Educational Service Unit # 13
SERVING THE PANHANDLE OF NEBRASKA
February, 2017 Newsletter
Scottsbluff Site
Scottsbluff, NE 69361
Phone: (308) 635-3696
FAX: (308) 635-0680
Chadron Site
Crites Hall
Chadron State College
Chadron, NE 69337
Phone: (308) 432-6495
Sidney Site
1114 Toledo Street
Sidney, NE 69162
Phone: (308) 254-4677
FAX: (308) 254-5371
Mission Statement
Educational Service Unit #13...
Striving to achieve educational excellence for all learners
through strong partnerships, service, and leadership.
ADMINISTRATION
ESU 13 Receives Positive Report During AdvancED Accreditation Visit
On January 30-February 1, ESU 13 hosted a 5-person AdvancEd Accreditation external team. AdvancED is the global leader in providing continuous improvement and accreditation services to over 32,000 institutions serving 20 million students worldwide.
AdvancED Accreditation is important for several reasons. First, it is an international protocol for organizations committed to systemic, systematic and sustainable improvement. Second, it builds capacity of the organization to increase and sustain student learning. Third, it stimulates and improves effectiveness and efficiency throughout the organization.
The external review is a diagnostic process to stimulate and guide continuous improvement with a focus on: Impact of teaching and Learning, Capacity of Leadership, and Use of Resources. During the external review, professional judgment by the external review team results in Powerful Practices, Opportunities for Improvement, Improvement Priorities, Index of Education Quality, and their Accreditation Recommendation. During their visit, the external team met with 138 people affiliated with ESU 13.
General themes identified by the external team during their visit shared with ESU 13 staff and board members were:
· Mission and vision drive all aspects and functions of ESU 13
· Collaboration and “team-oriented” processes are utilized
· ESU 13 listens to stakeholders
· Has established a culture of continuous improvement
· Technology infrastructure and services are the backbone of ESU 13
According to the external team, the professional development program provides quality training and instructional support to our 21 member school districts. The team suggested that ESU 13 establish and implement a plan to communicate our mission and improvement goals to all stakeholder groups.
The external team listed the Leadership Capacity within ESU 13 as a “Powerful Practice.” They stated that, “The agency’s mission and vision statements resulted from a comprehensive process that provided meaningful opportunities for all stakeholders to have input and build a common sense of purpose.” The external team suggested that ESU 13 incorporate a research-based evaluation system that monitors professional practices as they relate to employment performance and high quality service delivery.
During the next two years, ESU 13 staff and Board of Education will be working on formulating and initiating a long-range planning process that will provide clear direction for the programs, services, and resources of the agency.
Part of the external review process includes the results of an Index of Education Quality. This index, or number, indicates the following:
· The ESU’s impact of teaching and learning on student performance.
· The ESU’s capacity of leadership to guide and ensure effectiveness in carrying out strategic direction of the organization.
· The ESUs utilization of resources to meet diverse needs of students.
ESU 13’s Overall Index Score was 297 compared to the national average of 278. The Teaching and Learning category received a score of 293 compared to the national average of 267, Leadership Capacity received a score of 309 compared to the national average of 292, and Resource Utilization received a score of 283 compared to the national average of 284. ESU 13 scored above the national average, which is quite an accomplishment. It is rare to see agencies near 300 on the overall score as well as individual categories. We are very proud of the results.
These results are reflective of a dedicated staff and Board of Education, which believes in continuous improvement. We are also very fortunate to have strong and supportive relationships with our 21 member school districts. While the quest for improvement never stops, it is important to pause periodically to appreciate and recognize all the work that goes into continuous improvement.
The External Review Team recommended to the AdvancED Accreditation Commission that ESU 13 earn the distinction of Accreditation by AdvancED.
Thank you to the ESU 13 staff, Board of Education, member school districts and community partners on a job well done!
Birthdays - Happy Birthday to everyone!! If you would like your birthday included in future newsletters just email me at jrundell@esu13.org
February 11 - Ashley Halstead
February 15 - Sarah Schaaf
February 22 - Angie Luppen
SOAR (Sharing Opportunities and Achieving Results)
ADVISER is the new data system that will soon replace the current NSSRS system used to record staff and student data by the Nebraska Department of Education. These data systems are intended to enhance the ability of Nebraska to efficiently and accurately manage, analyze, and use education data, including individual student records. These systems also help districts, schools, educators, and other stakeholders make data-informed decisions to improve student learning and raise student achievement.
In the 2013-14 school year, 9 districts were chosen across Nebraska to participate in piloting the new system. After these pilot schools were certified the rest of the 245 districts across Nebraska were able to begin the process. Garden County was the first of our districts to begin sending data through the new system. Currently, we have 5 of our 21 districts connected to the new system and 9 others working through the process. All remaining districts are required by NDE to join implementation next year.
