Norwich steps up efforts for at-risk students
NORWICH – The Norwich City School District is expanding its efforts to raise the graduation rate and reduce the drop out rate for students with disabilities.
On Monday, members of the district’s board of education learned the details of the high school’s Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) for better meeting the needs of this cohort of at-risk students.
“This is why I’m here,” explained Special Education Improvement Specialist Kimberly Matthews, as she reviewed graduation and drop out rate data for this group of students over the last four school years. She pointed out Norwich has failed to meet targets in both of those areas since the 2006-07 school year.
Matthews, who was assigned to Norwich by the State Education Department (SED) last year, has been working with the district and the High School’s LINKS team to correct this trend.
“Our goal is that 63 percent of students with disabilities will be on track for graduation with their cohort by the end of the 2010-11 school year,” she reported.
She and the team developed three action items to accomplish that goal. Those actions were to establish an early warning system to identify students at risk of dropping out; conduct appropriate professional development workshops; and offer classroom coaching for teachers as a follow up to professional development.
Last year, they started implementing these ideas at the 9th grade level.
“Core course failure in 9th grade is a red flag,” Matthews said. They began by tracking students to see if they were failing any courses, keeping their GPA over 70 and had an absentee rate under 10 percent. Students who didn’t meet these targets were identified as needing interventions.
Staff development and classroom coaching was also offered to teachers at the 9th grade level.
This year, Matthews said the team has decided to expand their efforts to track all general education students from grades 9 through 12. They will also open up the staff development and coaching opportunities for all teachers. The goal, she explained, is to “increase positive learning relationships.”
According to Matthews, the high school has adopted the QIP plan as its LINKS plan for the year because, while it is specifically written around students with disabilities, its implementation should lead to “positive outcomes” for all students.
Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan agreed with her assessment of the plans potential impact district-wide.
“A rising tide lifts all boats,” he said.
On Monday, members of the district’s board of education learned the details of the high school’s Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) for better meeting the needs of this cohort of at-risk students.
“This is why I’m here,” explained Special Education Improvement Specialist Kimberly Matthews, as she reviewed graduation and drop out rate data for this group of students over the last four school years. She pointed out Norwich has failed to meet targets in both of those areas since the 2006-07 school year.
Matthews, who was assigned to Norwich by the State Education Department (SED) last year, has been working with the district and the High School’s LINKS team to correct this trend.
“Our goal is that 63 percent of students with disabilities will be on track for graduation with their cohort by the end of the 2010-11 school year,” she reported.
She and the team developed three action items to accomplish that goal. Those actions were to establish an early warning system to identify students at risk of dropping out; conduct appropriate professional development workshops; and offer classroom coaching for teachers as a follow up to professional development.
Last year, they started implementing these ideas at the 9th grade level.
“Core course failure in 9th grade is a red flag,” Matthews said. They began by tracking students to see if they were failing any courses, keeping their GPA over 70 and had an absentee rate under 10 percent. Students who didn’t meet these targets were identified as needing interventions.
Staff development and classroom coaching was also offered to teachers at the 9th grade level.
This year, Matthews said the team has decided to expand their efforts to track all general education students from grades 9 through 12. They will also open up the staff development and coaching opportunities for all teachers. The goal, she explained, is to “increase positive learning relationships.”
According to Matthews, the high school has adopted the QIP plan as its LINKS plan for the year because, while it is specifically written around students with disabilities, its implementation should lead to “positive outcomes” for all students.
Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan agreed with her assessment of the plans potential impact district-wide.
“A rising tide lifts all boats,” he said.
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