I talk about school a lot, and when I do, I'm probably talking about 3rd grade reading. It is important to try to be fairly knowledgable and very focused.
Focus is really hard. Schools are big money, really complex, and a central part of 13 important years in everyone's life. Education isn't one issue. It is made of several multi-facteted issues. What is urgent to a high school senior is very different from a kindergarten teacher, a sixth grade music student, a freshman athlete, or about 100 other examples. People call with legitimate but completely unrelated concerns, we have major challenges at certain schools that need attention now, and as a school board member there are routine operations that always need watching.
Oh, and we have to hire a new Superintendent by next June 30. And I have a business to run. And my family is more important to me than any of this stuff. There are plenty of distractions.
Think of education policy like a supermarket aisle. There are hundreds of products competing for attention.
The product, or issue, that matters most is third grade reading proficiency. There is a ton of information on this, and a concensus that if a child is not reading profecntly by the end of third grade, future success in school is unlikely. The Campaign for Grade Level Reading makes the case in more detail here: http://vimeo.com/28314194
So, how do we get 3rd graders reading? There is plenty of information on the subject. The Campaign for Grade Level Reading makes a strong case that every community can improve using stategies to increase school readiness, chronic absenteeism and summer learning loss. These community initiatives are important. In schools, a strong commitment to use effective assessment followed with timely, tailored intervention for kids who fall behind is known to work.
So even when I try to focus on this one major issue, it morphs into many complex, far reaching needs on many fronts. And then, to complicate things even more, there's news that reading by itself wont get it done. If schools and families only attend to teaching reading well, they are on the wrong path. Studys show that students who don't have basic pre-school MATH skills by kindergarten are unlikely to succeed in school. http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/03/28/26stipek.h31.html Another distraction? Do I need to ignore this information in order to stay focused?
I don't think so. The message is not a contradiction-it is actually common sense. School boards make policy, and schools teach children. There is a difference between what a school board member needs to focus on, and what a solid curriculum ought to be. Focus for me is about keeping the problem front and center, ensuring the district is acting with purpose and vigor, and marshalling our resources. It is not about reducing classrooms to a dry, endlessly remedial experience. Great teachers and informed families want well rounded learning for their children. From birth through age five reading 20 minutes a day is one practice that makes a huge difference. Surely there's also time to count, talk, sing and play- all this helps prepare a young child for success in school too.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Holyoke's 85% Early Reading Goal
A lot has happened since the last time I checked in here (Dec. 2010-guess I'm not much for blogging), and the best part is that all 4 goals I listed then have been met, and a full-on city-wide early reading campaign has been underway since May, 2011. The Holyoke School Committee set an ambitious, urgent goal: 85% of all 3rd graders will be proficient readers by 2014. Since we did so, we have learned a lot about what works and doesn't, where the schools need improvement and what they already do well do well, where to get the data we need. I hope to explain in detail in the future.
A good starting point is a publication, "Turning the Page", Its one of the best resources for early reading practices I've seen:
http://www.strategiesforchildren.org/3research/10_TurningThePageReport.pdf
It guides our campaign. If you care about improving public education in the cities, take the time to read this carefully.
We are not doing this alone! Holyoke is now part of a statewide network formed this summer at a national conference in Denver. Hopefully, this partnership with grade level reading campaign leaders in Boston, Worcester, Springfield and Pittsfield to move policy and resources into successful early reading practices at the state and local level. All five communities are also part of a national campaign with 124 communities across America working with the Campaign for Grade Level Reading:
http://www.gradelevelreading.net/
School starts next week, September is around the corner, and important milestones are coming.
Last spring's MCAS results will be released in September. The 3rd Grade English Language Arts scores are an important early sign of how well Holyoke's 85% Reading Goal is taking root.
Also in September, the Mayor will announce the appointment of Holyoke's community literacy coordinator; a person who will work full time to help every family of Holyoke's children age birth - 9 in the city of Holyoke knows how to have children ready and able to succeed in school. If we are going to succeed, connecting directly with families is essential.
A good starting point is a publication, "Turning the Page", Its one of the best resources for early reading practices I've seen:
http://www.strategiesforchildren.org/3research/10_TurningThePageReport.pdf
It guides our campaign. If you care about improving public education in the cities, take the time to read this carefully.
