Gate Equity Webinar th Supporting 9 Grade Success

Gate Equity Webinar: th Supporting 9 Grade Success DIXIE GRUNENFELDER – OSPI KEFI ANDERSEN – OSPI AARON CUMMINGS – PRINCIPAL IN EPHRATA SCHOOL DISTRICT TOBY MARSTON – COUNSELOR IN MOUNT BAKER SCHOOL DISTRICT

Agenda • Understand the importance of 9 th Grade • Review keys to supporting 9 th Grade success • Provide potential responses to intervene and prevent 9 th course grade failure: Aaron Cummings – Principal in Ephrata School District Toby Marston – Counselor in Mount Baker School District OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 2

Vision Every student ready for career, college, and life Mission To provide funding, resources, tools, data and technical assistance that enable educators to ensure students succeed in our public schools, are prepared to access post-secondary training and education, and are equipped to thrive in their careers and lives. Measures of Success • Four- and five-year high school graduation rates • Enrollment, remediation, and completion rates in post-secondary training and education 3

We must help students: Enter kindergarten with expected skills in all six areas identified by the Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (Wa. KIDS). Performance Indicators Meet standard on the 3 rd-, 8 th-, and 11 th-grade statewide English language arts (ELA) and math assessments, and the 8 th-grade statewide science assessment. Grow toward proficiency in ELA and math, as determined by Student Growth Percentiles, in 4 th and 6 th grades. Enroll in Algebra I/Integrated Math I by the end of 8 th or 9 th grade and earn high school credit. Enroll in college-level courses and earn dual credit. Take the SAT and ACT and earn college-ready scores. Access financial aid for post-secondary learning. We must help students avoid: 9 th-grade course failure. Suspensions and expulsions. Chronic absenteeism. www. k 12. wa. us/About. Us 3/6/2021 OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 4

Polling Do you track 9 th grade failure? A. No B. No, but plan on starting C. Just started D. Have for a long time OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 5

Accessing Your Data • Contact your District Data Security Manager to get access to the Performance Indicators Preview application. • The role is “PI_Preview Basic User” • Logon to EDS: https: //eds. ospi. k 12. wa. us/ • Select the “Performance Indicators Preview” application. • Select the school or district organization in which your DDSM assigned your role. • Click on Reports OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 6

Why are we concerned with 9 th course failure? Students who end their ninth grade year on-track, are four times more likely to graduate from high school than those who are off track. 3/6/2021 7 Based on research by University of Chicago CCSR, Preventable Failure Research Summary, April 2014.

9 th Grade Course Failure is an Early Warning • 9 th grade failure is a better predictor of graduation than race, ethnicity, level of poverty, or test scores. • 9 th Grade Course Failure is actionable. • Addressing 9 th grade course failure is also a way to address graduation. High School Middle School 3/6/2021 Elementary Graduation 8

What We Know About Preventing 9 th Grade Course Failure Use data to monitor progress Build a positive school culture 3/6/2021 Prepare 8 th graders transitioning to high school 9 th Grade Success Build in multitier supports Create a view of the future 9

Polling Do you use a student perception survey to measure school connectedness? A. Yes, we survey regularly and use the data to inform our work B. Yes, we survey, but don’t really use the data C. No, we don’t survey students. OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 10

School Culture… What Students are Telling Us According to the 2014 Healthy Youth Survey, 10 th grade students report: 55% think school is not 77. 3% have people at school to help if needed usually important for later in life 84. 6% feel safe at school 62. 5% say they don’t usually like being at school OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 11

School Culture Failure is not an option is a shared attitude of teachers, staff and students “Cultural changes take place when questions related to academic press and social support are being asked simultaneously, and when behaviors and beliefs are rooted in relational trust. ” –Chuck Salina Relational Trust Feeling Safe Having something to offer Providing time and expertise Academic Press Provides specific direction embedded in high standards, goals and belief of success for everyone C U L T U R E F O R L E A R N I N G Supports Provides assistance/ help in meeting expected standards/goals OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 Salina, Girtz, Eppinga 12

Using Data Root Cause Analysis Early Warning System at the Student Level System Evaluation OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 13

