Middle School Project
Transcript: Process & Timeline April 2013 Concept Process & Timeline January-April The Process & Timeline The Research & Implications for Research: Physical As a result of the “right-sizing” process of 2010, middle school students, grades 7 and 8, were moved from a K-8 configuration to high schools. Middle School Vision for KCPS Implication for Practice Implementation of effective developmentally responsive, research-based programs and practices to increase student achievement and graduation rates. Themes which emerged Rigorous, Relevant Curriculum Team of highly-qualified middle school teachers with common plan Effective academic and social/emotional interventions Daily Physical Education Extra- and Co-Curricular Opportunities Elective Choices Advisory Parental Involvement Safe and orderly school environment “A day in the life” Growth spurts comparable to the first two years of life Growth in height, weight, and internal organs Coordination issues Fatigue and body aches Large appetites Classrooms Central Middle School (600) BY OTHERS Middle School “Our fundamental finding is that, in high poverty environments, a student’s middle grades experience strongly impacts the odds of graduating from high school.” Middle School Achievement Right-sizing SWECC (202) ACE (197) Paseo (176) Foreign Lang. 6-8 (166) Lincoln 6-8 (332) HOLLIS + MILLER Four community meetings are held to meet with parents and other stakeholders and listen to their concerns and priorities related to the middle school discussion: Tuesday, March 5 - Longfellow Elementary Thursday, March 7 - Trailwoods Elementary Tuesday, March 12 - Garfield Elementary Thursday, March 14 - Paige Elementary Middle School Children Characteristics Implication for Practice Collaboration Spaces Report to the Kansas City Board of Education and the Superintendent. Options for Co-curricular during the school day Provide a variety of educational approaches Rigorous curriculum (quality core) Authentic and integrated learning experiences Active and hands-on learning Exploration opportunities Deliver core learning utilizing a team of teachers Advisory Committee Subcommittees Parents Intellectual Title Social/Emotional November 2012 - Architects are enlisted to evaluate and make suggestions regarding possible middle school sites. December 2012 - Middle school consultants enlisted to guide the organization through the early discussion and gather input from stakeholders. Middle school consultants talk with all secondary building level principals and small focus groups of students regarding their experiences in the present configuration, grades 7-12. Applications are submitted and accepted from 8o individuals (parents, community members, teachers, and administrators). These individuals make up the Middle School Advisory Committee. Subcommittees are formed to review current research, cite the implication for practice, and make recommendations to the Middle School Advisory Committee in the following areas: parental involvement, extra/cocurricular activities, core, non-core, and prevention and student support. (Breaking Ranks in the Middle, XVI, NASSP, 2006). Process & Timeline March 2013 Middle School Achievement Process & Timeline: January 2013 BY OTHERS Middle level programming in high schools is at least challenging due to the following factors: facilities that were built as high schools, the mixing of age groups, the sharing of teachers with mixed grade levels, and an inability to keep students totally separated. Although every age group can claim unique developmental needs, there is none so worthy of this claim as children ages 12-14. Question: Should the Kansas City Public Schools reinstate the middle school concept in neighborhood schools? Northeast Middle School (600) Curious and have a wide array of interests Moving from concrete to abstract thought Question authority Appreciate humor but not sarcasm Build on prior knowledge Cognitive functioning varies significantly among students Appreciate authentic and integrated learning The Middle School Advisory Committee and the Middle School Subcommittees were charged to look at the research as it relates to best practices in middle level education in an effort to focus the district on critical elements to be incorporated in the middle school discussion and subsequent planning. This research was shared with parents and community members at the four zone meetings, with the Middle School Advisory Committee, and with Middle School Subcommittees. School Configurations Right-sizing Process & Timeline November - December 2012 HOLLIS + MILLER “HSMS followed the middle school concept/philosophy more faithfully and implemented recommended middle school components (e.g., interdisciplinary teaming, advisory programs, common planning time for core teachers) more frequently than in the random schools.” “Middle schools authentically following the middle school concept/ philosophy are more like to be associated with higher scores on achievement test and