Closing the Achievement Gap and Improving your School Through the Community School Model Desiree Margo- Principal M.A. Lynch Brian Lemos- Principal Redmond.

Closing the Achievement Gap and Improving your School Through the CommunitySchool Model

Desiree Margo- Principal M.A. LynchBrian Lemos- Principal Redmond High School

THE M.A. LYNCH STORY

•In 2006-2007 due to state assessment data M.A. Lynch was given School In Improvement status

•This designation provided SIG funds (School Improvement Grant funds)

•This designation created the opportunity in 2007-2008 for the M. A. Lynch staff to take a close look at the teaching and learning occurring at the school.

•John Hartford , M. A. Lynch Principal at the time, led the staff as they worked to create programs and academic interventions to improve the achievement of their students

•Lisa Flora, a second grade teacher at M.A. Lynch, coordinated the creation of an intensive academic after school intervention program

How the Redmond Community School Initiative began

With the experience of developing a successful after school program, The M.A. Lynch principal and staff exhibited a readiness to further develop programming and with the support of the Commission on Children and Family were awarded a Community School Grant.

Program Growth2008-2009

This grant provided the critical resources needed to take the next steps to develop a “Full Service “ Community School

CCF provided:•Funds for a site coordinator•Funds to support partner programming

Critical Resources

In 2009 -Due to the early success of M.A. Lynch , the readiness the district exhibited , and the community REV document in addition to the leadership of Superintendent Vickie Fleming, The Redmond School District was awarded a 5 year 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant.•Lynch•Terrebonne• Elton Gregory Middle School•Obsidian Middle School

Readiness

In 2010 Vern Patrick was awarded a three year Oregon Community Foundation Community School Grant

The Redmond School District now has five community schools

The Redmond School district guided the community through a collaborative community process to determine district priorities. The result of this process is the REV (Redmond Educational Vision) One of the clear and urgent themes was Community Schools

Essential for the success of a community school- Start with a strong Foundation

“Redmond public schools belong to the community. It is important to provide opportunities for enrichment, extended learning, and before -and after-school programs. Schools must be welcoming, safe, and foster a culture that embraces differences and encourages understanding.”

Community Schools- REV

The REV provides the foundation for the growing Community School Initiative and honors the collective recommendation and priorities of our Redmond community.

What is a community school?

A community school is both a place and a set of partnerships between the school and other

community resources. It has an integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development and community engagement that leads to improved student

learning, stronger families and healthier communities. Schools become centers of the

community and are open to everyone – all day, every day, evenings and weekends.

-- Coalition for Community Schools

“Community schools--with a focus on

academics, health, and social services--

offer the most promise for ensuring that

every child can succeed, and that

we spend precious public dollarsas efficiently & effectively as

possible.Schools can and should be

the centers of every community.”

- Congressman Steny H. Hoyerfrom “Community Schools in Action: Lessons from a Decade of Practice”

As the M.A. Lynch Community School developed partners played a key role.

Key Supportive Partnerships

Community Connection

• Boys and Girls Club

• Redmond Area Park & Recreation Department

• Oregon State University Extension Office- 4-H

• Oregon Rush Soccer

• Kobukan Karate & Kung fu

• Redmond School of Dance

• Redmond Youth Soccer Association (RYSA)

• Art VanGo

• Chess for Success

• CampFire USA

• Redmond Gymnastics Academy

• Start Making A Reader Today (SMART)

• All-Star Academy Basketball

• La Clase (Spanish Literacy Program)

• Future Panther Cheerleaders

Supporting our Students

Parent Connection

• Deschutes County Health Services• Mental Health• Health Clinic

• Neighbor Impact – Head Start• Family Resource Center – Parenting Classes• Family Access Network (FAN)• Sparrow/Hospice

Supporting our Families

• COCC• ESL Classes• Spanish GED Classes

• Latino Community Association• New York Life Financial Services• Partnership to End Poverty• Central Oregon Family Resource Center• High Desert Education Services District - La Plaza• Padres Latinos de Lynch (PLL)

Supporting our Parents

Learning Connection

Academics play the central role in the programming that occurs at all five community schools. Though the needs of the whole child are met through leveraging our partnerships, academic success for all is at the core of the community school.

