RATIONALE FOR RESTRUCTURING INTO K-6 AND 7-12 DIVISIONS

I.    Pedagogical and Assessment Reasons

1.     AYP warning received from PDE regarding performance of three sub-groups in middle school (see State Report Card on PDE website).  Failure to take action to raise AYP results will lead to the School Improvement Process by PDE, where the State will control ALL decisions regarding education in the District.  For example, $30,000 will be removed from Title I Funds; leading to reassignment of personnel in order to fund State directed and mandated Staff development programs.

2.    Current inclusion model is not producing desired results; leans toward ‘tracking’.

3.    Grades 7 and 8 curriculum is isolated from high school; connection needed with high school, especially with the ability to utilize Secondary certified teachers.  This can only be done by changing time schedule for grades 7 and 8 to align with grades 9 – 12.

4.    Children not ready for high school departmentalized programming in grade 6 as results indicate.  Self-contained classroom leads to more rapport with teacher and it is easier to provide interventions.  Grade 6 already using Elementary specialists in three of the four specials.

5.    New schedule for grades 7 – 12 will allow full period of Band/Chorus.

6.    Grade 8 into grade 9 transition would be smoother.

7.    Needed services of reading teacher will be made available in the grades 7 – 12 arrangement; it is easier to implement through scheduling of grades 7 – 12.

II.    Student Population

1.    Smaller registers in higher grades is barely one year away; steps must be taken now.  Currently grade 5 has 59 students, grade 6 has 75 students.  It is not efficient to run a middle school with potentially less than 200 students.  Accommodate parents of students in grades 7 – 12 by a common time schedule.

III.    Logistical/Business/Scheduling/Transportation/Coverage

1.    Coverage can be arranged more readily with grades 7 – 12 on same time schedule, and with full utilization of teachers holding secondary certification; not possible with separate middle school now.  Grade 6 added to the Elementary will provide needed coverage due to past furloughs.

2.    Grades K – 6 license holders not certified for grades 7 – 12 secondary; grade 6 teachers cannot cover the High School classes.

3.    Duties:  currently, middle school staff has no duties; high school teachers covering middle school lunch periods; common time schedule would create duty periods and fulfill coverage with greater efficiency, especially with the lack of substitutes available.

4.    Placement into advanced courses for 7th and 8th graders easier into 9th grade levels possible when grades 7 – 12 are one division.  In addition, assignment of students to laboratories and other specialized rooms is easier to accomplish when the secondary group is on the same time schedule.

5.    Sports activities easier to schedule and allows for greater participation.

6.    One breakfast period would be possible instead of the current two sessions.

7.    Grade 6 students will have lunch in the elementary commons, increasing efficiency.

8.    Behavior plans in Elementary are more suitable for 6th graders than the plans for grades 7 – 12.

9.    Failure starts at grade 6 due to PSSAs and PVAAS data; grades 7 and 8 have retentions, resulting in 16 year old freshmen and 18 year old juniors.  This causes problems of age mixing in basic 9th and 10th grade classes.

10.    Better scheduling through restructuring, allowing parents to choose 7th and 8th grade course options.

11.    Movement of the grade 6 group permits them to participate in existing grant programs:  Science, It’s Elementary, Accountability Block Grant (~$250,000 yearly), Read 180, PTA involvement and activities, staff development programs through the Reading Center, new reading program slated for 2008 – 2009.

12.    The Music Drum ensemble coordinated by Mrs. West will also become available to grade 6 students.

G.A.T.E