Below is the all staff email that went out yesterday evening, Dec. 16. The information offers an update to the task force work centered on three very important topics – fair and equitable grading practices, student discipline and school start times. Below you will find information about progress to date as well as timelines for the work moving forward and opportunities for you to give input and feedback.

If you have specific questions about a task force, please contact the Department of School Leadership at 263-1088.

 

Fair and Equitable Grading Practices

Purpose
The purpose of this task force is to review our current grading practices at the secondary level and determine what, if any, changes are needed to make sure there is grading consistency from classroom to classroom and school to school. The committee will pay particular attention to how homework and late assignments are handled and the use of “zero” as a grade. As important, the group will look at what we are doing to ensure that students who don’t master a concept the first time are given adequate opportunity to learn it. To be very clear, the Fair and Equitable Grading Practices Task Force is not considering a move to standards-based grading at the secondary level.

Progress
The Fair and Equitable Grading Practices Task Force is currently reviewing research and getting information from nationally-recognized experts. Dr. Thomas Guskey met with the group and made a presentation at a community information event in November. At that event, community members including many of you had the opportunity to submit concerns and questions.  A copy of Dr. Guskey’s PowerPoint along with a list of frequently asked questions is available on vbschools.com. The committee will meet again in January and February to consider the concerns and questions you raised at that event as well as relevant research on the topic. From there, they will identify potential “non-negotiables” in our grading practices and possible preliminary recommendations for change.

Opportunity for Input
In late March, staff members, parents and students will have the opportunity to weigh in on those preliminary recommendations during an online e-Town Hall and community roundtable events. You will have the chance to talk in small groups and give feedback about what you do and do not like. Roundtable dates will be communicated to all staff and families in February through Alert Now phone calls and emails. Existing advisory structures will also be used to inform the task force (e.g., Teacher Forum, Teacher Assembly and Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council).  Final recommendations – developed/revised following the input process – will be presented to the school board for its consideration in late spring.

Student Discipline

Purpose
The Student Discipline Task Force is charged with reviewing current VBCPS discipline policies and practices to determine how we can move from a reactive discipline approach to a proactive intervention model. In addition, the group is examining VBCPS data which shows that African American students are being disciplined at a higher percentage than their peers even though they make up a smaller percentage of our student population. Chief among the questions facing this committee are:  1) What can we learn from that data and what short-term and long-term supports will help reduce the number of suspensions in the division; and 2) What should we be doing before students find themselves in trouble to intervene and maximize instructional time for all students in the classroom?

Progress
The Student Discipline Task Force has been hard at work since January 2015. The committee has reviewed the discipline data and has worked in subgroups to develop preliminary recommendations aimed at:

• Reducing the number of suspensions administered throughout the division;
• Closing the disproportionate gap that exists in the number of suspensions and/or expulsions administered to African-American male students compared to those administered to students in other demographic groups; and
• Maximizing instructional time for all students in the classroom.

Those preliminary recommendations will be presented to the school board during a workshop Feb. 2.

Opportunity for Input
The Student Discipline Task Force’s preliminary recommendations will be presented at a school board workshop in February and posted on vbschools.com for feedback during an online e-Town Hall. Again, existing advisory structures will be used to inform the task force (e.g., Teacher Forum, Teacher Assembly and Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council). After all feedback is considered, final recommendations will be provided to the Board in the spring.

School Start Times

Purpose
Medical research points to the benefits of high school students beginning school after younger students. Doctors say the brains of older children function better and are more attune to learning later in the day, while younger students perform well earlier in the day. The School Start Times Task Force will examine the medical research and consider potential impacts a change could have with regard to student achievement, bus transportation, student activities and athletic schedules. While not a school function, the task force will undoubtedly be asked by the community to take into consideration after-school employment opportunities for students and family child care.

Progress
The task force is being formed this month, with the first meeting scheduled for early February. An online stakeholder survey is being developed now with an expected launch in January. The survey data collected will be provided to the task force at its first meeting. The group will meet internally and with various stakeholder groups each month through May 2016. There will also be and e-Town Hall and three community forums in April and May. After those forums, and based on feedback received, the School Start Times Task Force will formulate recommendations for the School Board to consider. At the beginning of the next school year, the Board will hear these recommendations and begin deliberating on any changes and a timeline for implementation. For the sake of clarity, no changes will be considered for implementation prior to the 2017-18 school year.

Opportunity for Input
As noted above, parents and staff will receive a survey in January to give input and also have the chance to take part in three community forums in April and May. Dates will be communicated to all staff and families through Alert Now phone calls and emails.

 

While this seems like a lot to take on as a school division, school leadership is confident that we are proceeding at an appropriate pace and providing ample opportunity for stakeholders to share their opinions and concerns. Working together, we will make informed decisions to positively answer the question, “Are we doing everything we can to help every child reach his or her potential every day?”

In an effort to keep you informed, the Department of Media and Communications will continue to send out staff emails about each of these topics and schedules for upcoming opportunities to weigh in. You can also watch for updates in the Headline News section of the school division website, vbschools.com. If you have specific questions about a task force, please contact the Department of School Leadership at 263-1088.

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