ERIC ED429347: Bringing Out the Best in All Our Students. Partnerships/Goals 2000, Consortia Addressing Statewide Systemic Issues (CASSI) Grants and Local Improvement (LIG) Grants Progress Reports, 1995-1998.

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by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
EA 029 750
ED 429 347
Bringing Out the Best in All Our Students.
TITLE
Partnerships/Goals 2000, Consortia Addressing Statewide
Systemic Issues (CASSI) Grants and Local Improvement (LIG)
Grants Progress Reports, 1995-1998.
Colorado Education Goals Panel, Denver.
INSTITUTION
1999-01-00
PUB DATE
NOTE
232p.
Non-Classroom (055)
Guides
PUB TYPE
MF01/PC10 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
Academic Standards; Elementary Secondary Education; Grants;
DESCRIPTORS
*Incentive Grants; School Districts; School Effectiveness
*Colorado; Goals 2000
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
This report summarizes the accomplishments of local
education grants that have balanced the need for high standards,
accountability, parent involvement, and flexibility. The document examines
results from two funding opportunities supported by the Goals 2000 Educate
America Act: the Consortia Addressing Statewide Systemic Issues (CASSI) and
Local Improvement grants. CASSI comprised five grants, funded for a 2-year
period. They addressed broad issues that are key to implementing standards
statewide, whereas Local Improvement grants were designed to build local
capacity to implement standards and increase student achievement. The results
show that all the grants addressed professional development, with over 1,000
teachers and 20,000 students having been affected by inquiry-based
professional development in math and science. Over 80 percent of grantees
used the funding to develop or implement assessments linked to
academic-content standards, which will prove important in student evaluation.
Grantees shared their efforts with educators and communities across the
state, and professional development tools that have resulted from these
grants were also distributed. The progress report emphasizes ways to sustain
the impact of these local grants beyond the funding cycle. Throughout the
report, advice on how to implement standards, based on lessons learned by the
grantees, is provided.
(RJM)
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Bringing Out the Best in All
Our Students
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1
artnen ips Coas 2000
Consortia Addressing Statewide Systemic Issues
(CASSI) Grants
and Local Improvement (LIG) Grants Progress Reports
1995-1998
2
Colorado Education Goals Panel Co-chairs
Roy Romer, Governor
William J. Moloney, Commissioner of Education
Colorado Education Goals Panel Vice Chairs
Dan Morris, US WEST
Pat Hayes, Chair, State Board of Education
Goals Panel Members
Toni Larson, Independent Higher Education
John Adsit, Teacher, Jefferson County
of Colorado, Denver
Sheila Arredondo, Private Consultant
Solomon Liston, Higher Education Student
Beverly Ausfahl, President, Colorado
Jan Makris, Director, South Central BOCES
Education Association
Jane Martin, Pre-Service Education, Adams
Richard Ballantine, Owner/Publisher;
State College
Durango Herald
Stan Matsunaka, Senator, District 15
Don Beck, IBM Senior State Executive
Joe May, President, Pueblo Community
G. Tom Bellamy, Dean, CU Denver
College
Fran Berry, CONNECT
Randy Miller, Superintendent, Swink School
John Buckner, Principal, Cherry Creek
District
School District
Pres Montoya, Parent, Greeley
Mary Buss, Teacher, Mesa 51
Joan Ott, Executive Director of Curriculum,
Pat Chase, President, CASB
Aurora
Frank Cooper, Supeintendent, Canon City
Jerome Page, President, Urban League,
Re-1
Colorado Springs
Carolyn DeRaad, Parent, Jefferson County
Rita Perron, Teacher, Aurora School District
Michael Feeley, Senator, District 21
Heather Pfaff, Student, Arvada West High
Judy Fernandez, Colorado Community
Colleges/Occupational Education System
School
Peg Portscheller, Superintendent, Lake
David French, President, French & Co.
