It is a Single,
comprehensive plan describing services for all students. The plan develops a
Blueprint for students to achieve the California state content standards and
provides a basis for continual parent and community involvement, planning,
implementation, monitoring, and assessment. Finally, the plan is a summary of
all existing federal and state plans that can establish a focus for raising
academic performance for all students here in the district.
The State also provides goals for this plan. The state goals include that all students reach STAR test results proficient or above in reading and mathematics, by the 2013-2014 school year. All English language learners will learn English, all learning environments will be drug free and safe, and that all students will graduate from high school. Chapin-Pinotti states that basically the plan outlines goals and how to achieve those goals.
Trustee PJ Karnaze expressed his pleasure with the
plan stating that the plan has a heavy emphasis on English Language Arts.
Included in the plan are strategies for increasing performance at the fifth
grade level. The report show that grades 2-4 have good levels of
proficiency but that fifth grade test scores show room for improvement. The
fifth graders of the 05-06 school year showed a drop of 10 percent in reading
comprehension scores, as well as vocabulary development and analysis, where the
group dropped 14 percent. This drop followed a 3 year run of increased scores
and overall improvement. In response the district will continue the Step-Up to
writing program, as well as teacher training for the program.
This Step-Up to Writing program is key to the districts goals at many elementary grade levels. There was substantial progress made in the 9th grade, while the 7th grade progress seemed stagnant according to the report. Ninth grade scores are on target to meet the federal goals of 100 percent of kids proficient in English Language arts by 2014. Math goals, which are designated by the state as being 24 percent of students in the proficient category, are looking somewhat more difficult to meet. The report states that local students struggle when higher order concepts are introduced and proficiency requires advanced algebraic reasoning. The report notes that of 413 11th graders in 05-06, only 296 took math. These students, according to the report, are represented by students who do not have the appropriate foundation to take Algebra before their junior year.
The ACUSD plan to make the state and
federal goals involves a heavy emphasis on teachers, citing that the district
will continue to be provided additional professional development by the
district as well as remaining highly qualified. Also, the provision of
comprehensive writing programs through out the district will continue at all
grade levels. The No Child Left Behind program requires district’s meet goals
by 2014 in order to remain eligible for funding