Bellingham Public Schools

 

Secondary Math Improvement Plan

Date:    January 2002

 

Goal(s)

Connection to Pathway for the 21st Century (Goal #)

Goal Statements

 

State

 

1, 2, 3

 

By Spring 2004, at least 15.2% of seventh grade students and 12.7% of tenth grade students will meet or exceed the state math standard as measured by the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

 

District

 

1, 2, 3

 

By Spring 2004, at least 54.4% of seventh grade and 61.9% of tenth grade students will meet or exceed the state math standard as measured by the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

 

 

 

Target(s)

Connection to Pathway for the 21st Century (Goal #)

Target Objectives

 

Assessment

 

1, 2, 3

 

Assessment data will be used consistently to guide instructional decision-making at the student, classroom, building and district levels.

 

Curriculum and Instruction

1, 2

 

Math curricula and exemplary instructional practices will be clearly articulated and consistently implemented across grades and programs.

 

 

Staff Development

1

 

Staff development that fosters deep understanding of district math curriculum, pedagogy, instructional practices and assessment practices that support student learning in math will be provided.

 

 

Parent Involvement

1

 

Meaningful opportunities for parents to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to support their student’s successful learning in math.

 

 

District Action Plan

 

Focus:  Assessment

Date:  January 2002

State Goal:  By Spring 2004, at least 15.2% of seventh grade students and 12.7% of tenth grade students will meet or exceed the state math standard as measured by the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

 

District Goal:  By Spring 2004, at least 54.4% of seventh grade students and 61.9% of tenth grade students will meet or exceed the state math standard as measured by the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

Pathway Connection:

 

Goal One:             Maximize Learning and Teaching

Goal Two:             Support All Students

Goal Three:         Assess Progress

Target Objective 1:  Assessment data will be used consistently to guide instructional decision-making at the student, classroom, building and district levels.

 

Who

Implementation Timeline

Evidence

1.    Identify a continuum of formal district assessments to be used regularly to provide information about individual students, placement information and building and district programs.

 

Curriculum Department, Assessment & Evaluation Specialist, Central Office Staff

 

2003-2004

Continuum of math assessments will be identified, timeline with frequency and sequencing of assessments will be in place.

2.    Develop a Math Assessment Guide that clarifies a continuum of evaluation tools, standards and placement guidelines.

Curriculum Department, Assessment & Evaluation Specialist, Math Teachers

2003-2004

Assessment Guide will be published and in observable use.

3.    Formally assess all students in grades 6-9 at least two times each year to determine their instructional math level, identify students below standard, and monitor progress over time.

 

Assessment & Evaluation Specialist, Principals, Math Teachers

 

2004-2005

Assessments will be used consistently across the district, data collected and reported to district following timelines identified in the continuum.

 

4.    Identify effective classroom-based math assessments aligned with district curriculum that can be used to regularly assess all students.

 

Curriculum Department, Assessment & Evaluation Specialist, Central Office Staff

2004-2005

Classroom-based assessments will be identified.

 

5.    Report results of state and district formal math assessments to parents, district administration and the community annually.

 

Curriculum Department, Assessment & Evaluation Specialist

 

2001-ongoing

Report cards, parent conferences, School Performance Reports, District Performance Report, annual Student Achievement Board Report, media release of state scores

6.    Develop, implement and evaluate learning goals and instructional plans for math improvement for all students below grade-level standards based on ongoing math assessments.

 

Math Teachers

2004-2005

Report cards, comment forms, parent/ teacher/student conference notes

 

District Action Plan

 

Focus:  Curriculum and Instruction

Date:  January 2002

 

State Goal:  By Spring 2004, at least 15.2% of seventh grade students and 12.7% of tenth grade students will meet or exceed the state math standard as measured by the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

 

District Goal:  By Spring 2004, at least 54.4% of seventh grade students and 61.9% of tenth grade students will meet or exceed the state math standard as measured by the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

Pathway Connection:

 

Goal One:             Maximize learning and teaching

Goal Two:             Support all students

 

 

 

Target Objective 1:  Math curricula and exemplary instructional practices will be clearly articulated and consistently implemented across grades and programs.

 

 

Who

Implementation Timeline

Evidence

1.        Form a District Secondary Math Curriculum Committee.

 

Curriculum Department

 

2001-2002

Secondary Math Curriculum Committee formed.

2.        Determine “Belief Statements” for math instruction based on NCTM math standards, state math frameworks, demonstrated best practice and current research.

District Secondary Math Curriculum Committee

 

2002-2003

“Belief Statements” document will exist.

3.        Review and revise district curriculum to align with state standards and frameworks for middle and high school.

 

District Secondary Math Curriculum Committee

 

2003-2004

District math curriculum guide revised, published and in observable use.

4.        Select instructional materials that support proposed curriculum.

District Secondary Math Curriculum Committee

 

2002-2003

Materials selected for review by Instructional Materials Committee (IMC).

5.        School Board review and adoption of curriculum and instructional materials.

Curriculum Department, District Secondary Math Curriculum Committee

 

2002-2003

School Board agenda.

 

6.        Pending approval by School Board, determine timeline and sequence for implementation of district curriculum that includes professional development needs.

Curriculum Department, math teachers, principals

 

2002-2003

Timeline for implementation exists that includes professional development plans.

