LSAT

LSAT

Introduction
Our schools are only the best that they can be with the support of the entire school community.

The Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) is a group of elected and appointed members that exists for every DCPS school. The team (formerly the Local School Restructuring Teams) consists of parents, teachers, non-instructional school staff, a community member, and in some cases students, to advise the principal on matters that promote high expectations and high achievement for all students.

The Purpose of Local School Advisory Teams
Local School Advisory Teams are a key lever to increasing transparency at DCPS and ensuring decisions affecting school communities are made collaboratively with the help of a diverse group of school stakeholders. As such, every District of Columbia public school must have a functioning LSAT that is constituted according to the LSAT Guidelines, and that conducts the business outlined therein.

December 13, 2018

 

In attendance:  Adger, Brown, Bumpass, Fuller, Restak, Thomas

 

Welcome and Overview of Agenda:  Thomas

 

Fuller:  STAR Overview  Transparency around data and standardized rating system based on categories described in Framework handout.  Opportunity Academies have a different formula. There has been some controversy and an embargo of this formula.  Charter vs. Public is always part of undertone due to funding issues. “School Choice”

 

STAR Framework is DC-mandated, in response to Every Student Succeeds Act.

 

First time we can look at Public and Charter side by side!  

 

Alternative Framework is different.  Graduation rate (5 year cohort, vs. 4)

 

PARCC is the measure of Academic Growth.  

 

Trying for inclusivity but missing the point since it uses PARCC

 

Ballou STAY Star Rating N/A because we don’t have PARCC scores.  And we don’t have PARCC scores because we don’t have a PARCC cohort.  

 

College Readiness is there, though.  

 

And it’s not that we don’t test!  Last year we tested 64 students amongst disciplines, based on the classes they’re taking and have taken--their score may not be attributed to Ballou STAY based on their history.  

 

Roosevelt STAY, in comparison, has 2 stars--due to PARCC.  Other issues, like completion, are behind ours.

 

Ballou STAY in 2019 WILL have a PARCC cohort.  Eligibility rules are being changed so that regardless of students’ age, they will take the PARCC and we will be “held accountable” for their scores.  What does this mean? We don’t know what the accountability matrix looks like. But we do know teacher’s won’t be “value added,” they won’t be held accountable for their students’ scores.  

 

Bumpass:  our current cohort 107 students could take PARCC:

ELA 1: 42

ELA 2: 41

Numbers will likely go up.

Algebra 1: 26 students

Geometry 18

Biology 20

Students test whether they are in the class or not.  

 

We have enough students this year to have a cohort.

 

Even though we are testing it still doesn’t mean all the scores will be attributed to us--age and other factors come into play.  DCPS isn’t looking for a repeat English 2 student in the PARCC number. They’re looking for ways to make these results favorable to them.  

 

Mindset of our students around testing is a challenge.  But other Principals are having issues with their students taking these tests seriously, too.  Struggle around buy-in is shared across the District. Our students are concerned about their platform, not this test.

 

Fuller:  colleagues are upset about this STAR system.  Bumpass: InWard 7 and 8 there were NO FIVE STAR RATINGS.  

 

How the rating is measured is NOT transparent.

 

Let’s develop our areas of strength.

 

It’s not simple ascertaining who is in our cohort, based on student’s history.  

 

How will we improve?  In Canvas and DCPS resources there are PARCC writing prompts.  But most of it will be on us at the School level. Our Writing Assessment is due to the PARCC, our Rigor and work on Comprehension Skills are due to PARCC.  Isn’t all of Summit PARCC? It’s built around thinking, learning, explaining.

 

April is PARCC:  we will be intentional about ways to prepare--answering questions with more than one answer, when answering a Math question you may need to answer in a complete sentence.  Answer the complete writing prompt! It’s important not to freak everyone out. We will prepare but we will be intentional and we will be who we are! We don’t want students to continue to shut down over testing.  

 

Five Year cohort:  students who started high school five years ago.  Our 12th graders are our five year cohort--we are measured by their graduation this year.   Our graduation rate has increased. But graduation rate is complicated--what does it mean to graduate?  Are we here to educate or to graduate? Both! That’s the balance, the process, the work. Summit can bridge both, too:  we need to check and balance one another.

 

What’s the definition of at-risk?  Economic. It’s a formula, based on age, race and percentage.

 

How to determine Homeless?  It’s complicated, too.