Jackie Granados, Student, Machebeuf High
CoUnty Schools
Fran Raudenbush, Union Pacific
School
Carla Santorno, Elementary Education
Georgia Grantham, Assistant
Curriculum, Denver Public Schools
Superintendent, Salida
Sharon Simpson, Teacher, Cherry -Creek
John Gudvangen, Colorado College
Tom Stokes, Executive Director, Gates
Marilyn Hanley, Adult Literacy
Capital Management, Denver
Commission Chair, Denver
Gayla Stone, PTA, Jefferson County
Doug Hartman, President, Colorado
Bob Tointon, Phelps Tointon, Inc.
Federation of Teachers
Luis Torres, Professor of Chicano Studies,
Anna Jo Haynes, Executive Director, Mile
Metiro State College, Denver
Hi Child Care
Susan Willson, Attorney, Sheridan, Ross,
Pieter Kallemeyn, Parent, Douglas County
and McIntosh
Moe Keller, Representative, District 24
Jan Silverstein, Colorado Education Goals Panel Coordinator
3
STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Education Goals Panel
201 E. Colfax Avenue, Room 501
Denver, Colorado 80203-1704
Fax [phone]
Roy Romer
Governor
Goals Panel Co-Chair
January 1999
William J. Moloney
Commissioner
Goals Panel Co-Chair
Dear Education Leaders and Community Members:
Improving student achievement for Colorado students requires high
meaningful parent and community
standards and accountability,
involvement, and flexible use of dollars. We invite you to take a look at
Colorado where this is
progress reports from local communities across
happening.
Within this publication you will find summary descriptions of model sites
Partnerships/Goals 2000.
across the state that have used funds from
You are welcome to use this document full of stories, data, lessons
learned and contact information related to implementing the 8 goals for
educating all of Colorado's students*.
The Colorado Education Goals Panel now supports four different funding
options for local communities. All of these grant opportunities focus on
increasing student achievement.through taking standards to classrooms.
We hope you will use this book as a resource of places and people to
contact.
The Partnerships/ Goals 2000 office offers its support to your local school
contact us with questions or
improvement efforts.
to
Feel
free
comments.
Debbie Hearty, Consultant
Jan Silverstein, Supervisor
Partnerships/Goals 2000
Partnerships/Goals 2000
303/866-6791
303/866-6635
[email protected]
[email protected]
*Please refer to page i for a listing of the 8 goals.
See the Colorado Education Goals Panel Website on the Intemet at htrp://www.cde.state.co.us/goals.htm
4
Table of Contents
Introduction
i
CASSI Grant Recipients
Bennett School District 29J
3
Centennial BOCES, Northern Colorado
8
Centennial BOCES, Weld
25
Colorado Springs 11, SWAP
31
Sheridan School District
38
Local Improvement Grant Recipients
Adams County District 1, Mapleton
49
Adams 12Five Star Schools, CASPer
55
Adams 12Five Star Schools, Literacy
59
Adams County District 14
63
Alamosa School District
65
Arapahoe School District 5, Cherry Creek
69
Clear Creek School District
73
Colorado Partnership
79
Colorado Springs District 11, Rogers Elementary
83
Del Norte School District C-7
86
Denver Area School Superintendents Council
89
Denver Public Schools, El Alma de la Raza
92
Denver Public Schools, Manual High School
96
Denver Public Schools, PRISM
100
Douglas County School District
103
Durango School District 9-R
107
East Central BOCES
112
East Yuma County School District RJ-2
114
Fremont School District Re-1
116
Fremont School District Re-2
123
Gilpin County School District Re-1
127
Gunnison District Re-1J
131
Harrison School District #2, Chamberlin Elementary
133
Harrison School District #2 Middle Schools
137
Harrison School District #2, Monterey Elementary
142
Hinsdale County School District Re-1
146
Las Animas School District RE- 1
148
Moffat Consolidated School District #2
150
Monte Vista School District
155
Mountain BOCES
158
Northeast Colorado BOCES, At-Risk Readers
160
Northwest Colorado BOCES
164
Pikes Peak BOCES
168
Poudre School District
170
Pueblo School District 60
172
Rio Blanco Re-1 School District
177
St. Vrain Valley School District Re-1J
184
Sangre De Cristo School District
188
Sargent School District Re-33J
190
South Central BOCES
193
Thompson School District
195
Valley School District Re-1
198
Weld County School District Re-4
202
Weld County School District Re-8
206
Wiley School District
209
Index
215
5
Bringing Out the Best in All Our
Students
INTRODUCTION
WHERE WE ARE NOW...
