WJCC Administrative Response to Alternative Education Task Force

1
W-JCC Administrative Response to Alternative
Education Task Force

• School Board Work Session
• January 15, 2008

2
Charge to Alt-Ed Task Force

• To explore the literature and research on
  alternative education clearly delineating the
  difference between that which is geared towards
  those students who need a different teaching and
  learning approach from that of the traditional
  classroom AND that which is meant for students
  who are removed from the regular school site for
  reasons of severe or chronic disciplinary
  infractions.
• To reveal best practices for alternative
  education in both its forms.
• To suggest possible sources of multi-agency
  cooperation and funding for alternative education
  in both its forms.
• Per Superintendents Request at Opening Meeting
  of Task Force Provide a new alt-ed
  recommendation that is educationally sound and
  fiscally prudent.

3
FORMAT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSE

• ACCEPT
• AMEND
• DECLINE

4
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Multi-Agency Cooperation

• Information ReferralCompile and maintain a
  resource documentpending approval of the
  addition of a link for the resource on the W-JCC
  website. (ACCEPT)
• Community Liaison and Resource CoordinatorAct
  under the supervision from an oversight committee
  with representation from stakeholderswhile being
  funded by City or County and other funding
  agencies, or possibly through grants. (ACCEPT)

5
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Multi-Agency Cooperation contd

• Corporate Grant Makers GuideWill be a listing of
  local corporations and foundations that have a
  history or mission of funding programs in our
  local areaCurrently over 100 organizations have
  been identified that provide grants. The Guide
  will be completed in the first quarter of 2008.
  (ACCEPT)

6
Response to Recommendations from the
Sub-Committee for Multi-Agency Cooperation

• Grant WriterHire a part-time or contracted grant
  writer. Contracting a grant writer might include
  paying for their services after the grant is
  obtained and then retaining them for grant
  oversight. (ACCEPT as an item in Budget
  Awithin County Guidanceand Budget Bin
  compliance with law to bring forth budget of
  need) Estimated Cost 55,000 Base Salary
  Benefits 75,000

7
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Nontraditional LearnersELEMENTARY

• Ensure all students below grade level in reading,
  math, and writing receive appropriate assistance.
  (ACCEPT consistent with current efforts
  inclusive of PALS, Grades K-3, Benchmark
  Assessments, K-8, and after-school tutorials,
  K-12 Additionally, the administration is
  looking at funding an additional one reading or
  math specialist per each of the six elementary
  schools with 20 or more free and reduced lunch
  and three middle school math specialists per
  state emphasis.) Estimated Costs 720,000 to
  be located in both Budget A and Budget B)

8
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Non-Traditional LearnersELEMENTARY contd

• Explore model programs featuring parent
  involvement and enhanced services based on
  student/family risk factors. (ACCEPT)
• Utilize existing Preschool Services Transition
  Plan. (ACCEPT)

9
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Non-Traditional LearnersMIDDLE SCHOOL

• Smaller class sizes (151) for 6th grade students
  who are 2 years below grade level in reading or
  significantly below grade level in math and
  writing skills or reading specialist and math
  specialist at each middle school. (ACCEPT
  smaller class sizes for 6th grade students 2
  years below grade level accomplished through
  regular staffing formula, as feasible New middle
  school math specialistsas previously notedcan
  better assist middle school math faculty and
  students)

10
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Non-Traditional LearnersMIDDLE SCHOOL contd

• Middle School summer transition program for
  students entering 6th grade who have been
  identified as needing assistance academically,
  socially, and/or behaviorally with ongoing
  meetings of the cohort 1 to 2 week camp in
  August. (ACCEPT with estimated cost of 25,000
  to be located in both Budget A and Budget B)

11
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Nontraditional LearnersHIGH SCHOOL

• Implement transition program for students
  entering 9th grade who have been identified as
  needing assistance and support academically,
  socially, and/or behaviorally, with services
  extending throughout the year 1 to 2 week camp
  in August. (ACCEPT with estimated cost of
  25,000 to be located in both Budget A and
  Budget B)