We are not doing this alone! Holyoke is now part of a statewide network formed this summer at a national conference in Denver. Hopefully, this partnership with grade level reading campaign leaders in Boston, Worcester, Springfield and Pittsfield to move policy and resources into successful early reading practices at the state and local level. All five communities are also part of a national campaign with 124 communities across America working with the Campaign for Grade Level Reading:
http://www.gradelevelreading.net/
School starts next week, September is around the corner, and important milestones are coming.
Last spring's MCAS results will be released in September. The 3rd Grade English Language Arts scores are an important early sign of how well Holyoke's 85% Reading Goal is taking root.
Also in September, the Mayor will announce the appointment of Holyoke's community literacy coordinator; a person who will work full time to help every family of Holyoke's children age birth - 9 in the city of Holyoke knows how to have children ready and able to succeed in school. If we are going to succeed, connecting directly with families is essential.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Holyoke needs an early childhood reading initiative
A child must read to learn by 4th grade or his or her chance of success is slight.
This isn't a new idea or a unique problem. The depth of low reading achievement in Holyoke is unique, and is a root cause of most problems in higher grades.
In 2011, I will focus closely on how early reading practices in the City (not just the schools) can be made excellent. Here's what I hope to accomplish:
1. Following the Kennewick WA model; establish a "90% Goal" in every school.
2. Support the goal as a district priority; task forces and additional resources to every school
3. Press the "Most Important 20 Minutes of Every Day-Read to your Child" concept through early childhood providers, Reading Foundation membership for HPS, other outreach
4. Summer Reading Program at Holyoke Library.
This isn't a new idea or a unique problem. The depth of low reading achievement in Holyoke is unique, and is a root cause of most problems in higher grades.
In 2011, I will focus closely on how early reading practices in the City (not just the schools) can be made excellent. Here's what I hope to accomplish:
1. Following the Kennewick WA model; establish a "90% Goal" in every school.
2. Support the goal as a district priority; task forces and additional resources to every school
3. Press the "Most Important 20 Minutes of Every Day-Read to your Child" concept through early childhood providers, Reading Foundation membership for HPS, other outreach
4. Summer Reading Program at Holyoke Library.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Attached is this week's schedule of Holyoke School Committee Meetings. The Agenda will follow as soon as possible- I am having difficulty scanning it.
Highlights:
Monday’s meeting will offer updated information in a number of areas. HPS Transportation Manager David Wagner provides a written report about the reduction in bus passes resulting from the use of more precise monitoring software. You may note that nearly half of the students at Holyoke High School lost access to free bus passes (note-not free to the city-we pay a monthly fee) when the software discovered many lived within two miles of the High School. A smaller number at Dean also were removed from the list of students entitled to passes. Dean, of course, is in a less central location. Mr. Wagner will answer the Committee’s questions at the meeting. We will also receive more information about the School Lunch Program, and a Mentoring Program newly instituted by the New England Farm Worker’s Counsel.
On Tuesday, at my invitation, Lt. Gov Murray will visit Peck School and get an introduction to the Transitional Opportunity Program. TOP has been an especially effective innovation in our district and I am hopeful that by getting a first hand view of what we do the Patrick administration will be helpful to our efforts in this area.
On Wednesday, Officials from the Massachusetts School Building Authority will visit Lawrence School, which we hope to replace with a new K-8 structure. The agenda package includes a detailed memo from the head of that agency, about the process and the number of district across Massachusetts with which we are competing. You may also be interested in an article in today’s Boston Globe about the sorry state of many High School science labs. Adding a modern science wing is a major priority of Holyoke’s School Building Needs Committee.
For the second year, the Holyoke Rotary Club is sponsoring the delivery of dictionaries to every third grade student in Holyoke, Granby & South Hadley. Rotary Club Members, myself included, will be bringing the dictionaries to many Holyoke Schools this week.
It has been an especially good couple of weeks for the Holyoke Public Schools in the press, thanks to Holyoke High School’s exemplary results in its accreditation review, and the success of EN White, Sullivan & McMahon Schools in improving MCAS results. Let’s all hope this is evidence of positive momentum, rather than a pleasant change of pace.
