dr. alex anemone superintendent of schools february 23, 2015

Dr. Alex Anemone Superintendent of Schools February 23, 2015

Board of Education Mr. Davor Gjivoje - President Mr. John Flynn Vice President Mrs. Kim Macaulay Dr. Howard Kotkin Mr. Abi Singh

2014-2015 District Goals Ninety percent (90%) of students in grades K-5 shall pass, with 90% accuracy, a timed grade level math-facts assessment. This math facts assessment shall be aligned to the Common Core State Standards and will assess students on the four core mathematical functions. Ninety percent (90%) of students in grades K-8 shall improve by one point (one quintile) on the District Writing Assessment. This assessment shall be administered in the fall and again in the spring. Students scoring a perfect score of 5 in the fall and spring shall be counted as having met the goal.

2014-2015 District Goals To prepare each student for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) and to communicate pertinent information to parents as detailed in the action plan. To maintain and continue to build and develop the individual student data dashboard and use the information to guide the instructional process as detailed in the action plan.

Narrative Harding Township School is one of the premier PK-8 school districts in New Jersey. We have two buildings situated on a picturesque 40+ acre campus. Our students in grades 9-12 attend Madison High School. HTS students receive high-quality instruction in a full range of academic subjects as well as the visual and performing arts. Technology is ubiquitous and integrated at all grade levels. Moreover, co-curricular activities, including athletics and clubs, are available to students. Small class size is a constant and personal relationships are strong. The PTO and HTEF provide valuable cultural experiences and funding for special programs, projects, and field trips. We are proud of our students, teachers, and parents and the success we have had at HTS in creating lifelong learners and celebrating educational excellence in a safe and secure learning environment.

New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge Annual assessment for students in grades 3-8 in English language arts (ELA) and math. Science is also assessed in grades 4 and 8. Students placed into three categories Advanced Proficient 250-300 Proficient 200-249 Partially Proficient < 200 HTS students compared to State and DFG-J cohorts. New multi-state assessment (PARCC) begins this year (March; April/May).

NJASK Grade 3 HTSDFG JState ELA Adv. Prof. %12.212.14.1 Prof. %75.676.862.4 Part. Prof. %12.211.133.6 Math Adv. Prof. %60.971.841.5 Prof. %34.223.236.2 Part. Prof. %4.95.022.3

NJASK Grade 4 HTSDFG JState ELA Adv. Prof. %21.121.48.4 Prof. %71.164.751.0 Part. Prof. %7.813.940.6 Math Adv. Prof. %71.163.534.5 Prof. %15.830.743.8 Part. Prof. %13.15.821.7 Science Adv. Prof. %73.768.144.1 Prof. %23.729.845.4 Part. Prof. %2.62.110.5

NJASK Grade 8 HTSDFG JState ELA Adv. Prof. %16.131.211.4 Prof. %70.964.970.5 Part. Prof. %12.93.918.1 Math Adv. Prof. %48.461.931.3 Prof. %38.729.638.0 Part. Prof. %12.98.530.7 Science Adv. Prof. %38.762.532.6 Prof. %58.133.346.4 Part. Prof. %3.24.221.0

Student Mobility - NJASK ELA: moving up 1/2 levels = 38 students ELA: moving down 1/2 levels = 13 students Difference = +25 (positive growth) Math: moving up 1/2 levels = 30 students Math: moving down 1/2 levels = 19 students Difference = +11 (positive growth)

Student Mobility - NJASK ELA 11/12-12/13 = +8 students (net) 12/13-13/14 = +25 students (net) +33 students (net) over two years moved up one or two levels on NJASK in ELA! Math 11/12-12/13 = +11 students (net) 12/13-13/14= +11 students (net) +22 students (net) over two years moved up one or two levels on NJASK in Math!

Student Growth Students (grades 4-8) compared year over year to their peers with the same NJASK scale score. Low Growth = 1-35 percentile Typical Growth = 35-65 percentile High Growth = 65-99 percentile HTS students scores disproportionally ranked as high growth in 9 of 10 categories.

Student Growth Grade 4 ELA High growth = 72.2% Typical growth = 19.4% Low growth = 8.3% Math High growth = 61.1% Typical growth = 16.7% Low growth = 22.2%

Student Growth Percentiles Highlights TOTAL SCHOOL mSGP = 70. This means that 50% of our students are in the top 29% of growth statewide! This places HTS at the 98 th percentile statewide! ELA Average Median SGP = 73 High growth = 95 students Low growth = 25 students Difference = +70 students (positive growth) Math Average Median SGP = 66 High growth = 81 students Low growth = 33 students Difference = +48 students (positive growth)

School Performance Report Replaced School Report Card. Data lags by one year. This SPR data is from the 2013-2014 school year. Not to be used to create a summative ranking of schools Rather the SPR provides data to present a more complete picture of school performance, with the ultimate aim of helping schools SPR designed to help districts: focus, benchmark, and improve

