In January of 2002 President Bush signed a new education law called No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The long-range goal of NCLB is that every child will be proficient in reading and mathematics according to each state’s academic standards. Each October students in grades 3-8 are tested by the state in the areas of reading and math. Students in grades 5 and 8 are tested in writing. Reading and math scores are used to determine on an annual basis if schools are making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). For four consecutive years (2006-2009), Haverhill Cooperative Middle School did not make AYP in mathematics, which is why it has been identified as a School in Need of Improvement. The school met the state's targets in both math and reading for the 2009 round of assessments. As a result, the state determined that HCMS did make AYP for 2010. The school will know in April if it met the targets for the 2010 round of assessments. Schools must meet these targets on two consecutive rounds of assessments before being removed from the state's list of Schools in Need of Improvement. Click here to view charts that show how the school's proficiency rates in reading, math, and writing have increased since the testing program began in 2005. The school has been required to submit a corrective action plan to the state, outlining the steps it will take to improve the performance of students in the area of math. The NHDOE is providing the school with resources and technical assistance in support of the plan. Key components of the plan are listed below: • All students who are not proficient in math will receive at least 90 minutes of math instruction daily. • The school will offer extended learning enrichment programs in math to targeted students each quarter and during the summer. • The school will implement a revised schedule designed to increase instructional time in the area of math for students who are not proficient in math. • Teachers will continue to analyze the math curriculum, identify instructional gaps, and work to eliminate them. • Teachers will analyze student performance data and differentiate instruction as needed in order to help all students make progress toward the state’s performance target. The school is also required to provide Supplemental Education Services (SES) to students who are eligible. These services include one-to-one in-home tutoring. Click here to find out more information about this program. A school improvement team has been assembled in order to monitor the school’s progress on the plan and to ensure that necessary resources to sustain the plan are in place. Parents and community members are invited to provide input in the school improvement process. Those who are interested in providing input are welcome to contact Mr. Walker (bwalker@sau23.org) at the school. A copy of the entire improvement plan is available upon request. |
School Improvement |