7.        Submit instructional materials proposal to the District Budget Advisory Committee (DBAC).

Curriculum Department, DBAC

 

2002-2003

Proposal on DBAC agenda.

8.        Implement district 6-10 integrated math curriculum according to timeline.

Curriculum Department, math teachers, Professional Development Coordinator

 

2003-2006

Curriculum guides exist; staff development opportunities are available.

9.        Identify exemplary instructional practices for teaching math that include plans for the selection and training of math coaches.

District Secondary Math Curriculum Committee, math teachers, Curriculum Department

 

2003-2004

Instructional practices defined.

10.   Develop and implement a process for creating and monitoring student learning goals and plans for math improvement for students not at standards in math.

 

Classroom teachers

 

2004-2005

IEP, report cards, learning goals, evidence of shared instructional delivery

11.   Expand opportunities for students to develop or improve their math skills through extended day and summer school programs, including identification and implementation of model intervention programs for students with math skills below grade-level standards.

 

Central Office Staff, principals, math teachers

2004-2005

Increase in number and type of opportunities district-wide and in level of participation/
number of students served.  Pre and post test student achievement data, parents/teacher surveys

12.   Develop a structure for sharing building-level efforts toward math improvement:

  • intervention strategies
  • schedule and organization for instruction
  • organization of resources
  • assessment and monitoring of student progress

 

Curriculum Department, principal, math teachers

2005-2006

Structure in place.

13.   Expand use of technology to support math instruction and assessment.

Curriculum Department, Library Media and Technology Department

 

2004-2005

Online assessment being used, classroom observation

14.   Define connections between math instruction and literacy.

District Secondary Math Curriculum Committee, Literacy Taskforce

 

2004-2005

Connections identified in curriculum materials.

15.   Identify materials, including leveled texts, appropriate for students to read genres identified to be taught in math.

Curriculum Department, teachers, Library Media and Technology

 

2005-2006

Increased availability and use of library materials.

 

District Action Plan

 

Focus:  Staff Development

Date:  January 2002

State Goal:  By Spring 2004, at least 15.2% of seventh grade students and 12.7% of tenth grade students will meet or exceed the state math standard as measured by the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

 

District Goal:  By Spring 2004, at least 54.4% of seventh grade students and 61.9% of tenth grade students will meet or exceed the state math standard as measured by the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

Pathway Connection:

 

Goal One:             Maximize Learning and Teaching

 

Target Objective 1:  Staff development that fosters deep understanding of district math curriculum, pedagogy, instructional practices and assessment practices that support student learning in math will be provided.

 

Who

Implementation Timeline

Evidence

1.        Develop a long-range district professional development plan to ensure consistency in the implementation of district math curriculum, pedagogy, instructional practices and assessment practices.

Professional Development Coordinator, District Secondary Math Curriculum Committee

 

2002-2003

Long-range professional development plan will be in place.

2.        Conduct self-assessments at each school to determine staff development needs at the building level.

 

Principals, teachers

2003-2004

Self-assessment data from each school.

3.        Provide and plan a variety of professional development opportunities that help all teachers develop exemplary practices and common understandings that support math instruction:

  • implementation of standards-based curriculum
  • assessment and evaluation
  • instruction for diverse learners
  • understanding instructional resources

 

Curriculum Department

2003-ongoing

Professional development calendar/clock hour participation, building-based in-service

4.        Determine need for district-wide, grade level, fifth to sixth and eighth to ninth transition, or other focused meetings.  Organize meetings if needed.

 

Curriculum Department

 

2004-2005

Professional development calendar records, agendas

5.        Develop district professional development library to include current math materials and electronic resources that support exemplary practices and core understandings for math instruction.

Curriculum Department, Library Media Department

 

2005-2006

Professional library materials are in place and being used by staff.

 

District Action Plan

 

Focus:  Parent Involvement

Date:  January 2002

State Goal:  By Spring 2004, at least 15.2% of seventh grade students and 12.7% of tenth grade students will meet or exceed the state math standard as measured by the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

 

District Goal:  By Spring 2004, at least 54.4% of seventh grade students and 61.9% of tenth grade students will meet or exceed the state math standard as measured by the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

Pathway Connection:

 

Goal One:             Maximize Learning and Teaching

 

Target Objective 1:  Meaningful opportunities for parents to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to support their student’s successful learning in math.

 

Who

Implementation Timeline

Evidence

1.    Report student progress in math to parents at least three times each year through report cards and/or conferences.

Teachers

2002-2003

Observations, report cards, conference records

 

2.    Actively involve parents and students in identifying individual progress in math and establishing goals for improvement of math achievement.

 

Teachers, Student, Parents

2003-2004

Report cards, conference reports, student generated goals

3.    Develop parent and family links to the district website that focus on math resources, lessons and strategies that improve math achievement.

Curriculum Department, Library Media Department

 

2003-2004

Frequency of visits to district website.

4.    Provide parents with printed and online resources that support math improvement in a variety of languages.

Curriculum Department, ESL Coordinator

 

2004-2005

Printed materials are available.

5.    Provide training for school volunteers with emphasis on specific strategies to improve math achievement.

Curriculum Department

2005-2006

Attendance records, number of volunteers in each school