District 204 Continues Work to Close Achievement Gap

is continuing to working to close the achievement gap, seeking to increase the number of students exceeding state standards.

The board heard a presentation Monday night from Mike Popp, director of school improvement and planning, and Adrienne Morgan, principal from Nancy Young Elementary School. The pair detailed some of the steps taken to help students bridge the gap to success and continue upward at Nancy Young, which was used as an example of what administrators hope can be achieved districtwide.

District 204 has set a goal of having between 4 percent and 10 percent growth by 2013 in reading, writing, math and science among third- through eighth-grade students.

Nancy Young students meeting and exceeding in reading were at 77 percent in 2005. In 2010, that number increased to 91 percent, according to District 204. The number of students meeting and exceeding in science jumped from 83 percent in 2005 to 93 percent in 2010.

Students exceeding state achievement standards at Nancy Young have also increased significantly in the last five years. For example, the number of students exceeding in reading in 2005 was 19 percent, but by 2010 that number increased to 51 percent.

Morgan said the school’s approach to closing the gap was four-fold, involving professional-learning communities, high-level student engagement, consistent instructional practices across grade level and encouraging student involvement in programs including Project Arrow, a gifted-student program at the district.

The school has created a structure that allows teachers time to work together to discuss best practices and take steps toward student growth, Morgan said.

Teachers are also engaging students through the use of the school’s Daily Five literacy structure, collaboration across grade levels, incorporating math enrichment and involving the Project Arrow teacher.

Morgan explained that school staff takes a consistent approach with instructional practices, which allows students to work across grade levels. The school also uses a consistent vocabulary, she said.

“We have staff really look at student work samples and writing,” Morgan said. “It is very exciting to see that kindergartners and first-grade students were able to pull together sentences and paragraphs.”

Board Member Mark Metzger congratulated Morgan on the results she and her staff have achieved at the school.

“What you and your staff have done is remarkable and you and your staff deserve kudos,” Metzger said.

Board President Curt Bradshaw asked Morgan where she saw the numbers moving in the next three to five years. Morgan said it takes about three to five years to see improvements and she is hoping for a continued 3 percent to 5 percent annual growth.