LESSONS LEARNED AND ACTIONS TAKEN BASED
ON PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK AND
ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN
Dedication to Best Practices in Data Collection
The School continues the implementation and
enhancement process for the Student Information
System (SIS) used to collect, analyze, and report
data for our accountability plan. We continue to
recognize the importance of collecting reliable data
in a streamlined and efficient manner. To this end we
hired an independent consultant to evaluate our system
including aspects of contract language, technical
specifications, system deliverables, turnkey protocols,
and database administration. We have implemented
many recommendations from the consultant and remain
dedicated to using best practices in data collection,
analysis and reporting.
Continued Support for Teachers and Student
Learning
In recognition of the high expectations the School
has for all teachers, and the steep learning curve this
creates for, particularly, new teachers, the School
developed new resources to assist teachers in meeting
instructional expectations. To this end we have
developed a comprehensive Teacher Resource Guide
and model lesson plans for teachers at all English as
a Second Language levels. Additionally, we have an
educational coach and a mentoring program to work
with teachers on a one-on-one basis. Thanks to a grant
from Office of the State Superintendant of Education
(OSSE) we were able to provide a wider range of
external professional development opportunities to our
part-time staff during the 2011-12 school year. These
supports in turn have had a direct positive impact on
student learning.
Exceeding Accountability Plan Measures
This year we are happy to report that we far exceeded
the Gateway measure related to students passing the
official GED exam, with a 93 percent pass rate. In
order to accomplish this, a team of key stakeholders
including teachers, administrators, and students worked
over the course of School Year 2011-12 to develop
and implement a comprehensive strategy. Elements
of the strategy included increasing the practice test
passing score required before students were allowed to
take the official GED exam and furthering our efforts
to mirror the actual environment of the UDC testing
center. Not only did the pass rate increase significantly
from the prior year, but also the number of students
passing the exam increased from prior years.
Mother-daughter duo, Venus and Jessie Salamanca Romero,
shake hands with Patrick Mara, Board of Education, Ward 1.
Both mother and daughter graduated from the GED Spanish
program and passed the official GED test.
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