Under the new AQuESTT accountability system for Nebraska, all schools are required to submit state assessment data. For the past several years, schools have been required to give the NeSA Assessments in the areas of Reading, Writing, Math and Science. Due to revisions of academic standards and new assessment regulations, the state assessments for the 2016-17 school year have undergone some changes.
All students in grades 3-8 will now take an English Language Arts(ELA) assessment rather than a reading test. This assessment will include areas of both reading and writing. Due to the incorporation of writing within the ELA assessment, students will no longer be required to take a separate writing test. The writing component of the test for grades 5-8 will include a question in which the student must answer in essay form.
Students will also be assessed in Math and Science. All students in grades 3-8 will take a Math assessment. This test will assess the students’ knowledge of the legacy math standards as well as pilot new item types based on the new College and Career-Ready standards. Students in grades 5 and 8 will be assessed in Science as well.
Nebraska has adopted the ACT test as our state assessment for students currently in their third year of high school. These students will take the ACT test in the areas of Math, Science, Reading/Language Arts, and Writing. NDE is providing free ACT Prep modules for all students required to test this spring. Students will also have the opportunity to use ACT reportable scores for college entrance requirements.
Special Education Department
Kindling Workshop
9 students from ESU 13 schools attended a one day Kindling (Entrepreneurship) workshop provided by Linda and Jenny Anderson. This event was a one day event that focused on:
-Business Etiquette
-Money Management Skills
-Assessment for Entrepreneurial Traits
-Job Readiness Skills
-Improved Problem Solving
Quest to Protect Myself
Students listened to Michael Calvert discuss medication safety and Doves presented on Healthy Relationships. Hector Alvarado and Jeremy Chesnut demonstrated and led students through several self defense moves.
Quest to Be My Best
Students from the ESU13 service area had the opportunity to explore Career Readiness skills and explore future careers. Students participated in an all day event consisting of lessons on understanding their pay stubs, communicating in the workplace, and H3 jobs. In the afternoon they were able to gather information on specific career options from over 30 professionals. The event was sponsored through a Transition grant from NDE.
Head Start/Early Head Start
Head Start classrooms are busy with Kindergarten readiness. Providing the public schools with the names of the children who will be attending at the location next year to ensure that children get signed up at the appropriate Kindergarten Round Up. Classrooms invite Kindergarten teachers to come and talk with the preschoolers about the exciting new adventures they will be experiencing next year.
Teachers are busy with children’s portfolios and collecting data for the second School Readiness check. Parents are involved in home visits looking at children’s progress and updating goals they have for their children.
Head Start and Early Head Start are actively taking applications for this program year and next year. Applications can be completed at any Head Start Center or ESU 13 Central Office. Next year all Head Start locations in Gering and Scottsbluff will be providing services for six hours a day. We are excited to be able to extend the learning opportunities by two additional hours a day next year.
Alternative Education
Enjoy the VALTS 2nd Quarter Newsletter!
http://pub.lucidpress.com/4a6ec780-d027-4ca9-b869-7cf213fb74a6/
Migrant Education Program
Some highlights in the Migrant Education Program this month are a new part time Youth Advocate in the Scottsbluff Area, new tutoring sites at Mitchell Elementary, Minatare High, Cody-Kilgore High, and Cozad Elementary and a Drug Awareness Parent Advisory Meeting . See our full newsletter below.
News from the Wellness Committee
If you completed the 2016-17 Elevate Challenge, you are eligible for an additional prize drawing! Watch your email for more information about the prizes that will be drawn at the March Inservice Day!!!
We have some people who have completed the Elevate challenge for 2017-18! There is plenty of time for you to complete your 30 challenges.
Celebrate Nebraska's 150th Birthday
There are lots of great events being hosted to celebrate Nebraska's 150th birthday:
150 Nebraska Challenge: Nebraska organizations, businesses, colleges and schools are joining the Nebraska 150 Celebration and the Nebraska Sports Council in an effort to get Nebraskans to complete 150 miles or more of physical activity throughout the year.
Nebraska Impact Initiative: Log 150 hours of volunteer time in 2017 or register your group to get others involved in volunteering.
Other Nebraska 150 Initiatives:
Statehood Day Celebration
Tree Planting Initiative
Salute to the Good Life
NE150 Express
Now You Know Nebraska
Nebraska Atlas Project
Nebraska Impact
One State | One Book
Mobile Children's Museum
NE150 Challenge
I am Nebraska
The Nebraska Experience
Painting the Legacy of Nebraska