School Performance Report Includes the concept of peer group a consortium of 30 other schools with similar demographics, grade span, etc. Between 11/12 and 12/13, 67% of our peer schools changed. Between 12/13 and 13/14, 63% of our peer schools have changed. Only three schools (10%) have been in our peer group in all three years of the SPR! Categories: Very High Performance: 80 th -99 th percentile High Performance: 60 th 79.9 th percentile Average Performance: 40 th 59.9 th percentile Lagging Performance: 20 th -39.9 th percentile Significantly Lagging Performance: below 20 th percentile

School Performance Report Caveats: Not all outcome data is normally distributed = skewed peer and statewide percentiles (forced curve/stacked rankings). Actual variance might be very small (grade 3 ELA = 18 Qs) A majority (2/3) of the peer group changes every year rendering year-over-year peer percentile variance meaningless. Focus on State percentile. Soft data not included (culture, climate, co-curricular activities, class size, technology, etc.). No VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) data for K-8. Despite the NJDOEs warnings against using the SPR to rank and sort schools, this report is designed to do exactly that.

School Performance Report Academic Achievement Peer Percentile:33 (lagging performance) ELA 20 (lagging performance) Math46 (average performance) Statewide Percentile:87 (very high performance) ELA83 (very high performance) Math90 (very high performance) Targets Met:100%

School Performance Report College and Career Readiness Peer Percentile:68 (high performance) Students taking Alg.36 (lagging performance) Chronic Absenteeism100 (very high performance) Statewide Percentile:83 (very high performance) Students taking Alg.71 (high performance) Chronic Absenteeism94 (very high performance) Targets Met:100%

School Performance Report Student Growth Peer Percentile:97 (very high performance) ELA 100 (very high performance) Math94 (very high performance) Statewide Percentile:98 (very high performance) ELA100 (very high performance) Math95 (very high performance) Targets Met100%

Measures of Academic Progress A formative, online assessment given to students in grades 2-8. Students in grade 2 take the MAP in math and reading. Students in grades 3-8 take the MAP in math, reading, and language usage. Data is provided to parents/teachers in real time and is actionable. MAP data is from October 2014.

Measures of Academic Progress Students are provided with a raw score (RIT) that can be compared to their peers at HTS as well as to their peers nationwide. Student Progress Reports are sent home to parents. Teachers review more detailed reports (DesCartes: A Continuum of Learning) and use data to inform their instructional strategies (differentiation).

Measures of Academic Progress Grade 2 MATHREADING Mean HTS/National Percentile 8487 Mean HTS RIT195 Mean National RIT178176

Measures of Academic Progress Grade 3 MATHREADINGLANGUAGE USAGE Mean HTS/National Percentile 647175 Mean HTS RIT197200203 Mean National RIT 192190191

Measures of Academic Progress Grade 5 MATHREADINGLANGUAGE USAGE Mean HTS/National Percentile 66 73 Mean HTS RIT220214218 Mean National RIT 213207208

Measures of Academic Progress National Percentile Math National Percentile Reading National Percentile Language Usage Grades 2-570.573.575.3 Grades 6-855.658.367.3

Otis-Lennon School Ability Test May 2014 - grade 3 - 41 students (100%) Mean Score: 109 Standard Deviation: 15.5 Range: 72-150 (five standards deviations!) 90 th Percentile:127 75 th Percentile:117 50 th Percentile:111 25 th Percentile:99 10 th Percentile:88

2014 OLSAT NJASK MAP

Data Analysis Median SGP (mSGP) was extremely high for both ELA and Math. This means our students grew more than their peers. Elementary students scoring higher on multiple assessments (MAP, NJASK, etc.) than their middle school peers. Public to private transfers? Adv. proficient growth in ELA and math is tremendous. Continued focus on students at ends (high and low) of academic spectrum. Continued focus on reversing loss of highly talented students to private middle and high schools.

Curriculum Highlights Singapore Math (Math in Focus) used in K-5. Four Square Writing Method. (K-8) Reading Street/Novels Study. (K-6) Columbia Universitys Writers Workshop. (K-8) Character Education lessons during weekly advisory periods. These are age-appropriate activities and lessons centered around a common theme such as empathy, compassion, etc.

Transition to PARCC Performance Based Assessments (PBA) ELA and Math. March 2-27, 2015. End of Year Assessments (EOY) ELA and Math. April 27 May 22, 2015. Keyboarding (typing) skills and test-taking strategies emphasized in all grades at HTS. District Curriculum Council and Vision Council. Administrators and teachers reviewed all 2014 NJASK writing samples. Teachers using PARCC sample questions in class. Practice PARCC exams (online and paper/pencil) finished by all students in grades 3-8.

Capital Projects Summer 2014 Part II Elementary School windows and unit ventilators. (ROD Grant - 40% funded by State) 2012-2015 Security upgrades. (ongoing) Summer 2015 (proposed) Elementary School bathrooms scheduled for renovation.