12
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Non-Traditional LearnersHIGH SCHOOL contd

• Separate program with on-site teachers utilizing
  online content along with individual and small
  group instruction. May be co-located with other
  programs for sharing of resources. (ACCEPT with
  3-part phase-in approach to non-traditional high
  school, e.g., 60 students per each of 2008-09,
  2009-10, 2010-11 school years for a total school
  enrollment of 180 Seek funding for new
  non-traditional high school that would provide
  for these 180 students and up to 45 seats for the
  discipline alt-ed program under the same roof,
  but with the two entities distinctly separated
  within same building presided over by Director of
  Alt-Ed for W-JCC OR continue to house discipline
  program at ESH and build new non-traditional high
  school for up to 225 seats)

13
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Non-Traditional LearnersHIGH SCHOOL contd

• Provide for self-paced learning (both remedial
  and accelerated) based on assessment and
  individual need. Flexible times including
  evening and summer sessions. (ACCEPT)
• Provide for voluntary admission based on referral
  by Child Study Team. (ACCEPT)
• Investigate possibility of earning standard
  diploma with state-required 22 credits rather
  than W-JCCs 28 credits. (ACCEPT by bringing
  more data-gathering and research to answering the
  question)

14
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Students of Severe or Chronic Disciplinary
Infractions

• Regional Alternative School for discipline
  cases for W-JCC, Upper York, New Kent, and
  Charles Cityor, alternative placement education
  program for discipline cases for W-JCC only.
  (AMEND as WJCC will continue to implement its own
  program for long-term suspended or expelled
  students and continue its use of the Regional
  Alternative program known as Enterprise Academy)

15
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Students of Severe or Chronic Disciplinary
Infractions contd

• Missionreturn to home school or transition to
  work force or postsecondary education (ACCEPT)
• Admissions Criteriastudents who have been
  long-term suspended or expelled or identified
  through child study as displaying severe or
  chronic infractions (AMEND to support program for
  long-term suspended or expelled only use
  in-school interventions for products of child
  study process)
• Grade Level of Studentsseparate 6-8 program and
  9-12 program, unless there is a need to have a
  mix for educational reasons (ACCEPT)

16
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Students of Severe or Chronic Disciplinary
Infractions contd

• Student/Teacher RatioMax. 101. Program should
  also utilize full-time teachers for instruction.
  (DECLINE given that as of the end of the first
  semester of 2007-08, there were only 12 students
  enrolled in the long-term suspended and expelled
  program of W-JCC known as A.L.L. Students in
  A.L.L. have full-time attention to language
  arts, math, social studies, and science on a
  daily basis and, thus, there is not a need to
  carry these teachers over beyond their current
  contract time indeed, 3 hours of the A.L.L. day
  is devoted to character education and service
  learning in a format that is working to date)

17
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Students of Severe or Chronic Disciplinary
Infractions contd

• Hours of Operationpreferably, a 7 hour per day
  program during regular school hours (approx. 8am
  to 3pm) unless serious educational/personnel
  reasons require it to be otherwise. (AMEND
  although the 7-hour day for the program is
  acceptable, the hours of operation may begin and
  end later in the day)

18
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Students of Severe or Chronic Disciplinary
Infractions contd

• Character Education/Social Skills Componentare
  best practice and should be appropriately
  scheduled (ACCEPT as this is currently an aspect
  of A.L.L.)
• Counseling Servicesshould be available and
  accessible to all students on-site as appropriate
  consisting of one psychologist and one guidance
  counselor and family counseling via New Horizons
  WM Counseling Center (ACCEPT as these services
  are now available to students placed in A.L.L.)
• Length of Staynot less than a semester and time
  in program would be sensitive to beginning and
  end of quarters or semesters (AMEND as the length
  of the stay shall be determined by the length of
  the suspension or expulsion period)
• Special Education Servicesprogram could serve
  students with IEPs (ACCEPT)

