administrators What? Areas of Focus: English Language Arts Mathematics Why? Avoid summer regression of academic skills Filling in academic gaps Intervene in areas of student weakness/need Courses taken to avoid grade level retention
Middle School Intervention: Indicators of Success Increase reading levels as indicated through STAR Lexia Usage/Engagement/Reading Level TenMarks Assignment Completion/ Questions Answered Attendance
Elementary Summer Splash Who? Motivated students currently entering grades 2-8 Why? To provide academic and creative challenges to highly motivated students currently entering grades 2-8 What? Past Sessions have included: Get Dirty with Clay Painting with Pals Digital Photography Fun with Energy Forensics Crime Scene Investigation Where in the World? Geek for a Week Mock Trial Science Rocks
Secondary Summer Splash Who? Interested students currently entering grades 6-12 What? 4 Day Coding Workshop Why? To empower students through the utilization of technology by teaching them fundamental technology skills and computer science principles that they will find both inspiring and beneficial when working within a digital world
Elementary/Secondary Summer Splash: Indicators of Success A variety of enrichment opportunities are offered peaking the interest and subsequent active participation by our students
Elementary Summer Intervention Who? Students Grades K-5 (kindergarten was added in Summer 2015 for the first time) Students identified based on: STAR Reading Math data Third Grade Reading Guarantee Diagnostic Teacher/Administrator Recommendation What? Targeted intervention based on individual student data Why? To prevent summer regression of academic skills/knowledge Fill-in learning gaps and bring students up to grade level
Elementary Summer Intervention : Indicators of Success Reading Increase reading levels on STAR Lexia Usage/Engagement/ Reading Level Increase the number of students ON TRACK per the Third Grade Reading Guarantee Mathematics Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication Rate/Accuracy Successful completion of lessons/assignments within Dreambox and TenMarks Longitudinal 3 Year Study
Almost Kindergarten Who? Pre-school students entering kindergarten for 2016-2017 school year What? 5-day Kindergarten readiness camp Why? To provide a smoother transition between pre-school and kindergarten Reduce student anxiety/apprehension on starting school
Almost Kindergarten: Indicators of Success Participating students have an easier transition between pre-school and kindergarten Student apprehension of starting school is reduced as well as the parents