Supporting the Academic needs of our students

•Before school programs•After School Programs•Push in programs during the day•Instructional coach support with use of data to inform decision making•Title I support•Coordination and delivery of interventions by school staff

Targeted Intensive Academic Interventions

1. Assessments are used to identify at risk students

1. OAKS2. DIBELS3. DRA4. MAPS- Middle School

2. Using these assessments, growth targets are set for each student

3. Students and their families are sent invitations to the before and after school interventions. Staff follow up with phone calls when needed

4. Formative assessments are used to determine ongoing placement of students

Intensive Interventions for Identified Students

Before School ProgramRHS Students earn credit for being a part of the Before School program. Title I staff provide support for the morning program as well

Depending on the level- a variety of programs are used in the after school Intensive Intervention program.

Middle School

•HELP Program

•V-Math

•Achieve 3000

•MAPS Assessment

•Elementary

•LLI- Leveled Literacy Intervention

•ERI- Early Reading Intervention

•Houghton Mifflin Resources

After School Programs

What are the benefits to students and families?

Results

Increased achievement for all students

M.A. Lynch is closing the achievement gap

Reading 2000

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

All Students

80% 60% 61% 79% 68% 81% 88% 93%

3rd Grade 92% 76% 79% 81% 80% 85% 80% 92% 96% 92%

4th Grade 72% 86% 73% 77% 78% 93% 92%

5th Grade 83% 67% 80% 74% 79% 77% 67% 75% 76% 95%

ELL 17% 41% 16% 43% 58% 81%

Special Education

18% 46% 17% 25% 38% 34% 50% 55% 75%

SES 91%

Math 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

All Students

70% 76% 54% 80% 81% 63% 75% 85% 87%

3rd Grade 69% 78% 71% 67% 68% 78% 77% 65% 81% 92% 92%

4th Grade 62% 89% 79% 71% 63% 89% 83%

5th Grade 64% 80% 67% 85% 75% 79% 82% 79% 75% 75% 86%

ELL 20% 29% 41% 29% 22% 58% 88%

Special Education

49% 57% 19% 0% 42% 33% 50% 60% 72%

SES 85%

All Students 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade ELL Sp Ed0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

68

8077

67

16

34

81

92

7875

43

50

88

9693

76

5855

93 92 9295

81

75

READING The Percentage of Students Meeting

or Exceeding the OAKS Reading Assessment

2007 2008 2009 2010

All Students 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade ELL Sp Ed0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

63 65

71

79

2933

75

81

63

75

22

50

85

9289

75

58 60

8792

8386 88

72

MATH The Percentage of Students Meet-

ing or Exceeding the OAKS Reading Assessments

2007 2008 2009 2010

M.A. Lynch has an on site Health Clinic and an on site Head Start. In a addition Lynch students and families have the support of a full time FAN (Family Access Network) advocate to help our most at risk students and families weave through the often confusing world of social services to ensure that all students come to school ready to learn.

Increased opportunities for Health and Social Services

M.A. Lynch provides opportunities for parents and community members to build stronger families and healthier communities by offering a variety of classes and services :•Parenting Classes• Spanish GED Classes•ESL Classes•Fitness opportunities

Increased Parent and Community Engagement

•Strong Superintendant support•Strong Principal support•Initiative Integrated into the district strategic plan and site initiatives- not an add on•Highly Effective coordinator•Professional Development opportunities for coordinator•Collaboration with partners NOT Co-Locating or simply cooperation•Strong, effective partners- must be a “win/win”•Integration of school day with after school- not simply an add on•Site staff support•Leverage resources throughout the community

What are the lessons learned?What does it take for?

•Start to sustain in year one- otherwise when the grant or when funds are gone, the program is gone•Choose effective AND engaging intervention materials- not more of the same•Empower site staff as leaders•Listen to student and parent voice- and then use their input to develop and refine programming•Welcome and leverage your community resources•Continuously look for and apply for grants from various sources•Develop corporate sponsors•Develop ways for a variety of people to financially support programming and students thorough sponsorships

More lessons learned

•Use data to inform decision making•Collect data consistently•Use the data to tell a story•Share the story•APPRECIATE all those who are a part of the Community School work•Continuously add new partners•Create systems and document them

More…

IF readiness exists- THENWhat is required is :•Effective Coordinator•Some funds to support intensive interventions•Everything else can be leveraged

How can this approach be replicated in other communities? 

Questions?