Modesto Afternoon

In attendance:
Dave
Eric
Jack
Todd
Mark
Ronda
Margaret
James
Israel
Ginger

March 18, 2004
Focus Meeting

Dave passed around timeline from a Self –Study. It was interesting because it says what they did and when. It gives us a good idea as to what this task entails. Note that by late November or Christmas we will need to have this completed.

Our primary task for the report is the written criteria. The section we are responsible for is Assessment and Accountability. We will look at focus on learning school-wide criteria.

ESLRS were generated from a study group made up of parents, students, staff, and administration in discussion. They took suggestions and boiled it down to these 7 ESLRS.

CWCS will prepare its graduates to be:
1. Effective Communicators who read for a variety of purposes
2. Effective Citizens who contribute to society
3. Technologically Skilled Individuals who demonstrate competence with the computer
4. Historically-Aware Learners who have an understanding of the history and culture of mankind
5. Mathematical Thinkers who apply math principles to solve problems.
6. Scientific Thinkers who apply scientific knowledge to processes in the world
7. Lifelong Learners who realize their own educational interests, talents, and abilities.

The 7 growth area goals of CWCS are similar to the ESLRS.
We discussed the need to buy into the ESLRS so we make sure that there is not something that we left out.

Ronda asked if this will be part of our learning records and Dave replied it will be an important part of our self study report and might be reflected in our Charter and /or LRs in the future. The important thing to remember is that these ESLRS will be central in our analysis of our school.

Dave explained that technology is only 1 important check under our life skills but we gave it more importance in out ESLRS. Our school has always emphasized technology and we want our (product) students, to be technologically adept. Health is important but we also need to be productive. To gain these life skills is essential to students to be able to adapt best in the future.

So, can we assume that everyone here concurs with the ESLRS as they are written? Everyone responded affirmatively.

We then began to study the CAHSEE results from 2003.

We compared the Math scores and the English. We noted that a much higher percentage of students passed the English than the Math in the first try. It was mentioned that the students became very anxious about the math sections when they didn’t pass.

Looking at the CAHSEE we noted that 81 students tested in January and a combined total of 119 in May of 2003. Looking at the May sample, 51% passed which is close to the state average. We noted the group mean-scaled score of 350 is right at the passing rate. Margaret noticed some scores were below.
In May 47% did not appear to pass which is interesting as the mean score is at or close to passing. Looking at the 10th graders as 59 tested, 27 passed which is 46%. The 11th graders had only 40% pass, however we noted that they probably were taking the test for at least the second time. Two 12th graders took it but it does not list there scores. Ginger noted that the reason is to protect privacy when too few students take it. More females take the test than males. They passed with a higher percentage too.

We discussed various reasons for why this could be. Perhaps the females are more mature and take the testing more seriously than the males. Perhaps if we could see if more females show up then they are as a group more motivated. Margaret noted that if you fail the first time your anxiety level could be higher the second time of testing. That could lead to lower test scores. Todd was thinking about the demographics of our school and noting that Caucasians are prevalent and wondered what this might imply. It was also noted that 45% are Hispanic or Latino. Margaret noted that the actual numbers are 20 and 22 which is a small sample. Dave noted that the Hispanics passed at basically the same rate as the non-Hispanic whites.

Dave noted we have a difficult time getting the students to test. Some reasons might be political, there might be some fear of the government intrusion and loss of freedoms, some absenteeism may be due to transportation problems. Ronda noted that some were afraid of being tracked and some home-schoolers were not used to that testing environment. Some parents feel they should be able to test them at home. Todd noted that testing is at odds with those parents who do not want to be in regular public schools and some have well thought out positions. Dave said it would be interesting to note why most of them did not show up to find the biggest reason. Many parents feel they are the teacher and therefore, their scores are a direct reflection of them.

Dave explains to parents that testing is good because parents can make better decisions as to how to adjust their teaching with objective information. Margaret noted that if they used Edusoft more then their kids would not be as intimidated. Jack noted that they need to learn it eventually as part of living in the everyday world. The Margaret stated and the group agreed that testing is now a life skill for these students.
We need to really encourage parents to use Edusoft. Margaret agreed they might be surprised just how much their child does know.

When we look at the high school exit exams, what are some of the weak areas? It was noted that 76% passed the English Language and only 46% passed Math in 10th grade. However, 96% passed Language as 11th graders versus only 46% in Math.

Dave asked what accounts for the difference between the scores for language and math. We all agreed that it is easier to forget math because we don’t use it all the time like we do language. In Edusoft you analyze the test scores. It was pointed out that when an ES analyzed their 10th graders from last year they all scored low in Number Sense which was taken from lower grades standards. Even Algebra 2 students who had passing scores scored the lowest in Number Sense. This includes skills like conversion of decimals to fractions and percents to decimals. It was suggested that those are skills the students don’t review regularly and so we need to review it prior to testing.

Ginger said we could give practice tests made with Edusoft to prepare them. Each parent could prepare the practice tests and give them to their student until they get it. Dave mentioned that this is the idea of the School Benchmark tests.

Israel said he took precalculus and passed and later went on to take calculus. Todd asked how many of us are aware of the Keys to learning math concepts. For some of his students part of it is Keys and they go over those basics. Most of it is simple fractions and decimals and that kind of number sense being ready for it. In Dave’s analysis, if his students had all passed number sense they would have passed the test. We agreed that Number Sense is a key standard.

Margaret asked isn’t it true we must have the greatest number of our students testing? Dave explained that at this time, percentage of students who take it is more important than their scores for our accreditation. He said NCLB allows only 5% wavers.

Jamie asked whether raising student scores is important to accreditation. Dave explained that the main goal for our initial application is to go through the Self-Study process involving everyone who is a part of the school. If we do, it’s a starting place and then our continued growth in the next years reflected in the next Self-Study will get our next accreditation. The whole purpose is to stimulate a positive attitude towards improvement for the school.

What would we like to focus on? Jack suggested we look at incentives and practicality. For example, if they want to buy something that is x% off, what would it cost you. In order to narrow it down Dave suggests we do a more in depth study of the CAHSEE. We have suggested we have more students take the test, prepare them more for taking the test, educating the parents to the value of the test, resolve some of the issues they have for not taking the test, and reducing travel problems to increase the overall testing rate.

Meeting adjourned with the request that we copy that links from the last agenda and the next making a hard copy of each so we can make good use of our time at the next meeting in May.