When can the community expect to see notable academic gains at Montezuma-Cortez Re-1 elementary schools?<\/p>\n
That was the question posed to Superintendent Alex Carter after his update on a University of Virginia turnaround program at Kemper, Manuagh and Mesa elementary schools. In response, Carter said the \u201cfirst fruits\u201d of progress should be revealed at the end of the 22-month transformation process. The UVA program officially ends in March.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re focused on turnaround,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Re-1 elementary students trail federal and state expectations \u2013 by 26 percentage points in reading, 24 in math, and 29 in writing \u2013 according to the district\u2019s Unified Improvement Plan (UIP) released in April.<\/p>\n
The UIP report also revealed that the number of students who were proficient and advanced in reading and math was steadily declining. In 2011, for example, 53 percent were proficient or advanced in reading. Last year, only 45 percent were. In math, scores fell from 55 percent in 2011 to 46 percent in 2014.<\/p>\n
To reverse the decline, Carter told board members on Tuesday that the district was committed to supporting its teachers, but the district would also hold them accountable.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe lament over our data, but we rarely act on it,\u201d Carter said. \u201cWe\u2019re taking actions, and we will make progress.\u201d<\/p>\n
Assistant Superintendent Laurie Haukeness told the board that academic gains had been made, in part, because of the district\u2019s oversight.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur top-down model has been flipped,\u201d she said, pointing to a bottom-up approach that focuses on concerns of students and teachers. She also said the district had recruited teachers to help lead a turnaround, expanded teacher support and increased time for collaboration.<\/p>\n
Asked by board members to reveal the academic gains, Haukeness said she was updating the data for the board\u2019s November meeting.<\/p>\n
State review<\/p>\n
In August, the Colorado Department of Education endorsed the district\u2019s UVA turnaround plan, noting that \u201csignificant changes\u201d had been made.<\/p>\n
\u201cResults of this partnership to date have included academic growth at all levels, an increased graduation rate and decreased dropout rate, improved ACT scores, and increasing student population,\u201d the review panel wrote.<\/p>\n
The CDE report praised the UVA program\u2019s requirements for 90-day plans that identify causes of low performance, outline improvement goals and specify action plans.<\/p>\n
The report indicated positive returns were likely under current management and staffing. It did not recommend that the district reorganize or close its schools.<\/p>\n
Last spring, district elementary school principals admitted they had been quick to blame students and parents for failures, and vowed to examine how teachers and schools could improve.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re accepting our responsibility,\u201d Mesa Elementary principal KD Umbarger told board members in April.<\/p>\n