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CRITERION:
Faculty and administrators expect high-quality work
from all students and are committed to helping each
student produce it. Evidence of this commitment includes
tutoring, mentoring, special adaptations, and other
supports.
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all criteria
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| From
Proficiency to Mastery via Connections |
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 Barren
County studies its data about student achievement and makes changes
in school programs and support services to address specific student
needs. One program the principal instituted to help students achieve
on Kentucky's tests is "Academic Connections," an after-school
program designed to help students achieve to and beyond Kentucky's
standards. Students are divided into three groups according to their
stanine scores, in order to get support geared to their specific
skill level.
BCMS teachers had mixed reactions to the 1998-99 test scores. Of
all the high-poverty students in the county, BCMS's high-poverty
students had the biggest gains on the achievement tests. Yet, teachers
felt discouraged that scores dropped in spelling. Science and reading
scores were up, but math and social studies were flat. In reading
many students are in the "upper apprentice" area and 15 percent
are "proficient." The administration wants to move the "upper apprentice"
scores to "proficient." They are seeing gains within these two categories,
but students in the lowest category are still struggling.
The school is using SRA reading material for remediation. They expect
to see a grade level gain among the 13 percent of students in this
category. Likewise, the school has instituted "Corrective Math"
for students who need math remediation. Results from the 1999-2000
CATS math assessment indicate significant improvement: 28 percent
of the students are proficient and 29 percent are distinguished
in math, up from 21 and 26 percent respectively from 1999 scores.
Even with the Academic Connections program, there
are still some students who need additional one-on-one support or
additional teaching time to meet Kentucky's standards. When that
occurs, the school offers a program called Extended School Services
to students. Students can also get additional support through the
Club House, which offers academic classes such as Hands-on Science
Projects, the Reading Club, Museum of the Barrens, and After School
Homework Help and Tutoring.
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Social
Equity - NEXT
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