Whittier EL - School Plan 2000 - 2001 School LAND Trust Program

School:
Whittier EL

SCHOOL INFORMATION

The committee viewed the video "Using the Trust."

Yes

Duration of the plan:
Single year

Areas of academic need addressed by the plan:
 Fine Arts
 Foreign Language
 Health
 Technology Instruction
 Mathematics
 Science
 Social Studies

School Plan description:
Purchase Accelerated Reader computer program for the school. All students will be able to access this program from their classroom computers as well as from the computer lab. We will supplement books in the library to dove-tail with this program. We will track student progress monthly and report progress to parents and students. Students will receive recognition and rewards for their efforts.

Detailed description:
Whittier students tend to achieve low SAT and CRT scores. Our weakest academic area is in Language Arts. We will purchase (start up 2000-2001) the Accelerated Reader computer program, and as many new books for the library that we can afford which support this program. Students will be encouraged to read these books and then take the computer test. Students will receive several forms of recognition for their achievement, ie. picture on hall bulletin board, small incentive prizes through a school store once a month. Students will also be recognized at an assembly each reporting period. Students and parents will recieve A.R. reports at least once a month to help track the student's success with this program. We expect our test scores to increase by ten percentage points per grade level in reading. The second year of the program will involve purcasing more computer titles and more library books.

Estimated School LAND Trust funds for 2000-2001:
$5,299

Other revenue sources:

Proposed Financial Plan

Computers / Equipment / Repairs / Maintenance
$0

Textbooks / Supplies / Software / Audiovisual
$3900

Salaries / Benefits / Professional Development
$400

Travel / Admissions / Printing
$1000

Explanation:
We will need to buy incentives for students who earn points in this program. We will also do a monthly bulletin board using pictures of the top achieving students from each class.

TOTAL
$5300

An accountability program has been developed for the school strategic plan?
Yes

Relationship of this plan to the school strategic plan.
Our strategic polan includes preparing students to be acative learners in a changing world. Our School improvement plan aims to hlep our students become better readers. We believe that our Trust Lands plan will assist us in implementing our goal

Accountability measures to be used.
 Stanford Achievement Test (SAT/9e)
 End-of-Level or End-of-Course Tests
 Performance Assessment
 Other Assessment or measurements

  Letters to your local school board, governor, state senator, representatives, congressional delegation, and State School Board
  Letter to the editor of the newspaper
  Local school newsletter
  School Assembly
  Articles in local newspaper
  Radio/TV
  Other - description

Committee: 

Chair: Lorelei Homer    
Treasurer: Jim McCasland
Principal: Jim McCasland  James.mccasland@granite.k12.ut.us
Teacher: Penny Rush  Penny.rush@granite.k12.ut.us
Teacher: Sandra Kratzer  Sandra.Kratzer@granite.k12.ut.us
Parent: Bo Hoffmann  Huzwif@juno.com
Parent: Diane Oldham  Old.ham@gateway.net
Parent: Julie Shorts  rjshorts85@yahoo.com
Parent: Lorelei Homer  
Others: Carrie Benson (teacher) carrie.benson@granite.k12.ut.us Karen Carter (teahcer) Karen.carter@granite.k12.ut.us

Name: Jim McCasland

Email: james.mccasland@granite.k12.ut.us

School's identified most critical academic need.

How academic improvement was measured
Due to the move from one building into a new one during the school year, Our Accelerated Reader (AR) program was not operational for much of the year. Our students were able to use this program for approximately four months. We do not expect the end of year testing (CRT) scores to increase much this spring as a result. We will need to examine this data when it becomes available to us in August. We were able to measure some academic improvement by looking at gains that students made in their reading levels as determinded by the STAR reading program. This program identifies a student's reading level and assigns books accordingly. On the average, classes that fully embraced the AR program, increased 1.7 years in reading according to pre and post tests. Classses that failed to support this program only increased by .6 years growth.

Most successful part of the plan.
Students have a more positive attitude about reading. Parents and teachers report that students are checking out more books from the media center on thier assigned level and thus are able to read the books rather than carry them around for two weeks and return them unread. Without this program, it would be impossible to assess the comprehension level of so many students reading so many different books. This program allows students to test as soon as they complete their reading, and offers immediate feedback in terms of a grade and points received for their effort. The most exciting element of this program is the feedback we get from parents and teachers expressing the positive attitude of our students toward reading, and the increased abount of time students are spending reading. Teachers tell me that students are opting to stay in during recess in order to read for points. Parents are telling me that their children are watching less television and reading more.

What did not work as well as expected.
Our only drawback was the necessary closing of our media center and computer lab in the middle of the school year so the move into the new building could take place. The number of computers that were available in the old building was not adequate to meet the needs of our students. We were able to purchase a new computer lab for the new building, and this enables all of our children to have easy access to the AR program. By the time we completed the move into the new building, installed and debugged the computers, and reopened the media center, the year was two thirds over. Some teachers felt too overwhelmed to dive into this new program. This, in hind sight, proved a benefit to us, as new data were generated to provide evidence that the AR program can make a significant difference in student reading. Now that we have settled into the new building, we do not expect any of the above problems for the 2001-2002 school year.

How the plan was publicized.
Our plan was publicized through our monthly newsletter, PTA meetings, and numerous notes to our patrons. Visitors who attended our open house were also given information on our plan, how it was funded, and what we hoped to accomplish through it.

Letters about the impact of your program on your students are crucial to continued funding to your school. Please check and enter the last name of the individuals to whom you sent letters where a space is provided:

 Governor
 State Senators(s):  Millie Petersonand Ron Allen
 State Representative(s):  Brent Goodfellowand Ron Bigelow
 U.S. Senators
 U.S. Representative:  Jim Matheson
 Local School Board
 State Board of Education

Name: Lorelei Homer

Phone Number: (801) 966-3395

Email: james.mccasland@granite.k12.ut.us

Trust funds received by your school 2000-2001: $ 7815