Feb 23 - From the Superintendent
February 23, 2023
February 23, 2023
Hello, USD 231 Patrons and Employees.
I hope everyone is enjoying this week's sunnier weather! Hopefully, it is an indication that spring will arrive early this year.
Early Release
As I shared in my last newsletter, we will continue to provide more details related to next year's Early Release schedule over the course of the next six months. One clarification request presented after the last Board meeting is regarding "Collective Teacher Efficacy".
From the Newfoundland Department of Education: "Collective efficacy refers to the shared belief that through their collective action, educators can influence student outcomes and increase achievement for all students (Donohoo 2017). Research indicates that collective efficacy is the NUMBER ONE factor influencing student achievement, three times larger than such factors as socioeconomic status, home environment, and parental involvement and twice that of prior achievement (Donohoo, Hattie, and Eells 2018).
Collective efficacy, however, is more than simply a belief that teachers can make a difference. Rather, it is the combined belief that it is the teachers that cause the learning, combined with the action of working together and fed with the evidence that they are impacting student learning through their actions. It is through teachers reflecting on teaching practice and implementing plans to positively impact student learning that collective efficacy is developed and realized. (Hattie 2018)."
As a result, we have to provide time for teachers to collaborate, reflect on their own practice, analyze data, and discuss how to improve instruction. The Early Release schedule allows for this collaboration and why it is so important to the success of our students.
It will take time for our staff to learn how to most effectively utilize this time.
To answer patron questions and hopefully alleviate anxiousness, we are planning a Community Forum, followed by each building hosting its own informational night. These dates and times will be shared in the near future.
Special Education Report
Some in our community have asked about KU's finding that our district has a 98% failure rate in implementing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). While this is true, it is also misunderstood. I asked our Director of Special Education to give me a specific example so everyone might better understand what this 98% failure rate actually means. I am not denying it is a problem we will address and fix; however, it does not directly impact the quality of instruction we provide to students with special needs.
Here is an example of a contributing factor to the 98% failure rate:
IEP Audit Example
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) file review has 24 specific questions related to a student’s IEP and evaluation report. If any area is marked "no", then the entire file is marked as "not passing".
Question 16 reads: "Was the student’s progress toward meeting each annual goal measured and reported using the method and frequency described in the IEP?" This must be evaluated for EACH goal in the IEP.
Example from one of our files: (name has been changed)
Annual Goal
"By January 2022, Shay will write two sentences with 85% accuracy on letter formation, placement, and space between her words, in 3 out of 4 data days."
What was written in the progress report
"Shay is able to write all of her lowercase letters when given the sound of the letter with 97% accuracy. She occasionally will write j for the g sound. She consistently is able to write one appropriate sentence."
This is good information but does not use the same method or frequency described in the goal. This truly isn’t a matter of our teachers not meeting the needs of our students; it’s a matter of not reporting the data in the manner the state requests.
What should have been written
"As of March 2021, Shay is writing one sentence with 78% accuracy with appropriate letter formation, placement, and space between her words, in 3 out of 4 data days."
In this example, we give the percentage and the same method…3 out of 4 days.
KU evaluated 300 IEPs, and in 297 of these plans, USD 231 did not report our progress monitoring using the same method and frequency that was used in the goal, which caused us to fail.
This is an easy fix once we have time to train staff members.
Closing
Thank you for reading this far. We are working through complex issues that require time, hard work, and patience to address. We appreciate your patience and support as we do so.
Sincerely,
Brian
#Forwardas23ONE #WeAreUSD231
P.S. - Please follow me on Facebook (@usd231superintendent) and Twitter (@usd231supe) for more frequent updates!
Week-at-a-Glance
USD 231 is proud to offer a comprehensive listing of events taking place in our district. The most current "Week-at-a-Glance" can be found HERE or by clicking on the image on the right/below.
Share Good News!!!
One of the priorities of the USD 231 Community Relations Department is sharing our stories!
If you have student or staff awards, accomplishments, interesting story ideas to share, or fantastic programs to highlight, please submit them via this FORM.
Additionally, we hope you will keep Community Relations and district leadership informed about upcoming events. To do so, please be sure to fill out this FORM in order to:
- Let Community Relations know about potential story ideas and consider the event for coverage on the district website, social media channels, and potentially through local media.
- Invite the Superintendent, Superintendent’s Leadership Team, or Board of Education to an event.
Thank you!!!
Now Hiring!!!
USD 231 is now hiring classroom paraeducators, evening custodians, and part-time food service workers!
Great benefits include no evenings, no weekends, winter break, spring break, and free admission to all district events (musicals, athletic events, etc.)!
Click HERE to apply.
Please contact Mark Meyer, Director of Auxiliary Services, with any questions at (913) 856-2019.
To view previous newsletters, click the icon on the right.
To view events occurring at the district level, please click the icon on the right. To view school-specific calendars, please visit each building's respective website.
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