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Carmel schools outline improvement plan after state ATSI designation; AVID Excel and bilingual expansion planned
Summary
District officials said two Carmel schools were designated ATSI (additional targeted support and improvement) and described a districtwide improvement plan that includes AVID Excel for long-term English learners, expansion of dual-language pathways, coaching cycles and roughly $325,000 in Title I/school-improvement funds to support the work.
Dr. Gorman, the district presenter, told the Board of Education that two schools — George Fisher Middle School and Matthew Patterson Elementary — have been placed on the state's ATSI list and described a district comprehensive improvement plan (DCIP) to address the designation.
"ATSI stands for additional targeted support and improvement," Dr. Gorman said, explaining the designation covers five indicators: subject performance, weighted achievement, attendance, student growth and English language proficiency. He said the district is using coaching cycles, equity analysis and targeted supports to lift student outcomes in those areas.
The plan includes a layered approach for English language learners: AVID Excel at the middle school for long-term ELLs, a dual-language expansion at kindergarten and first grade in selected elementary schools, and a new director of multilingual programs the board expects to approve at its June 9 meeting. "We are in the final interviews for the director of multilingual programs," Dr. Gorman said.
Trustee Jim Wise pressed for measurable accountability and asked how success will be tracked. Dr. Gorman replied the district will monitor the five state indicators via school SEP teams, building-learning meetings and growth-period data reviews: "We will be monitoring that through the SEP team," he said, adding administrators will track the roughly 39 students whose data currently place the middle school on the ATSI list.
On funding, the presenter said the district expects a sustained infusion of school-improvement funds tied to the designation. "We were close to $325,000 in Title I funds for the district and for each kid in those two schools," Dr. Gorman said, adding that those funds will support coaching, professional development and interventions over the three-year ATSI window.
Board members expressed guarded optimism. Trustee Curzio thanked staff for the work and emphasized that state resources and attention offer an opportunity to accelerate progress. Trustee Wise warned the designation carries consequences if the district does not improve, but acknowledged the state provides both "a carrot and a stick." The superintendent added the district is organizing data systems and regular visits to principals to ensure interventions are applied consistently.
Next steps outlined to the board: final hiring of the multilingual director, allocation plans for Title I funds in June meetings, scheduled demonstration visits to AVID programs, a public update on dual-language enrollment and a June workshop for staff who will implement AVID and coaching cycles.
The board did not take formal action on the DCIP at the meeting; Dr. Gorman said targeted recommendations and a staffing recommendation for the multilingual director will return for board vote on June 9.