Colorado communities have charted
Eight Goals for Educating Colorado Students
a new course for our public schools
in order to bring out the best in all
our students. Over the past four
To make sure all students acquire the knowledge and skills
necessary
years, the Colorado Education
to reach high academic standards and be responsible, productive
Goals Panel* has supported local
citizens, Colorado Communities will:
efforts to increase student
achievement through eight goals
Goal 1
directly related to the
Establish and maintain clear standards for what students
must know
implementation of standards in
and be able to do.
Colorado schools. Since 1994, the
Goals Panel has provided oversight
Goal 2
for funds received from the Goals
Implement assessments to ensure that students are meeting high
2000: Educate America Act. These
academic standards.
dollars have been distributed to
167 local grant sites directly
Goal 3
impacting 95% of the state's
Align curriculum and instruction to standards and
assessments.
school districts.
Goal 4
This report summarizes the
Prepare and support educators to enable students to reach high
accomplishments of local grants
standards.
that have balanced the need for
high standards and accountability,
Goal 5
meaningful parent and community
Begin education early to ensure students are ready to learn when
involvement, and flexibility in
they enter school.
applying these dollars to local
needs.
Goal 6
Create safe, disciplined, and drug-free learning environments.
The document is organized to give
the reader a snapshot of results
Goal 7
from two funding opportunities
Promote partnerships and establish links among education (preK-16),
supported by Goals 2000.
parent, and business communities to support children and schools.
CASSI (Consortia Addressing
Goal 8
Statewide Systemic Issues)
Share responsibility and be accountable for results.
These five grants, funded for a
two-year period, address broad
issues key to implementing
standards statewide. Reports from year
one of these comprehensive efforts are highlighted
in the lavender section of the document.
Local Improvement
These grants are designed to build local capacity to
implement standards and increase
student achievement. Colorado communities that have
received local improvement grants
over the past three years submitted progress reports included in this
publication.
*See Panel membership listing on the inside front
cover.
6
The Goals Panel supports two additional
grant opportunities:
Student-Initiated
Through these grants, the Goals Panel directs
dollars to students and adults working together
to improve the quality of standards-based
schools.
Technical Assistance Bank (TAB)
The funding option supported by these
dollars was added by the Goals Panel during the
1997/98 school year to "jump-start" schools
and districts in early stages of implementing
standards.
1997198 AVERAGE GRANT SIZE
Brief summaries of these innovative efforts
are available through contacting the Goals
CASSI
$300,000
office.
Local Improvement
$125,000
Student-Initiated
$3, 700
Results reported from the four funding options
Technical Assistance Bank
$18,500
represent the use of over $11.8 million in
competitive grants distributed by the Goals
Panel during the past three years. As is
1997/98 DISTRIBUTION
evident from the chart to the right, average
grant size for the five CASSI grants is
Urban/Sub
Rural
$300,000. However, the Technical Assistance
$ 978,137
CASSI
$ 516,952
Bank (TAB) grants, " jump-starting" schools
Local Improvement
and districts in the early stages of
$1,400,000
$1,100,000
Student -Initiated
$ 101,405
implementing standards, averaged $18,500
98,595
$
per grant.
Technical Assistance
$ 706,719
73,126
$
Bank
1997/98 distribution of funds showed
differences in funding patterns for urban/suburban and
rural districts across the four funding
options. Most significant, almost 90% of the funds for
TAB grants went to rural schools and
districts. Geographic distribution of funds is described
in more detail below.
LIG Fund Distribution by Region,
1995-1998
(by 100,000)
East
SE
South
SW
West
NW
North
Metro
NE
Pikes Peak
Region
MAKING USE OF THESE PROGRESS
REPORTS...
The purpose of this publication is to share
accomplishments and lessons learned by funded
grantees. These reports provide an up-close look at
these model sites. They give evaluation data
and accountability information along with anecdotes
from grant participants.