 

Next year we hope not to be in the Adult category.   We are shifting to Alternative.  So this will be a new, different source of money-- an increase or a decrease?  Uncertain.

 

For the first time we have to offer PE and Health.

 

We, offering five year graduation, have helped the District keep their graduation numbers up.  If we are given a 3-time repeat 9th grader, then how can we possibly graduate them in five years?  This is why the Alternative Schools STAR framework is different, but the formula doesn’t account for all of the nuances and complexities.  

 

Thomas:  Thank you.  

November 8 2018

 

We will meet every second Thursday at 4:30

Next meeting December 13th

Fuller introduced the CSP:  Comprehensive School Plan, whose purpose is to focus and assess along the way in order to maximize student learning.

The CSP will be emailed to each LSAT Member.

We will as a team determine which kind of data to bring

TASK:  Fuller will speak with Ms. Johnson about including EDP in regular updates

Daniel:  wants more hands-on activity in class and less time on laptops.  Laptop work is easily shared with peers who are behind. Maybe alternate weeks between platform and paperwork?  

Attendance:  an inequity in the fact many students who don’t come to school as often as they used to are still included in incentives like college tours.  Fuller: balancing incentives with opportunities, meeting students where they are and not holding their past against them.

Also when students are dropped the district reduces the number of slots available (?)  

Ronald:  writing, the craft of writing on the page should be supported.

Stover:  we need to stress the importance of not only finishing, but learning along the way.  Focus Day is an improvement in intent from Go Green.

Thomas:  any questions or issues around spacing/facilities

Wayne:  EDP computers need to be serviced, they don’t easily connect to internet.

Stover:  thoughts around substituting the gate separating from STAY and Ballou with something less reminiscent of jail.  Fuller: student fights demanded some kind of a barrier, as a safety measure. The context--institutionalized vibe--is true but safety issues drove the decision and it seems to be working.  Thomas: the bathroom -- is there a “policy”?

Task:  Thomas could speak with Ballou HS LSAT about sharing space.

Bumpass:  maybe the verbiage on the staff bathroom isn’t intended to exclude STAY staff as much as it was to indicate to students.

Thomas-Bumpass:  two parking spots are used by HS Medical Staff during home field events.  Teachers may park there during the day.

Thomas:  how about using the courtyard?  Fuller: there used to be a protocol but now you can use it--ask Calloway for key, Wayne--as long as we don’t encroach on HS.

Thomas:  Open Classroom?  Positivity around its use as a separate STAY cafeteria.  Mr. Chase wants students to not eat meals in classroom. Brown:  students are enjoying the open space for lunch, it gives them more flexibility around time.  

Thomas:  thanks and reminder of next meeting.

 

1-23-18

Ballou STAY Opportunity Academy High School
LSAT Meeting
January 23, 2018
 
Attendees:
            Brenda Johnson (EDP)
            Stephanie Price (Counselor)
            Marsten Davis (CTE)
            Latreece Brown (Admin)
            Wayne Agner (Student)
            Milton Dickerson (Chair)
            Gloria Bumpass (AP)
 
Agenda:
* Review attendance Survey
* Discuss Career Fair from Jan 18th
* Going Green Campaign
* Proposed 2019 Budget


Time Description Outcome
Attendance Survey Plan to distribute the survey.
Career Fair Both volunteer and employment opportunities:
DOES, Excel Academy, Community College Preparatory, Bus Boys and Poets, DC Police Department, Future foundation, Human Rescue Alliance, PAWS (people animals love). Next Career Fair
Going Green Campaign 30 students were identified as going green. Students will be enrolled in their next semester classes.
Budget FY19 FISCAL YEAR (FY) INITIAL ALLOCATION
$3.4M total budget
-178.5K from prior year
485 total enrollment
-90 change in enrollment
0% at-risk %
$0.00 total at-risk funds
 
Notes:
 
Survey : What is our goal for survey completion? What is our time frame?  
* Add student email addresses so students do not duplicate taking it.
* Complete the survey in advisory.
* Ensure that students can add their name and email on the form.
*  
 
Budget
* Send an email regarding that the -90 for the projection.
* Ask a question about why Ballou STAY does not receive at risk funding.
* Priorities:
* Support for SPED
* Climate and culture
- To Do:
            Provide a detailed  budget by program (comprehensive, EDP, CTE, and NPS) .
            Ms. Johnson will chair the legislative process to get support for enhancing the budget.