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Welcome to Julius West MSWelcome to Julius West MS

Middle School Reform Middle School Reform Phase II: 2008-09Phase II: 2008-09

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AGENDAAGENDABy the end of this presentation, you will haveBy the end of this presentation, you will have

Heard the rationale for & process of developing middle school initiativesHeard the rationale for & process of developing middle school initiatives

Viewed goals of middle school reformViewed goals of middle school reform

Seen recommendations for Phase II & all middle schools in MCPSSeen recommendations for Phase II & all middle schools in MCPS

Learned of new leadership structuresLearned of new leadership structures

Compared current JWMS to MSRCompared current JWMS to MSR

Discussed next stepsDiscussed next steps

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National IssuesNational Issues

No Child Left BehindNo Child Left Behind

How to Prepare for the 21How to Prepare for the 21stst Century Century

The Achievement GapThe Achievement Gap

Changing DemographicsChanging Demographics

Reading, Writing, ThinkingReading, Writing, Thinking

Inclusion / GiftednessInclusion / Giftedness

Middle School ReformMiddle School Reform

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What does it take to prepare our middle school What does it take to prepare our middle school students for the 21students for the 21stst Century? Century?

Students must be able to …Students must be able to …

Work in teamsWork in teams

Solve complex problemsSolve complex problems

Connect learning across disciplinesConnect learning across disciplines

Think strategicallyThink strategically

Apply knowledge to real-life situationsApply knowledge to real-life situations

Use technologyUse technology

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Multi-Year InitiativeMulti-Year Initiative

Steering Committee & Project TeamsSteering Committee & Project Teams

Recommendations to BOE & MS Policy RevisionsRecommendations to BOE & MS Policy Revisions

Phase I: 2007-08Phase I: 2007-08 Benjamin Banneker MSBenjamin Banneker MS Roberto Clemente MSRoberto Clemente MS Montgomery Village MSMontgomery Village MS Sligo MSSligo MS Earle B. Wood MSEarle B. Wood MS

Phase II: 2008-09Phase II: 2008-09 9 additional schools9 additional schools

Phase III: 2009-10Phase III: 2009-10

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Steering Committee &Steering Committee & Project Teams reviewed:Project Teams reviewed:

• Leadership/Professional DevelopmentLeadership/Professional Development

• Curriculum, Instruction, and AssessmentCurriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

• Extended Learning OpportunitiesExtended Learning Opportunities

• Human ResourcesHuman Resources

• Organizational StructureOrganizational Structure

• TechnologyTechnology

• Parent and Community Engagement &Parent and Community Engagement & CommunicationCommunication

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MCPS Goals for MSRMCPS Goals for MSR

Goal 1: LeadershipGoal 1: Leadership

Goal 2: Curriculum that is engaging, Goal 2: Curriculum that is engaging, motivating and rigorousmotivating and rigorous

Goal 3: Extended learning opportunitiesGoal 3: Extended learning opportunities

Goal 4: Organizational structuresGoal 4: Organizational structures

Goal 5: Staff development to increase Goal 5: Staff development to increase understanding of adolescent learnerunderstanding of adolescent learner

Goal 6: Partner with parents & othersGoal 6: Partner with parents & others

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Leadership StructureLeadership Structure

NEW POSITIONSNEW POSITIONS Literacy Content SpecialistLiteracy Content Specialist

• Fully released Fully released • 15 summer days per person15 summer days per person• Modified SupplementModified Supplement

Math Content SpecialistMath Content Specialist • Fully released Fully released • 20 summer days per person 20 summer days per person • SupplementSupplement

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Leadership StructureLeadership Structure

CONTENT SPECIALISTSCONTENT SPECIALISTS (no grade level team leader responsibilities)(no grade level team leader responsibilities)

• EnglishEnglish• ScienceScience• Social Studies Social Studies • PE/ArtsPE/Arts• 1 other area 1 other area (TBD based on school’s data/need and in collaboration with (TBD based on school’s data/need and in collaboration with

school and community superintendent)school and community superintendent) 1 release period1 release period 20 summer days per person20 summer days per person SupplementSupplement

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Leadership StructureLeadership Structure

GRADE LEVEL TEAM LEADER GRADE LEVEL TEAM LEADER Two at each grade level Two at each grade level -no department responsibilities-no department responsibilities– – based on school enrollmentbased on school enrollment

• 1 release period 1 release period • 10 days 10 days • Modified SupplementModified Supplement

RTSE & SDTRTSE & SDTThe positions of resource teacher in special education (RTSE) and The positions of resource teacher in special education (RTSE) and staff development teacher (SDT) are still in place based upon staff development teacher (SDT) are still in place based upon previous funding sources.previous funding sources.

