School LAND Trust Program

1. During the 2005-2006 school year, the School Community Council met:

4-6 Times

2. Did the committee view the video "Using the Trust?"

Yes

3. Duration of the plan:

Multi-Year

4. School's most critical academic need(s):

Identified in the plan	Indentified by the report
Reading Writing Mathematics Science	Reading Writing Mathematics Science

5. Plan description

West Hills Middle School will continue a program of before and after school tutoring in Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, Study Skills, and Social Studies. The program will be structured to target those students whose CRT scores are at Level 1 or 2 in the core classes. The goal will be to decrease the percentage of students performing below grade leveling all core subject areas. Expenditures will be made to develop diagnostic assessments to be given during the year to monitor progress and inform instruction. CRTs will be used to assess improvement. Teachers will then need collaboration time to develop instructional strategies to improve student achievement. We will continue to improve the student lab and audio visual equipment with upgrades and technical support. All students have access to the lab. The lab upgrade will allow the lab to remain functional and new software will assist teachers with assessments and strategies to improve student achievement. We are dedicated to continuing implementation of middle level philosophy complete with integrated curriculum, developmentally responsive instruction, and collaboration. Our goal is to replicate, as nearly as possible, those practices described in Turning Points 2000 and This We Believe which has proven to be research based best practices for middle level students. Funds will be used for training, professional development, and collaboration time. NOTE: The State's carryover amount is inaccurate. Carryover amounts will be corrected and updated at the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year. All proper allocations and carryover amounts will be expended during the 2005-2006 school year. The final balances will be adjusted accordingly.

6. Report description

• Explanation of implementation and progress
  

  The plan was implemented by establishing a schedule for after school and before school tutoring. Each academic department coordinated specific days and staffing assignments. The Counseling Center Staff coordinated and scheduled the Study Skills Classes. The classes and tutoring sessions were advertised to the students and parents as a group and were also encouraged with individual students and parents when appropriate. We kept logs of what students attended and when. This gives us an idea of how extensively the programs are used and also gives us an opportunity to follow up on individual student progress. We also used School Trust Land money to support our school goal of helping our ESL students in their academics. A part-time aide works in tandem with our ESL coordinator, to assist students with limited English proficiency. They spend the bulk of their time working on Language Arts with a major emphasis on reading. The students have a daily Study Skills class with where they are given academic strategies and help with their work when necessary. The students are tested weekly on their reading comprehension and fluency. Money was used for computer lab upgrades, summer technician services for easy school opening, reading software, and computer equipment.
• Measurement of student improvement
  

  CRT test scores show Geometry students scores increased from 76.09%in 2004 to 84.66 % in 2005 for students performing at Levels 3 & 4. The most dramatic increase was in Elementary Algebra. Student scores increased from 49.7% in 2004 to 61.0 % in 2005. In Pre Algebra 68.49% scored at or above grade level in 2004 while in 2005 students scored 66.96%.In Language Arts the most dramatic increase was in the 9th grade. Scores increased from 69.96 % in 2004 to 81.61 % in 2005.In Science 8th grade students went from 57.78% sufficient to 67.06%sufficient. The 9th grade students scored evenhigher with a 55.74% to a 68.7%. By March of 2006, 1242 students have participated in afterschool tutoring. Success of this year
• Impact of funds on students
  

  Students involved in the ESL study skills class receive a 17 hr. aid to; track grades, reading score progress, assist the teacher in one-on-one tutoring, assist students in difficult classes, and visit teachers requesting accommodations for ESL students. With the highly skilled aid, we feel we are closing the achievement gap for at-risk students. By providing tutoring two days a week, students can receive help with homework and extra time for one-on-one assistance. Also, tutoring is available for students that have attendance problems to make-up assignments. Middle level implementation has been supported through funds for books, workshop and conference attendance. Thirty-nine teachers and staff attended the Utah Middle Level Association Conference in March. By attending professional development opportunities, teachers acquire updated technology skills, and teaching strategies, that are designed for early adolescence students.