II
Progress reports focus upon:
We hope that local educators and community
Broad goals
members will use the reports to contact experts in
Accomplishments
specific areas of standards implementation. For that
How standards are addressed
reason each of the reports begins with contact information
Impact of funds/evaluation of
and specific goals addressed. The index provides another
progress
tool for searching the document related to particular
Dissemination
interest areas, e.g., literacy or data management.
Lessons learned/continuous
improvement
Sustaining learning communities
(CASSI only)
CELEBRATING LOCAL GRANT RESULTS...
Progress reports provide a picture of impressive results for teachers and students in Colorado
schools. Highlights of the accomplishments local communities are celebrating are summarized in
five key areas: professional development, assessment, products
- dissemination, partnerships -
leveraging resources, and literacy.
RESULTS: Professional Development
All of the local improvement and CASSI grants included some focus on professional
development. Each of these local efforts is required to address Guidelines for the Professional
Development of Educators in Colorado which have been
adopted by the Colorado Staff Development Council as well
We have been told several times by others
as the Goals Panel. As a result, local efforts include ongoing
that the way we talk about kids in our schools
data-driven professional development models focused on
is different - it is truly student centered - a
student work and conducted as a part of a teacher's workday.
direct result of our implementation of the
Results from three of the CASSI grants give examples of the
Comer School Development Program.
impact of these dollars.
Harrison District 2
Through the Centennial BOCES Standards-Based Education (SBE) Professional Development
Center initiative, over 3056 educators were directly involved in SBE professional development.
This CASSI effort produced twelve highly influential professional development products that have
been used across the state. As a result of this ambitious work, over 100 educators are leading
other standards implementation projects in Colorado.
For students to meet high standards, they need teachers who have themselves met high
standards. Last year the CASSI initiative on Professional Standards Board Certification recruited
50 teachers statewide for intensive training and rigorous assessment. Thirty-six Colorado
educators completed this professional development experience through the support of Goals
2000 dollars.
Through the Leaders in Learning initiative, over 1000 teachers and 20,000 students have been
impacted by inquiry-based professional development in math
Rather than depending on one-
and science. Data on 1121 students of the teachers who
shot trips to the front range, the
participated in the science-lab professional development option
faculties at Monte Vista will be
show that when teachers are trained to use effective inquiry
given opportunities to become
methods, student achievement increases. These results were
more effective at collaborative,
evident for both minority and non-minority students.
ongoing professional growth.
Monte Vista
RESULTS: Assessment
School District
At this point, over 80% of grantees have used the funding to
develop or implement assessments linked to academic content standards. A sampling of
Ill
8
assessments funded includes embedded standards-based classroom assessments and bodies of
evidence guides along with commercially developed instruments such as the 6 Trait Writing
Assessment, the NWEA Level Tests, Terra NOVA assessments, and ABACUS software for
tracking student progress.
Some of the results related to assessment...
Over the past three years, Adams 12 has supported professional development focused on
classroom assessment. Student scores in these classrooms regarding science investigation
have increased from 50% proficient in 1997 to 63% proficient in 1998. Math communication &
problem solving scores have increased from 45% proficient to 60% proficient during the same
period.
Data has helped us focus. It has
In the St. Vrain school district, building-based professional
made accountability easier. Data
development has focused on data-driven instruction. Results
doesn't lie. We can't sweep it under
from buildings that have participated show significant increases
the carpet when kids aren't doing well.
in elementary Terra NOVA scores (reading, math, language).
Data about student learning has
helped us collaborate in really
Colorado schools and districts must have a pool of assessments
effective ways as a team.
readily available to implement standards effectively. This year
St Vrain School District
has shown considerable progress through the use of Goals 2000
funds. Some examples: Centennial BOCES has now piloted and revised 225 standards-based
assessments. Many of these are available on the Standards and Assessment Resource Bank
[www.aclin.org/sarb]. In Durango, fifty standards-based assessment modules have been
developed; an item bank of 2500 items is available. Through the Southwest Assessment
Partnership (SWAP), 84 educators from four districts have been involved in test item
development for district level history and geography assessments. These items have been field
tested by 2700 students. Participation will double during the 1998/99 school year.
RESULTS: Products - Dissemination
At this point, grantees are getting information about their work to educators and communities
across the state.