* Note: This leadership structure only reflects those positions outlined in * Note: This leadership structure only reflects those positions outlined in the middle school reform report. Schools have other leadership the middle school reform report. Schools have other leadership positions that are not listed here. During the first year of the reform, positions that are not listed here. During the first year of the reform, the positions will be evaluated for implementation; therefore, some the positions will be evaluated for implementation; therefore, some modification may be made in the information listed above.modification may be made in the information listed above.

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Selected Recommended Actions for Phase I & Phase IISelected Recommended Actions for Phase I & Phase II

Professional Learning Communities InstituteProfessional Learning Communities Institute

Mathematics and Literacy Content SpecialistsMathematics and Literacy Content Specialists

New structure for resource teachers and team leadersNew structure for resource teachers and team leaders

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Phase I & II Recommended ActionsPhase I & II Recommended Actions

Innovative, interactive model classroomsInnovative, interactive model classrooms (21(21stst Century Classrooms – Promethean whiteboards) Century Classrooms – Promethean whiteboards)

Rigorous core and elective coursesRigorous core and elective courses

Redesigned after school and summer programsRedesigned after school and summer programs

Funds to support team planning and professional developmentFunds to support team planning and professional development

Study Circles and integrate action steps in school improvement plansStudy Circles and integrate action steps in school improvement plans

Parent Academy workshopsParent Academy workshops

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Recommended Actions for All Middle SchoolsRecommended Actions for All Middle Schools

School Leadership Team InstituteSchool Leadership Team Institute

Comprehensive Professional Development Comprehensive Professional Development Plan: differentiation, rigor, equitable classroom Plan: differentiation, rigor, equitable classroom practices, data-driven instructional decisionspractices, data-driven instructional decisions

Guidelines for Advanced InstructionGuidelines for Advanced Instruction Alignment of mathematics and English curricula Alignment of mathematics and English curricula

with The College Board standards (on hold)with The College Board standards (on hold)

Formative and benchmark assessments/new Formative and benchmark assessments/new technology tool (Performance Matters)technology tool (Performance Matters)

Additional counselorsAdditional counselors

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All Middle SchoolsAll Middle Schools

7-hour instructional data assistants7-hour instructional data assistants

Guidelines for school schedules and vertical articulationGuidelines for school schedules and vertical articulation

Recruitment and hiring of middle school staff with knowledge, Recruitment and hiring of middle school staff with knowledge, skills, and content expertise specific to middle schoolskills, and content expertise specific to middle school

School and parent resources to improve parent communication School and parent resources to improve parent communication and engagementand engagement

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So… What’s in it for JWMS?So… What’s in it for JWMS?

AdvantagesAdvantages

• Add’l opportunities for Add’l opportunities for students students

• Add’l staff developmentAdd’l staff development• Add’l leadership positionsAdd’l leadership positions

(16 vs. 12)(16 vs. 12)• Add’l resources such as Add’l resources such as

time for planningtime for planning• Opportunity to try what is Opportunity to try what is

available to support available to support student achievement & to student achievement & to make AYPmake AYP

• 11stst MYP School to go MSR MYP School to go MSR

ChallengesChallenges

• Resistance to changeResistance to change• Developing new coursesDeveloping new courses• Time & energy for trainingTime & energy for training• Balancing multiple Balancing multiple

priorities priorities MYPMYP AYPAYP MSRMSR

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Next Steps for Julius West MSNext Steps for Julius West MS

Share info with staff and parent groupsShare info with staff and parent groups

Decide whether to apply for Phase II Decide whether to apply for Phase II participationparticipation

Submit application by February 8, 2008Submit application by February 8, 2008

Wait for decision on application by end of Wait for decision on application by end of FebruaryFebruary

Develop master schedule & professional Develop master schedule & professional development calendars for required staff development calendars for required staff training training

Note: Implementation of middle school initiatives for any schools is contingent on budget approval and results of the implementation evaluation.

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Additional InformationAdditional Information

The complete Middle School Reform Report is available The complete Middle School Reform Report is available at the following website:at the following website:

http://www.montgomerycountyschoolsmd.org/info/msreformhttp://www.montgomerycountyschoolsmd.org/info/msreform