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French Broad Middle School outlines expanded ML instruction and a multi-tier attendance strategy
Summary
Staff presented multi-language learner instruction, curriculum and family engagement work and detailed attendance interventions that reduced chronic absenteeism from 32% to 24% last year; the school described tiered responses and an attendance board now serving six students.
French Broad Middle School staff presented the board on March 24 about this year's multi-language learner (ML) programming and a stepped attendance strategy aimed at reducing chronic absenteeism.
Presenters described a multi-pronged ML approach that groups students by proficiency across WIDA domains (speaking, writing, listening, reading) and uses targeted, tiered interventions. Staff said they used a combination of curricular resources including "99 Ideas for Teaching English Language Learners" (SIOP-influenced) and strategies from Jennifer Cirillo for reading and writing. ML paraprofessionals meet weekly with ML support staff (Tracy Carbon) to plan instruction and family-engagement events that encouraged student participation in state assessments.
The school reported promising interim results: 72% of students showed growth in winter MAP math (32 students accounted for that growth), and presenters said only three makeup assessment sessions were needed because family-engagement outreach encouraged attendance on test days.
On attendance, staff said chronic absenteeism across the school dropped from 32% in 2022 to 24% last year after incentives, intramurals, family nights and other engagement strategies. The school has created an attendance board and a formal flow chart for tiered interventions: a —3-9% watch list, 10-14% threshold for Tier 1 notices and interventions, and a Tier 3 process that brings students to the attendance board for individualized planning. Presenters said the district nurse, school counselor and the district's new attendance coordinator meet with families as part of the process; the board was informed the school currently has six students on the attendance board.
Principal and school staff credited community partnerships, peer activities and targeted parent outreach for the attendance gains and said they will flex intervention groups after receiving additional assessment results later this spring.
