Fenton Area Public Schools International Baccalaureate Program Evaluation

Fenton Area Public Schools International Baccalaureate Program Evaluation May 11, 2015

Committee Members n n n Jennifer Wright – AGS Teacher Tom Macey – FHS Teacher Michele Ostrowski – State Road Teacher Lori Slaughter – AGS Teacher Laura Caballero – AGS Parent Christine Larosa – FHS Parent Susie Khoury – Tomek Eastern Parent Sean Sage – State Road Parent Candice Merivirta – North Road Elementary Principal Mark Suchowski – Fenton High School Principal Melody Strang – Curriculum Director Tim Jalkanen – Superintendent

Questions for the committee to answer n n n What is the International Baccalaureate Program? What is the cost of the IB program? To what extent is the program being implemented at each level? What are the impact and benefits of the program? If not IB then what and at what cost?

Data collected during evaluation MEAP / MME / ACT (2007 through 2014) n Student enrollment n AP / DP n Student attendance rate at university / college after FHS n Perception data n IB external evaluation reports n Financials n

What is the IB program? Primary Year Program – Kindergarten – fifth grade – all students (1500 students) n Middle Year Program – Sixth through tenth grade (1300 students) n Diploma Program – optional for all 11 th and 12 th grade students n Instructional best practices n Learner Profile n st

What is the cost of the IB program? Major cost of program is staffing, professional development and annual fees n Cost vary year to year – for the program evaluation we used 2013 – 2014 school year n 3 - Primary Year Programs - $285, 000 n 2 – Middle Year Programs - $138, 000 n 1 – Diploma Program - $105, 000 n n Total IB Program Cost - $528, 000

Revenue School of Choice enrollment forms indicate IB/Academics as factor for coming to FAPS (may be reason) Should this be considered? n 60 – 80 School of Choice students per year - approx. $497, 000 n Parent survey showed 97 indicated (21%) IB was factor coming to Fenton Schools. n Asked incoming kindergarten families n

To what extent is the IB program being implemented at each level? n Primary Year Program External review in 2012 n Different evaluating teams for each building n Tomek – Eastern no matters to be addressed n North Road and State Road Elementary had matters to be addressed n Action plan developed and implemented n All buildings were reauthorized n

n To what extent is the IB program being implemented at each level? Middle Year Program External review 2014 n Commendation on Personal Projects n Recommendations to further development student assessment, use of data, clarify student action, group objectives in teaching and learning, other n More training needed for staff n More time needed for teachers to meet and collaborate n

n To what extent is the IB program being implemented at each level? Diploma Program 5 HL courses and 7 SL courses n Full Diploma option for students n Course Candidate option for students n 19 class sections of DP classes during current school year n More students take DP classes when compared to AP classes before IB n 29 % of 11 th and 12 th grade students take DP class n

To what extent is the IB program being implemented at each level? Additional teacher training needed at all program levels. n Additional time needed for teachers to have horizontal and vertical collaboration. n

What are the impact and benefits of the IB program? All students K – 10 th grade in program n Optional all students 11 th and 12 th grade n Inquiry based learning n Student Centered n Learner Profile n Focus on critical thinking n Reflecting on learning n World Language n

What are the impact and benefits of the IB program? MEAP / MME / ACT scores are among the highest in the county before IB was implemented and while IB has been implemented n Students have been more successful with Diploma exams as compared to AP exams n FHS rate of students attending college or university has increased since IB was implemented. n

Other considerations Difficult to measure student growth in critical thinking skills. n What has been the impact of the Learner Profile? n Are students more engaged in their learning? n Are students more internationally minded? n Do students take more action since IB? n

If not IB then what and at what cost? n Critical to fully explore options with all staff before making a major shift in instructional programs / practices. Advanc. Ed Standards of Quality Accreditation district wide – FHS is currently accredited n Increase Advanced Placement courses – initial expense $46, 000 n Need to honor current students in DP courses n

If not IB then what and at what cost? n ASCD Whole Child Initiative Focuses on whole child n Not a curriculum framework n Assists in identifying school / district weaknesses and strengths n Professional development to address needs n Cost determined on training needed n

If not IB then what and at what cost? What is vision for teaching and learning? n Create standards and practices to hold ourselves accountable n How to replace Learner Profile n Keep best practices n Create a way to evaluate our new plan n

137 out of 212 responded (65%) Teacher Survey Summary How would you rate your effectiveness in implementing the IB program? Great District FHS (42) 15% 7% AGS North Road Tomek State (21) (16) (23) Road (14) 5% 0% 39% 21% Good 42% 60% 47% 13% 26% 50% Fair 31% 26% 46% 30% 21% Poor 10% 9% 21% 40% 4% 7%

Rate the Impact IB has had on your teaching. District FHS AGS North Road Tomek State Road Significantly 14% 9% 5% 0% 39% 35% Impacted 21% 26% 25% 18% 21% 7% Slightly Impacted 33% 25% 31% 38% 36% Not Impacted 29% 30% 45% 50% 8% 21%

Do you think IB is a good program for the students of Fenton? (teachers’ response) District FHS AGS North Tomek State Road Yes 25% 14% 24% 6% 52% 42% Neutral 32% 33% 24% 38% 26% 42% No 52% 56% 21% 14% 43%

Parent Survey Summary 550 responses (35%) Rate the impact the IB program has had on your children? Significant Positive Impact 17% Positive Impact 19% Neutral 15% Little Impact 22% No Impact 24%

Rate the experience your child had in each level of the IB Program. Excellent Experience Good Fair Experience Neutral Poor Experience Primary Years 21% 17% 30% 9% Middle Years 11% 16% 18% 36% 17% Diploma Program 7% 12% 40% 28% 10%

Rate your understanding of the IB Programs (parents). Very Clear Understanding Clear Somewhat Understanding Do Not Understand Primary Years 34% 28% 26% 10% Middle Years 27% 30% 29% 12% Diploma Program 34% 25% 15%

Recommendation Diploma Program data was positive n MEAP, MME, and ACT results have consistently been among the highest in county before and during IB implementation n Teacher survey shows staff divided on IB n Parents survey shows parents are divided on IB n

Recommendations Consensus of committee to continue with only the Diploma Program at FHS n Some committee support to increase training and collaboration time if continuing with IB district wide. n Some committee support to also keep Primary Years Program at one school. n

Moving forward Keep DP at Fenton High School n Keep DP and one PYP n Keep full IB program and address areas of need n Reduce costs of program by restructuring n Eliminate entire IB program n Other n

n Thank you to the committee members for their time and effort during the program evaluation process.