Schenectady High Schenectady High SchoolSchool

Removal from the NYSED Removal from the NYSED Persistently Dangerous ListPersistently Dangerous List

September 2011September 2011

Contributing to ChangeContributing to Change Quarterly review of all Vadir data as an Quarterly review of all Vadir data as an

Administrative TeamAdministrative Team Recognition by the administrative team that Recognition by the administrative team that

incidents were not happening in isolation incidents were not happening in isolation Tracking of groups of students Tracking of groups of students Admitting we have a gang problem Admitting we have a gang problem Improved communication with law enforcement Improved communication with law enforcement

and other agencies including mental health and other agencies including mental health support and gang task forcesupport and gang task force

The use of grounded researched based programsThe use of grounded researched based programs Changes occurred over timeChanges occurred over time

Proactive ApproachesProactive Approaches Safety plans to remove students from the building to avoid Safety plans to remove students from the building to avoid

problems before an incidentproblems before an incident Change in building leadership – Associate Superintendent Change in building leadership – Associate Superintendent

with a connection to students, staff, and community (former with a connection to students, staff, and community (former Middle School Principal) with a mission of building Middle School Principal) with a mission of building relationships and reducing incidentsrelationships and reducing incidents

Hall sweeps and escort policyHall sweeps and escort policy Voluntary tutoring for unique casesVoluntary tutoring for unique cases Expanded use of our electronic surveillance system over Expanded use of our electronic surveillance system over

the past five yearsthe past five years Use of our data to address problem locations, days, times, Use of our data to address problem locations, days, times,

etc. Examples – etc. Examples – – Locations - main hallway where students loiterLocations - main hallway where students loiter– Locations - outside the cafeteriaLocations - outside the cafeteria– Days - before and after a vacationDays - before and after a vacation

Positive Trends 2010-11Positive Trends 2010-11

Consolidated Action PlanConsolidated Action Plan– Summary of four major improvement Summary of four major improvement

plans and recommendationsplans and recommendations DOL GrantDOL Grant JIT (Joint Intervention Team) JIT (Joint Intervention Team)

– Recommendations from NYSEDRecommendations from NYSED

Incident Reduction Plan (NYSED)Incident Reduction Plan (NYSED) High School Restructuring Plan High School Restructuring Plan

– Now known as the School Improvement Plan Now known as the School Improvement Plan – PLA - Persistently Lowest Achieving School (NYSED)PLA - Persistently Lowest Achieving School (NYSED)

Positive Trends 2010-11Positive Trends 2010-11 Established 9Established 9thth Grade Academy Grade Academy

– Shared students and staffShared students and staff– Flexible schedule controlled by the teamFlexible schedule controlled by the team– Isolated repeat 9Isolated repeat 9thth graders from first time 9 graders from first time 9thth graders – graders –

10 Prep Program10 Prep Program– Freshmen Seminar and AdvisoryFreshmen Seminar and Advisory– Additional Guidance Counselors assigned to grade 9 Additional Guidance Counselors assigned to grade 9

exclusivelyexclusively– Team approach to everythingTeam approach to everything

Small gains in 9Small gains in 9thth grade data results after one grade data results after one yearyear– 7% decrease in discipline referrals for grade 97% decrease in discipline referrals for grade 9– 1.75% increase in the attendance rate for grade 91.75% increase in the attendance rate for grade 9

Direction for 2011-12Direction for 2011-12

99thth Grade Academy has been expanded to Grade Academy has been expanded to 1010thth Grade Academy Grade Academy

Professional Learning Communities have Professional Learning Communities have expanded to 30 PLC’s targeting critical expanded to 30 PLC’s targeting critical subject areas, sub groups, and grade levelssubject areas, sub groups, and grade levels

Mentoring, Case Management, Student Mentoring, Case Management, Student Employment partnerships are all Employment partnerships are all establishedestablished

Need to reduce our use of suspensionNeed to reduce our use of suspension Need to improve our attendance rateNeed to improve our attendance rate

Highlights for 2011-12Highlights for 2011-12 Focus on Improving the Instructional ProgramFocus on Improving the Instructional Program

– Improving our Instructional Walks planImproving our Instructional Walks plan– Extensive professional development this past summerExtensive professional development this past summer– Additional instructional technologyAdditional instructional technology– Standard lesson plan formatStandard lesson plan format– Establishment of Department Chair positionsEstablishment of Department Chair positions– Creation of five Assistant Principal positionsCreation of five Assistant Principal positions– Addition of Instructional Coaches (pending)Addition of Instructional Coaches (pending)– Continue to improve our use of data to inform instructionContinue to improve our use of data to inform instruction– Proactive approach Response to Intervention changes – Proactive approach Response to Intervention changes –

Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) – MAP Testing Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) – MAP Testing Grade 9Grade 9

Freshmen SeminarFreshmen Seminar Sophomore SeminarSophomore Seminar Fundamental classesFundamental classes