19
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Students of Severe or Chronic Disciplinary
Infractions contd

• Locationshould be housed in an appealing
  facility of the same quality as other schools,
  potentially in its own building on land set aside
  on the Warhill site. (AMEND meaning the
  administration seeks a new building on Warhill
  tract to house up to 180 non-traditional students
  and as many as 45 disciplinary cases, or retain
  A.L.L. at ESH, while constructing a new building
  on Warhill tract for an alternative high school
  for non-traditional learners with an enrollment
  of approx. 225)

20
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Students of Severe or Chronic Disciplinary
Infractions contd

• Student Evaluationuse multiple measures
  inclusive of attendance, graduation rates,
  discipline referrals, reading levels, educational
  progress through pre- and post-testing, GPAs,
  scores on standardized tests, GED success, etc.,
  both while in the program as well as when the
  student returns to home school (ACCEPT)

21
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Students of Severe or Chronic Disciplinary
Infractions contd

• Effectiveness of Programuse multiple measures
  inclusive of student outcomes while in the
  program, as well as indicators of successful
  integration into home schools, such as discipline
  referrals, attendance, grades, graduation rates,
  GED pass rates, standardized tests, college
  admissions, or gainful employment (ACCEPT)

22
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Students of Severe or Chronic Disciplinary
Infractions contd

• Community PartnershipsBig Brothers/Big Sisters,
  WM students, retired teachers for mentors and
  tutoring. School nurses or Old Towne Medical
  Center for medical evaluations. Vocational
  opportunities offered on-site or in partnership
  with employers. P.E. through JCC-Williamsburg
  Community Center, etc. (AMEND to the extent that
  P.E. and Vocational opportunities may be
  considered on a student- by-student basis)

23
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Students of Severe or Chronic Disciplinary
Infractions contd

• Parent Requirementsrequired to engage in active
  and on-going communication with school staff and
  personnel including attending parent-teacher
  conferences and other workshops according to the
  parent/child contract signed at the beginning of
  the program. Lack of parent participation would
  be a contract violation and student would not be
  permitted to continue in the program (DECLINE on
  the basis that some studentsif not many who are
  long-term suspended or expelled lack parent
  support to begin with Nonetheless, strong
  emphasis will be placed on parent involvement and
  student commitment to contract terms Failure of
  the student to adhere to contract terms would be
  grounds for dismissal from the program)

24
Recommendations from the Sub-Committee for
Students of Severe or Chronic Disciplinary
Infractions contd

• Behavior Programstudents to be treated with
  respect and rewarded for positive behavior
  students will have clear and consistent
  expectations and will be aware of consequences
  for inappropriate behavior. If the behavioral
  contract is not followed, the student will not be
  permitted to attend the program (ACCEPT)

25
Recommendations from the Sub-Committee for
Students of Severe or Chronic Disciplinary
Infractions contd

• Dress Codestudents will be required to wear
  uniforms. Donations can be collected from
  churches and others for those who cannot afford
  items. (ACCEPT)
• Administrative Supporta principal is needed to
  manage site. At least one administrative
  assistant is necessary for attendance and other
  duties. School nurse or assistant from Warhill
  should be available if necessary. (AMEND meaning
  that administration supports principal-level
  administrator to supervise discipline
  programwhich is now the case at A.L.L.and an
  administrative assistant for the program which,
  too, can be accomplished from existing A.L.L.
  staff. As for a school nurse or assistant, this
  person may or may not be available via Warhill
  High School meaning that such assistance could
  come from any number of locations within the
  school division inclusive of, but not limited to,
  Warhill.)

