Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Students Show Progress on PARCC Tests

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) released local school system and school-level data today for PARCC, Maryland’s school assessments in English/Language Arts and mathematics. Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) closed its gap with the state average and showed steady growth in most subjects and grades.
“We continue to move in the right direction, with improvement in overall scores and instruction. We are focused on classroom instruction and test scores are one indicator we use to make adjustments to our curriculum and to meeting the needs of all of our students,” Superintendent Kimberly Hill said.
CCPS students showed significant improvement in Algebra I at the middle school level and Algebra II in high school.  Algebra II scores increased to 47.6 percent, and 17.6 percent above state average.
“We made some nice strides and improvements. The results provide us with information to help us improve classroom instruction. PARCC scores are just one of many indicators we use to meet the needs of our students and prepare our students to reach college and career readiness goals,” Deputy Superintendent Amy Hollstein said.
According to MSDE, for students in grades 3 through 8, achieving level 4 or 5 indicates their readiness for coursework in English/Language Arts and math at the next grade, with the goal of preparing students to enter college or a career upon graduation. High school students taking Algebra I and English II are required to reach a certain proficiency level as a high school graduation requirement.
County scores, elementary schools
Mathematics: Overall, students in grades 3-5 scored 36.5 percent at levels 4 and 5, up from 36.1 percent in 2016. Fifth-grade students scored 31.2 percent at levels 4 and 5; fourth-grade students scored 36 percent at levels 4 and 5; and third-grade students scored 42.2 percent at levels 4 and 5.
English/Language Arts: Overall, students in grades 3-5 scored 42.1 percent at levels 4 and 5, up from 37.4 percent in 2016. Fifth-grade students scored 46.1 percent at levels 4 and 5; fourth-grade students scored 41.3 percent at levels 4 and 5; and third-grade students scored 38.8 percent at levels 4 and 5.
County scores, middle schools
Mathematics: Overall, 34.4 percent of middle school students scored a combined score of 4 and 5 on the mathematics assessment, up from 30.78 in 2016. Students in eighth grade taking the mathematics assessment scored 12.9 percent at levels 4 and 5; students in seventh grade scored 27.2 percent at levels 4 and 5; and students in sixth grade scored 26 percent at levels 4 and 5. Middle school students taking the PARCC Algebra I assessment scored 71.58 percent at levels 4 and 5, up from 51.5 percent in 2016.
Read more HERE

Tuesday, August 08, 2017

Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 8/8/17

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, August will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs .

 
The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes.

Executive session – 10:30 a.m.

Call to order – 12 p.m.  Pledge of Allegiance

Education Association of Charles County (EACC) contract signing

Superintendent’s update - Superintendent's report August 2017 final.pdf (136 KB)

Correspondence/Board Member updates
  • McGraw - Back to School fiesta sponsored by Commissioner Amanda Stewart; Attending August State BOE meeting on August 22 at 8:30 representing MABE if anyone wants to join.
  • Crawford - Eclipse at Richmond Science Center; Trump donation of salary to Dept of Education.
  • Kelly - Remind drivers to look out for buses and new student driver; parents stay diligent in monitoring students use of technology and social media.
  • Palko - Support staff picnic at end of June; State BOE presentation by CCPS in June;  Republic of Korea educators visited.
  • Lukas - Summer school graduation.
Education Association of Charles County update - 2017.08.07 EACC BOE report.pdf (47 KB)

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees update - AFSCME Local 2981 aug2017.pdf (241 KB)

Student Board Member update - Drew Carter update 8-8.pdf (80 KB)

Staffing update - (Report to be placed on BoardDocs Soon)
  • 240 new teachers hired for 2017.    67 retirements.  183 resignations/terminations 52 openings in secondary schools, under 10 for elementary; ahead of where we were last year.  Special Education teachers are still our biggest loss. 
  • Abell - exit surveys on those teachers not completing their certification.  What are the barriers for them not completing and can we address those barriers.
  • Palko - attended March job fair and was impressed.
Project status update - Final Construction status-2017-08.pdf (224 KB)
  • Mudd Transition School - has gym, occupancy permitting complete, activities beginning
  • Billingsley Elementary
  • Thomas Stone High School Site Improvements
  • John Hanson Middle School
  • Arthur Middleton Elementary School Gym Floor
  • LaPlata High School Fire Alarm Replacement and Locker Refinishing
  • Lackey High School Gym Floor Refinishing and Track Replacement
  • McDonough Water Heater Booster Panel
  • Westlake Tennis Courts Repairs
  • Berry Elementary - Portable Classroom maintenance
  • Berry and Craik Kindergarten additions bids are in, construction starts October
FY 2019 CIP State and Local Program - Final Board Report FY 2019 CIP_package.pdf (188 KB)

Student information system update (SIS)
  • all inclusive one stop shop where each custodial parent will have their own account. 
  • Discipline Matrix Updates on parameters; code of conduct training for teachers
Recurring resolutions:
Unfinished business - None

New business

Future agenda items
  • Lukas - 1000 Policy review.
  • Kelly - waiting on staff comments
  • Kelly - 2016/2017 matrix review
  • Marshall - Greek organizations involvement in schools report
  • Palko - Archaeological dig at Henson site; student presentation.
Public Forum – 6 p.m.
  • Kenneth Savoid - School crossing guard; retired PGSO; Retired Dir. of Transp in PGPS; Program SCATE (Stop Child Abuse Through Education)...partner with PG County to come up with solutions together.  Problem is on the rise again.
Action items
  • Minutes
Motion to approve the Minutes by Abell; Second Marshall
Yes=Abell, Crawford, Kelly, Lukas, Marshall, McGraw, Palko
  • Personnel
Motion to approve Personnel by Abell; Second McGraw
Yes=Abell, Crawford, Kelly, Lukas, Marshall, McGraw, Palko
  • Policy 5000 series revisions
Motion to approve Policy 5000 by Abell; Second Kelly
  • Palko - Policy 5117 on Bullying.  will not vote for the policy.
  • McGraw - Policy 5117; no changes, but says revised
Call for the Question by Abell; Second by Crawford
Yes=Abell, Crawford, Kelly, Lukas, Marshall, McGraw;  No=Palko
 
Vote on Original motion
Yes=Abell, Crawford, Kelly, Lukas, Marshall;  No= McGraw, Palko

Adjournment