Follow-Up from September 11, 2008 Board Meeting

Listed below are issues that were raised during the September 11, 2008 Board Meeting that required some additional information and/or follow-up. 

Gang Prevention Policy – Response from Peggy Thompson
Attached is the rewording of the Gang Prevention Policy with recommended word changes per the BOE discussion last Thursday night.  Mr. Quick raised some concern about the wording of the policy in the second paragraph.  The wording has been changed to reflect the following: 

The district shall create and implement a comprehensive district-wide gang prevention and intervention program designed to address the needs of students involved in gangs, students at-risk for gang involvement and schools and neighborhoods with high levels of gang activity and to provide all students with access to information about school or community based gang prevention.

The full text is attached for your review and comment.

SAT Questions – Response from Gongshu Zhang

(1) Comparison of SAT scores under same participation rate:
In making a comparison of SAT scores between Guilford County Schools and the nation under the same participation rate, we (a) take the nation’s average SAT score with a total 45% participation rate, and (b) for GCS we ordered student SAT scores from high to low then calculated the average SAT score from the top students with a 45% participation rate in the same way. Since we do not know if all of the nation’s SAT takers were at the top of 45%, this comparison is not an accurate one, but a rough snapshot.

(2) Comparison of SAT scores by ethnicity and house income:
The student SAT data that we received this year does not include a student’s house income variable. This kind of comparison cannot be conducted. We contacted the College Board on September 12. The person who is in charge of the data release agreement will be out of office until September 18. Once we receive a response from the College Board, we will let you know if we can conduct this study.

What are you doing specifically for schools that did not reach their goals?

Actions that the AL Department is taking to increase participation and achievement on the SAT:

1. Greater emphasis on promotion of the SAT in the schools. This emphasis includes:
   • Encouraging students not to wait until the last minute either to prepare or take the test in general, but to push for an “11th grade/summer/early 12th grade/October administration” mindset. The purpose would be that a student taking the October exam would have the possibilities for early admissions to most universities (typically, a November 1 deadline date).  Seniors who, on top of the academic demands of their senior year, are also trying to prepare for the SAT in March may not perform well.  Stress may be a factor.
   • Developing a more consistent use of ConnectEd to make students and parents aware of SAT goals.
   • Creating plans for registering students at schools. Schools reported that students who registered outside of school either did not or were not required to include their school code. Individual schools feel that they may not be getting the recognition for success they should. The larger issue is that registration-at-school connects the support team at the individual schools with the students themselves in a better fashion than online, out-of-school access does.
2. Create stronger connections between the District-wide SAT Implementation Plan and oversight at the school and district level.  We are meeting with principals, curriculum facilitators, counselors, and IIOs to strategize plans for informing participants and improving implementation.
3. Increase knowledge and use of the Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS) by counselors and SAT Champions. College Board agreed to conduct a workshop on the SOAS, date and location to be announced.  The first SOAS discussion for this year is tentatively scheduled for the November SAT Champions meeting, directly after the results from the October PSAT administration are received. 
4. Increase number of SAT Champion meetings.  Last year SAT Champions met twice; this year, 5 meetings before the March administration are planned. These meetings will provide support to SAT Champions as they review SAT practices to determine how to improve upon last year’s scores and participation.  This network of support for Champions will allow for the sharing of effective strategies.
5. Increase the utilization of the tools (e.g., SAT online, SAT Word of the Day, or Problems).  The AL Department is collaborating closely with curriculum about the integration of these tools across the curriculum.
6. Raise the profile of the SAT within the school community.  The AL department plans two workshops each with faith-based organizations, non-profit organizations, and parents. 
7. Use the District Relations Office to raise public awareness of the SAT. 

What is the difference between SAT & ACT?

ACT

• ACT tests curriculum related information from the classroom.  
• 1.4 million took the ACT (2007-2008).
• ACT is one single test. (36 is a perfect score.)
• ACT costs $46 with the writing section; $31 without the writing section.

SAT

• SAT tests holistically—both information learned inside and outside the classroom—problem solving and referential thinking.
• 1.5 million took the SAT (2007-2008). 
• SAT is two tests –reasoning and subject. (2400 is a perfect score.)
• SAT costs $45 with the writing section.

Attached you will find the implementation procedures and activities.

Montessori Schools
With focus on the Montessori schools…who pays for the PreK-K positions?  Are those positions being funded with K-12 dollars? 

Local funding pays for Montessori Pre K.  More-at-Four funding will not and cannot pay for classes that are combined with ineligible More-at-Four students.  Under the Montessori philosophy, combination classes are the norm. 

Attached you will find the enrollment figures by grade and by school to include Pre-K enrollment.