7. Financial proposal and report

Available funds		Plan (estimates)	Report (actual)
	Distribution for 2005-2006	$19447	$18938
	Carry-over from 2004-2005	$5870	$1744
	Total available for expenditure	$25317	$20682
Expenditures
	Salaries and Employee Benefits	$10028	$8789
	Professional Development/Technical Services	$6000	$0
	Repairs and Maintenance	$0	$0
	Travel / Admissions / Printing	$1000	$0
	General Supplies	$2000	$11895
	Textbooks	$500	$0
	Library Books/Periodicals/Audiovisual	$0	$0
	Technology/Software/Equipment	$6000	$0
	Total Expenditures	$30028	$20684
	Remaining Funds	$0	$-2

8. Were a substantial portion of funds spent for remediation?

Yes

9. How the plan related to the School Improvement Plan

The West Hills Middle School Improvement Plan and Landtrust plan support the six year action plan of Collaborating for Student Achievement. All decisions regarding allocation of resources including professional development, time, personnel, supplies, equipment, and budgets are made with these goals in mind. The goals are: 1. Increase students

10. Additional funds that have been identified to implement the plan

Amount:	$1500
Source:	Comprehensive School Improvement Plan

11. The council sent letters explaining the school plan to:

Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson Local School Board - Randy Brinkerhoff

12. The school plan was advertised to the community in the following ways:

Letters to state senators, representatives, governor, and congressional delegation School newsletter School assembly Other

13. How your committee will further its goals if the school recieves more money than estimated in the financial proposal of this School Plan?
If more money is received it will go into Personnel and Computer needs to support the after school tutoring program and computer labs.

1. Did the committee view the video "Using the Trust?"

Yes

2. Duration of the plan:

Multi-Year

3. School's most critical academic need(s):

Reading Writing Mathematics Science

4. Plan description

• How the money will be spent to improve academic performace
  

  West Hills Middle School will continue before and after school tutoring in Mathematics,Language Arts, Science, Study Skills, and Social Studies. The program will be structured to target those students whose CRTscores are at Level 1 or 2 in the core subject areas. An adult aid will be assigned to the ESL students.The aid will assist the ESL teachers and document progressof the students. We will continue to improve student computer labs and audio equipment with upgrades and technical support. Students have access to computer labs and a Smart Board. Upgrades will allow the labs to remain functional and newsoftware will assist teachers with assessments and strategies to improvestudent achievement. We are dedicated to continuing implementation of middle level philosophy complete with integrated curriculum, developmentally responsive instruction, and collaboration. This spring, West Hills will apply for sustainability of Collaboration Day. Collaboration Day has proven to be research based best practices for middle level students. Funds will also be used for training, registration fees, and professional development. Progress will be assessed through surveys, test results, and long-term impact on student achievement.
• Goals for student improvement
  

  The goal will be to decrease the percentage of students performing below grade level in all core subject areas.
• How improvement is assessed or measured
  

  Expenditures will be made to develop diagnostic assessments to be given during the year to monitor progress and inform instruction. CRTs, ITBS, Gates-MacGinitie, Thinking Reader, GPA, tutoring attendance, and surveys will be used to assess improvement. Teachers will use collaboration time to develop instructional strategies to improve student achievement.
• How the school will further the goals if there is more money than estimated
  

  If more money is received it will go into Personnel and Computer needs to support the after school tutoring program and computer labs.

5. How the plan relates to the School Improvement Plan

The West Hills Middle School Improvement Plan and School Land Trust plan support the six year action plan of Collaborating for Student Achievement. All decisions regarding allocation of resources including professionaldevelopment, time, personnel, supplies, equipment, and budgets are made with these goals in mind. The goals are: 1. Increase students

6. Financial proposal

Available funds		Plan Estimates
	School LAND Trust funds for 2006-2007	$27866
	Carry-over from 2005-2006	$-5717
	Total available for expenditure	$22149
Expenditures
	Professional Development	$3866
	Computers / Microscopes / Calculators / Repairs / Maintenance	$3018
	Textbooks / Books / Media / Software / Supplies	$0
	Library / Media	$0
	Supplies / Materials / Equipment	$0
	Travel / Admissions / Printing	$0
	Salaries / Benefits	$21000
	Total Expenditures	$27884
	Remaining Funds	$-5735

7. Additional funds that have been identified to implement the plan

Amount:	$0
Source:	none

8. The school plan will be advertised to the community in the following ways:

Letters to state senators, representatives, governor, and congressional delegationSchool newsletterSchool assembly