WHAT IS THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS: SCHOOLS-TO-WATCH PROGRAM ?

• The National Forum recognizes Exemplary Middle Level Schools and

Programs

• A Partnership among the NYS Middle School Association, The NYS

Education Department, The Statewide Network Of Middle-level Liaisons,

New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), The School Administrators’

Association Of New York State (SAANYS), and Lifetouch

• New York integrated the Standards of the Regents Policy Statement on

Middle-level Education with the High Performance Criteria of the National

Forum

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS: SCHOOL-TO-WATCH ?

•Promotes continuous school improvement

•Must be re-designated after 3 years

•Recognizes middle grades schools that are:

•Diverse

•High-performing

•Growth-oriented

•Schools must meet 37 elements under four domains

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS: SCHOOL-TO- WATCH ?

•State and National Recognition

•National Conference in Washington D.C. – June 2019

•State Conference in Albany – Fall 2019

• Instructional Best Practices Presentation at State

Conferences

• Increase in publicity and outside visitors

FOUR DOMAINS

•Academic Excellence

•Developmental Responsiveness

•Social Equity

•Organizational Structures and Processes

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE• Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and AIS are aligned with high standards

that challenge students

• Curriculum emphasizes deep understanding

• Instructional strategies include a variety of challenging and engaging activities

• Teachers use variety of assessment and progress monitoring methods

• Master schedule provides students time to meet academic standards

• Students are provided support they need to meet academic standards

• Adults in the school are provided with Common Time

• Enhance student achievement

• Deepen their knowledge

• Improve their standards-based practice

Academic Excellence

DEVELOPMENTAL RESPONSIVENESS• A student’s intellectual, ethical, social, and physical development are

addressed through:

• Personalized classroom environments

• Comprehensive services

• Curriculum is socially significant and relative to the personal and

career interests of young adolescents

• Teachers use an interdisciplinary approach to reinforce important

concepts, skills, and address real world problems

• All teachers foster curiosity, creativity, and development of

social skills

Developmental Responsiveness

DEVELOPMENTAL RESPONSIVENESS• Students are provided multiple opportunities:

• To explore a rich variety of topics and interests

• Develop their identity

• Learn about their strengths

• Discover and demonstrate their own competence

• Plan for their future

• Develop citizenship skills

• Engage in the community

• Students have a voice

• School develops alliances with families to enhance and support the well-being

of students

• School provides age appropriate co-curricular activities to foster social skills

and character and to develop interests beyond the classroom environment

Developmental Responsiveness

SOCIAL EQUITY• All students participate in heterogeneous classes with high academic and behavioral

expectations

• Students are provided the opportunity to use a variety of approaches:

• To achieve and demonstrate competence and mastery of standards

• To learn about and appreciate their own and other’s cultures

• Teachers adapt curriculum, instruction, and assessment to meet students’ needs

• Faculty welcomes and encourages active participation of all its families

• School’s reward system is designed to value diversity, service, and citizenship

• Staff members understand and support the families’ backgrounds and values

• All students have equal access in all classes and activities

• School rules are clear, fair, and consistent

• School community knows every student well

Social Equity

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES• Shared Vision

• Principal holds the school-improvement enterprise together

• Learning, experimentation, and reflection are school norms

• School and District devote resources to professional learning

• Families and community members are included in supporting

school’s high performance

• School holds itself accountable for student success

• District and school partner with colleges and universities

• District and school cultivate and preserve to increase student

achievement and development

• School is part of a larger educational system

Organizational Structures

BENEFITS• School is recognized as a forward thinking, and an achievement and equity-

driven organization committed to the development of a community of

learners for the school’s adolescents and adults

• Provides others with a representative model of how effective middle grades

schools work

• Provides our school with:

• Opportunity for self-reflection

• Focus for future professional development and consultation

• School joins a very select family via the State and National Network of

Schools-To-Watch schools.

• 350 Schools-To-Watch in 18 states across the country

CURRENT ESSENTIALELEMENTS:SCHOOLS-TO-WATCH

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Become familiar with the Essential Elements process

• Secure access to the National Forum’s STW* on-line data collection

survey

• Complete the Essential Elements: STW self-study and rating rubric

• Complete the National Forum’s STW data collection survey

• Gather the required information and complete Parts I , II, III, and IV of

the Initial Designation Application

• Collect and submit all supporting documents with the application

*STW – Schools-To-Watch

STAKEHOLDERS• STUDENTS

• ADMINISTRATION

• Principal, Assistant Principals, Superintendent,

Assistant to the Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction

• TEACHERS

• All Middle School Teachers, PFT Leadership,

MALT Leadership, Teacher Committees

• SUPPORT STAFF

• FAMILIES

• PTA

• COMMUNITY MEMBERS

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

•Student Survey Committee

•Dan Page, Christie Kalinoglu, Erin Fay

•Rubric Committee

•Deborah Sosman and Kelly Finamore

•Narrative Writing Committee

•Dan Page, Alex Steinberg, Rachelle Schnall

PLANNING AND REFLECTION• Timeline – Spring 2017 - Present

• A Member of The NYS Middle School Association

• Attended Teaching For Tomorrow: Celebrating Middle-level Essential Elements

Presented By NYSMSA & St. Joseph's College

• Staff Kick-off Event

• Collection of Data and Policies

• Collaboration Process

• Creation of Committees

• Created and Administered Student Survey

• Analyzed the Results with the Staff

• Faculty, PLC, and Department Meetings

• Rubric Review and Study

• Collected Data and Feedback

PLANNING AND REFLECTION• Completing Parts I, II, and III Of Application Process

• Staff Meeting and Self-evaluation of The Rubric

• Organized, Studied, Reflected, and Responded To The Data

• Staff Members Completed the Rubric Online

• Writing of Narratives

• Administrative Review and Compilation of Narratives and Application

• Submission to Superintendent, Board President, and Teacher Union President for

Assurances

• After application was approved, school was contacted with a date for a site visit

• Administrative Preparation for School Visit (Checklist)

• Student Pep Rally

KICK-OFF EVENT VIDEO

Full Version: HTTPS://VIDEO.PLAINEDGESCHOOLS.ORG/WATCH/ESSENTIALELEMENTSFULL

DATA• New York State Report Card

• NWEA Reports for ELA and Mathematics

• IXL Reports

• Discipline Policy and Reports

• Student Demographics

• Faculty Profiles

• Board of Education Meeting Minutes

• ENL Growth Reports

• Master Schedule

• Student Survey Results (HTTPS://DOCS.GOOGLE.COM/SPREADSHEETS/D/1AZ8VTBBXC6CGMNZZ5Q76FHLQTUO3TPT-

MMQ-I_NQ6MA/EDIT?TS=5BDB20BE#GID=228242134)

NARRATIVES• Section A – Tell Us About Your School

• Academic Excellence

• Developmental Responsiveness

• Social Equity

• Organizational Structure

• Section B – What Are Your Plans For The Future

• Action Plan Chart

SCHOOL VISIT

DECEMBER 17TH AND 18TH

#WeArePlainedge