Sixteen of the workshops at the annual State Standards and Assessment
Conference last June were presented by Goals 2000 grantees. In addition to the national
presentations the reader will find cited in these reports, grantees are hosting standards-based
training opportunities for surrounding schools and districts. For example, the Cherry Creek
Leadership in Literacy grant held a conference for over 500 participants which included educators
from over 40 districts statewide.
Professional development tools that have resulted from these grants have been focused in five
key areas: curriculum alignment & mapping, e.g. CSAP analysis; data-driven instruction; SBE for
administrators (evaluating teachers); standards-based instructional units; and assessment.
Several grants have supported ambitious efforts to produce and disseminate instructional videos
on standards. Interestingly, the publication index shows a new focus this year on data
management as well as individualized instruction.
In Denver, teachers from the Alma Project have produced 45
As a result of this project,
instructional units on the history, contributions, and issues of
districts and schools have
Latinos and Hispanics in the Southwest United States. These K-
tools to ensure that all
12 units, developed in cooperation with university faculty and
students are receiving
McREL staff, will be shared with other districts across the state.
instruction and assessments
based on standards and to
Technology has been the focus of several local efforts. In
eliminate barriers to students'
Denver Public Schools, interactive television experiences related
learning and performance.
to hands-on-science have been provided for 58 schools and
Northwest Colorado
1450 students. In East Yuma, grant dollars have supported
BOCES
9
iv
multi-media presentation stations and a student-generated web site. The CASSI Net-TLC
initiative from the Centennial BOCES has developed an interactive network for 33 teachers of
Limited English proficient students. This innovative effort provides national online mentors and
threaded conversations for teachers; through Net-TLC, over 1100 students have received
increased access to technology.
RESULTS: Partnerships
- Leveraging Resources
This year, progress reports have increasingly emphasized ways to sustain the impact of these
local grants beyond the funding cycle. Most obvious this year is the number of reports that speak
to working across districts, assuring meaningful community partnerships, and implementing these
efforts in cooperation with university faculty. The reader will find many
examples by consulting the index for listings related to community
Windsor has been successful
partnerships, higher education partnerships, inter-district partnerships,
in this reform because of the
parent-family involvement, pre-service education, and sustainability.
partnership between
educators, the community,
The Denver Public Schools PRISM grant was funded for two years through
and Goals 2000 funding.
Goals 2000 funds. Though no longer a recipient of these funds, the
Windsor School
PRISM progress report indicates that this local effort is now leveraged by
District
five different federal funding sources; 1997/98 pre- and post-test results on
math/science performance show gains across all 13 schools involved in the initiative.
Leveraging funds from a variety of sources is evident in many of the reports. One example:
Leaders in Learning combines funds from New Centuries Energy Foundation, Medtronics,
Eisenhower Higher Education PD grant, U.S. Dept. of Energy, National Renewable Energy Lab,
the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education, and Denver CONNECT in producing results
for students related to problem-based science and math.
The networking and training
In Thompson School District the Hispanic Youth Advocate
within districts has allowed K-
has played a critical role in helping families access school
12 staff and parents to work
resources and resolve school issues. The graduation rate for
from a more unified,
Hispanic youth has increased from 48% in 1995 to 60% in
cooperative and cohesive
1998.
vision for student
achievement.
Community outreach at the high school level was a primary
East Central BOCES
focus of the Manual High School (Denver Public Schools)
grant. During visits to the homes of incoming ninth-grade
students, teachers explained to parents 10th grade expectations for meeting standards and the
role of the extended school day in reaching those standards. Peer tutoring and mentoring at
Ponderosa High School's supplemental lab in Douglas County has produced impressive initial
results. Seventy-seven percent of current students received a grade of 70% or higher on their
most recent test and less than 1% have failing grades.
RESULTS: Literacy
The numbers of grants emphasizing literacy increased dramatically this year. This focus is
consistent with the implementation of Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) testing at
grades three and four. Twenty-four of the progress reports focused on this area. Some of the
models funded include the Learning Network (Richard Owens), Reading Recovery (as well
as
adaptations of this intensive reading intervention strategy), Success for All, and Helping One
Student to Succeed (HOSTS).