26
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Students of Severe or Chronic Disciplinary
Infractions contd

• Transition Plana child study review panel would
  reconvene to determine if students are ready to
  return to home schools. The alternative
  education staff currently in the home schools
  would help transition students back to home
  schools to ensure services are being provided and
  track student success. (DECLINE based on the
  understanding that students will return to their
  home school upon completion of the suspension or
  expulsion term)

27
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Students of Severe or Chronic Disciplinary
Infractions contd

• Additional Recommendations/Considerationsbest
  teachers and supremely dedicated teachers can
  teach multiple grade levels good with
  technology consider need for teachers who are
  male role models (ACCEPT)
• Consider metal detectors and cameras for safety.
  School Resource Officer is necessary and should
  continue to be provided by localities. A
  security guard is necessary and should be
  appropriately trained and well disposed to
  working with students. (ACCEPT as all safety
  matters shall be considered based on numbers and
  needs of students)

28
Response to Recommendations from the
Sub-Committee for Students of Severe or Chronic
Disciplinary Infractions contd

• Consider breakfast and lunch which could be
  prepared at Warhill High School and brought to
  the site each day. Free breakfast could be
  provided to all which could also be a time for
  teachers to interact with students. (AMEND as
  breakfast, lunch, or dinner will be provided
  based on hours of operation of the program.
  Additionally, free, reduced, or full-priced meals
  will be provided based on the eligibility status
  of the students)

29
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Students of Severe or Chronic Disciplinary
Infractions contd

• Consider when an alt-ed disciplinary student
  prepares to graduate, he/she will walk with
  his/her home school, even if he/she was at the
  off-site program. (AMEND pending consultation
  with principal as circumstances might warrant
  disqualification from walking with home school)
• Consider, when drug and alcohol offenses result
  in placement in disciplinary program, ongoing
  testing for alcohol and drugs as a condition for
  continuing in program and for returning to home
  school. (ACCEPT)

30
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Students of Severe or Chronic Disciplinary
Infractions contd

• Consider that elementary students with serious
  and chronic discipline problems could be served
  in a classroom on disciplinary program site or in
  a program in a particular school or schools.
  This sub-committee is recommending that all
  elementary programs be conducted at the
  elementary schools if possible. (ACCEPT)

31
Response to Recommendations from Sub-Committee
for Students of Severe or Chronic Disciplinary
Infractions contd

• Consider hiring a staff person to apply for
  grants to support on-site career and technical
  programs and other components. (AMEND in that a
  grants writeror such contracted servicesis a
  part of the administrations recommendation per
  the Sub-Committee for Multi-Agency Cooperations
  earlier recommendation)

32
Response to Recommendations from the
Sub-Committee for Students of Severe or Chronic
Disciplinary Infractions contd

• Cost per pupilEstimate 60 middle/high school
  students. Principal (with benefits)115,000.
  Administrator (Assistant)55,000. Six
  teachers75,000 each. Reading
  Specialist80,000. Counselor80,000.
  Psychologist80,000. Security Guard45,000.
  Total905,000 or 15,083 per student (AMEND as
  cost will be based on a reasonable projected
  number of studentsthere are 12 nowusing a
  similar funding formula as for current 2007-08
  school year. This will include a program
  administrator, administrative assistant,
  counselor, SRO, and instructional staff as needed
  that shall be based on the number of students in
  the program not to exceed approx. 600,000 now
  in the 07-08 budget)

33
Estimated Financial Impact of Implementing Alt-Ed
Task Force Recommendations per W-JCC
Administrations Review/Recommendations

• 75,000 (Grant Writer Salary Benefits)
• 720,000 (Additional In-School Assistance per
  reading and math specialists)
• 25,000 (5 to 6 Transition)
• 25,000 (8 to 9 Transition)
• 250,000 (Alternative High School for
  Non-Traditional Learners to begin in January of
  2009)
• TOTAL (excluding new facility for alternative
  education, be it for non-traditional learners
  and/or discipline cases) 1,095,000

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WHAT NEXT?

• Administration will budget in Budget A and
  Budget B as shown herein this Power Point, or
• Defer to the School Board as to what it would
  please