Budget Data State Aid 2009-2010$364,473 2010-2011$0 2011-2012$181,191 2012-2013$225,137 2013-2014$225,137 2014-2015$233,677 2015-2016$233,677 (estimate) Local Tax Levy 1997-2011 (average)+6.01% 2011-2012+1.96% 2012-2013+1.78% 2013-2014+1.50% 2014-2015+2.60% 2015-2016+2.96% (estimate)

Technology Summer 2014 L/MC computer lab. (PARCC ready) Summer 2014 SmartBoard replacements project (PTO and HTEF funded). Fall 2014 Beginning and Intermediate Creative Coders (PTO) 2014-2015 Chromebooks purchased for PARCC writing preparation in both buildings. 2015-2016 Website renovation. (tentative) 2015-2016 Phone systems upgrade. (tentative)

Social Emotional Learning 2013-2016 HTS is partnering with College of St. Elizabeth and the United Way with a 3-year Climate and Culture Initiative. (ongoing) Confirmed HIB cases: 2011-2012 = 6 (34 investigations) 2012-2013 = 5 (20 investigations) 2013-2014 = 1 (5 investigations) 2014-2015 = 1 (1 investigation) as of 12/31/14

Quest Grade 3 = Pathways Program. All students have access. Grade 4 = 10 students (24.4%) Grade 5 = 10 students (25.6%) Grade 6 = 13 students (38.2%) Grade 7 = 5 students (23.8%) Grade 8 = 7 students (21.9%) TOTAL = 45 students (27.4%)

Quest Gr. 3-4 students competed in the first Brain Bowl sponsored by the N.J. Consortium for Gifted and Talented Programs. HTS students won first place! Gr. 5 students participated in the World of Free Enterprise Project to create a new restaurant that they will design and introduce to the marketplace. Gr. 6-7 students participated in the Junior Solar Sprints Powered Car Competition. HTS students won first place for their documentation portfolio! Gr. 7-8 students won numerous awards at the Junior Model United Nations @ Drew University.

Academic Intervention Program Grade 1 = 4 students (2 ELA; 1 Math; 1 both) Grade 2 = 8 students (4 ELA; 2 Math; 2 both) Grade 3 = 4 students (1 Math; 3 both) Grade 4 = 10 students (5 ELA; 4 Math; 1 both) Grade 5 = 6 students (2 ELA; 1 Math; 3 both) Grade 6 = 4 students (3 ELA; 1 Math) Grade 7 = 4 students (2 Math; 2 both) Grade 8 = 6 students (1 ELA; 3 Math; 2 both) TOTAL = 46 students

Athletics Fall (2014) Girls Field Hockey = 15 students (2 nd place in Morris County!) Coed Soccer = 18 students Winter (2014-2015) Boys Basketball = 17 students Girls Basketball = 21 students Spring (2014) Boys Lacrosse = 17 Girls Lacrosse = 20 Coed Track and Field = 22

Co-Curricular Activities K-5 Jr. TSA = 29 students Literary Magazine = 100+ students Fourth Grade Band = 30 students Fifth Grade Band = 31 students Forensics = 7-10 students

Co-Curricular Activities 6-8 TSA = 20 students Student Council = 13 students Yearbook = 12 students School Play ~ 50 students Literary Magazine = entire middle school! Chorus = 53 students Jazz Band = 16 students Middle School Band = 43 students

Parent Teacher Organization 2014-2015 Grants $30,000 Smartboards for Elementary School $25,000 Sound and lighting systems $5,000 Battle of the Books $4,500 Creative coders $5,000 Additional technology support, teacher wish lists, field day, teacher appreciation gifts, various publications/subscriptions, etc.

Harding Township Education Foundation 2014-2015 Grants $10,000 The Reading and Writing Project $6,000 Circus Yoga $25,000 Leveled Classroom Libraries $47,000 Smartboards for Middle School $10,000 Shakespeare Residency $25,000 Middle School Bricks Project $3,000 Project BABES $32,000 Sound/Lighting Upgrades

Student Enrollment PK = 17 students K = 27 students 1 = 36 students 2 = 33 students 3 = 26 students 4 = 41 students 5 = 39 students 6 = 34 students 7 = 21 students 8 = 32 students TOTAL = 306 students

Staff Professional Development HTS teachers have attended many classes in the Madison Professional Development Academy. Classes include: Introduction to Google Docs. Using technology to facilitate the 4Cs critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. Meet my friend Ed, Edmodo.

TEACHNJ - AchieveNJ Tenure Reform Act (TEACH-NJ) and teacher/principal evaluation program (AchieveNJ) created by NJDOE. Three Goals: To raise student achievement. To inform professional development. To inform personnel decisions. Administration has conducted 100 lesson observations as of Feb. 1, 2015. Approximately 60 % complete for year.

Vision Council Quarterly meetings: I PARCC Transition in ELA II PARCC Transition in Math III PARCC for Parents IV - tba

Special Thanks to all HTS students and staff members for their contributions to the school community over the past year. We promise to aim high and continue efforts to improve the district in every way.

dr. alex anemone superintendent of schools february 23, 2015

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