Instruction officials outline SOL-prep, intervention programs and grants
Summary
Director of instruction John Ringstaff and building principals described data-driven small-group instruction, TNTP-supported walkthroughs, GEAR UP implementation for 7th graders and targeted remediation strategies; elementary principal Kristen Morris reported year-over-year gains in science (21.4 percentage points) and history (17.1 percentage points).
John Ringstaff, the district's director of instruction, and building leaders told the board about steps the division is taking to prepare students for SOL testing and to support academic growth.
Ringstaff said the division will host a school-based counselor two days per week under a school-based counseling program and that the first-year implementation plan for the GEAR UP grant will begin with seventh graders. He noted the Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant work with the New Teacher Project (TNTP) and that instructional leaders completed walkthroughs using a VDOE-approved tool to set a baseline for targeted support.
Kristen Morris, principal of Buckingham County Elementary School, described data-driven practices, common planning and interventions, and reported improvements: "In science, we increased 21.4. And then history... we've increased 17.1%." She credited small-group instruction, interventionists and TNTP feedback for those gains.
A high-school speaker described three strategies used to boost SOL performance: extended remediation "boot camp" sessions, teacher use of pivot tables to analyze student performance by question and a revised "nighttime" remediation schedule that increases remediation minutes and offers multiple weekly sessions.
The board was told the comprehensive plan has been posted as a draft for a second review and that staff will seek approval in April. Ringstaff asked for board input and said he will return with benchmark data in April that includes more complete subgroup information.
Next steps: Staff will continue walkthroughs, implement GEAR UP supports for eligible students, monitor benchmark data and seek board approval of the comprehensive plan at a future meeting.
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