I have created a website which compiles my previous comments, which can be found if you click here: http://mmoriartyhps.blogspot.com/ . This is a companion to the archive of previous agendas and minutes, which you can always access here: http://www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/sc_agenda_minutes.htm
I will have a Spanish Language version as soon as my schedule allows.
Highlights:
Monday’s meeting will offer updated information in a number of areas. HPS Transportation Manager David Wagner provides a written report about the reduction in bus passes resulting from the use of more precise monitoring software. You may note that nearly half of the students at Holyoke High School lost access to free bus passes (note-not free to the city-we pay a monthly fee) when the software discovered many lived within two miles of the High School. A smaller number at Dean also were removed from the list of students entitled to passes. Dean, of course, is in a less central location. Mr. Wagner will answer the Committee’s questions at the meeting. We will also receive more information about the School Lunch Program, and a Mentoring Program newly instituted by the New England Farm Worker’s Counsel.
On Tuesday, at my invitation, Lt. Gov Murray will visit Peck School and get an introduction to the Transitional Opportunity Program. TOP has been an especially effective innovation in our district and I am hopeful that by getting a first hand view of what we do the Patrick administration will be helpful to our efforts in this area.
On Wednesday, Officials from the Massachusetts School Building Authority will visit Lawrence School, which we hope to replace with a new K-8 structure. The agenda package includes a detailed memo from the head of that agency, about the process and the number of district across Massachusetts with which we are competing. You may also be interested in an article in today’s Boston Globe about the sorry state of many High School science labs. Adding a modern science wing is a major priority of Holyoke’s School Building Needs Committee.
For the second year, the Holyoke Rotary Club is sponsoring the delivery of dictionaries to every third grade student in Holyoke, Granby & South Hadley. Rotary Club Members, myself included, will be bringing the dictionaries to many Holyoke Schools this week.
It has been an especially good couple of weeks for the Holyoke Public Schools in the press, thanks to Holyoke High School’s exemplary results in its accreditation review, and the success of EN White, Sullivan & McMahon Schools in improving MCAS results. Let’s all hope this is evidence of positive momentum, rather than a pleasant change of pace.
I have created a website which compiles my previous comments, which can be found if you click here: http://mmoriartyhps.blogspot.com/ . This is a companion to the archive of previous agendas and minutes, which you can always access here: http://www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/sc_agenda_minutes.htm
I will have a Spanish Language version as soon as my schedule allows.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Saturday, September 29, 2007
On Monday we will get details on a visit the US Department of Justice made to the Holyoke Public School Department last week. The information I have so far is that the DOJ has been in several Massachusetts School Districts since last spring, reviewing the services provided to English Language Learners for compliance with Federal regulations on the subject. We are apparently one of the last urban districts in the state to be reviewed. This sort of thing occurs endlessly, and constantly distracts our faculty from focusing on their work.
As you may read from the notes of the 9/19 Finance Sub-committee meeting, we are reviewing the operations of the school lunch program, which has been losing money for an extended period of time. The program is managed by an outside company, Chartwells. We open the program to competing vendors every three years, and last year granted Chartwells a contract that is renewed annual for the three year period. Last year they reimbursed over $75,000.00 in management fees, which exceeded the amount of money we lost that year. However, we are still far in the red from the 2005-2006 school year; when losses were severe. On Monday we will vote whether to renew Chartwells contract for this year. We don’t really have much choice, since replacing them after the start of the year would create a chaotic situation. I have suggested we open their contract to competition a year early, due to the problems we have experienced. That will be discussed more on Monday.
As you may read from the notes of the 9/19 Finance Sub-committee meeting, we are reviewing the operations of the school lunch program, which has been losing money for an extended period of time. The program is managed by an outside company, Chartwells. We open the program to competing vendors every three years, and last year granted Chartwells a contract that is renewed annual for the three year period. Last year they reimbursed over $75,000.00 in management fees, which exceeded the amount of money we lost that year. However, we are still far in the red from the 2005-2006 school year; when losses were severe. On Monday we will vote whether to renew Chartwells contract for this year. We don’t really have much choice, since replacing them after the start of the year would create a chaotic situation. I have suggested we open their contract to competition a year early, due to the problems we have experienced. That will be discussed more on Monday.
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