How many students are there in each Tier in your district? Tier 3: 5% Multiple D/F Grades Tier 3: # Tier 2: 15% One D/F Grade Tier 2: # Tier 1: 80% ABC Grades OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 14

Transition from 8 th Grade For All: Activities and Clubs For At Risk: Paired with specific teachers Most At Risk: Mentoring OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 15

How to Set Up Vertical Teaming from Career Guidance Washington √ Plan a process aligned with District/Building Level Teams tasks √ Focus on grade level communication “between” grade level communication (linked to PLC structures when possible) √ Determine if vertical planning team is a subset of the Leadership/Counseling √ Address transition processes between Team schools with timelines and responsibilities √ Recruit grade level band leaders and counselors √ Coordinate Calendars √ Clarify roles for grade level leaders and counselors √ Link to Multi-Tiered System of Support and Dropout Early Warning Systems √ Determine priority tasks (data use, engagement strategies for staff, students and parents) √ Organize small group high school campus visits for middle school students OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 16

Multi-Tier System of Supports An Example from one School District Tier 3: Individual • Unannounced home visits with door hangers for absentees • One on One study time with class teachers whose classes they are struggling in / Check and Connect • Required Learning Lab/ study hours to make up for incomplete credit Tier 2: Group • Targeted Lunch Study Hall Hours / Flex Time • Competency Based Credits and extended grade deadline to 20 days into next semester or school year Tier 1: Universal • Staff shares the attitude “We will not let a single student fail – our will is stronger” • Prepare for new students in January: identify Tier 2 -3 and plan interventions. o Counseling staff holds interviews with parents to set up appropriate classes and teachers before school begins, connect to services, test reading • Team up with the middle school to offer reading intervention classes so student is ready before entering high school • Freshmen Academy: separates freshmen from the rest, reinforces study skills • Connect students to the school: Link Crew, Day Long Freshmen Camp where they get to go to classes • “Inspect what you expect” Track data for who’s struggling with attendance, behavior, and coursework each week and get interventions in place right away • Standards Based Grading: missed deadlines don’t mean failing the 3/6/2021 assignment • Strong teachers who volunteer to focus on Freshmen • Start with freshmen but keep support going for 10 -12 th grade 17

Create Relevancy • High School and Beyond Plan • Hands on learning opportunities • Coursework ties to desired outcomes OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 18

Ephrata High School Principal Aaron Cummings How we support 9 th Graders OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 19

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Mount Baker School District Counselor Toby Marston How we support 9 th Graders OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 25

2011 -2012 Superintendent asked us to identify and define who an “at risk” student was in MBSD

Analysis was consistent with dropout literature • Students who did NOT attend MBSD as an elementary student were more likely to drop out. • Freshmen year transition was difficult (failed classes) • Attendance was an issue for our dropouts • More students living in one area of our district dropped out then other areas.

Student Supports • Intentional 8 th-9 th transition program – Counselors in classrooms – 8 th grade counselor talking about transitions – HS tour day – College Bound Scholars Supporting data: 100% of eligible students have signed up for the College Bound Scholarship

Student Supports • Refined our advisory program to assist in 9 th grade transition – Re-focus on goal areas – Added a 9 th grade fall Student-Led Conference Supporting data: 95% of parents report fall conference as being helpful.

Student Supports • Started LINK Crew, a research based peer mentor program for all 9 th grade students – Focused 3 hour summer orientation – Meet with mentors in small groups 6 -8 times a year. Supporting Data: 90% of 9 th graders report LINK crew as being helpful to their high school transition.

Student Supports • Mental Health Support – Collaboration with local agencies – District commitment to hire a Mental Health Support Specialist – At LEAST one therapist on campus 5 days a week Supporting Data: 96% of students receiving services say that counseling has helped them feel more successful at school.

Student Supports • Community Outreach – Focus on neighborhood with most dropouts – Intentional partnership with community agencies Supporting Data: Monthly over 20 community organizations meet to collaborate on neighborhood issues

Student Supports • Base Camp – 35 minutes 3 times a week for additional academic support – 9: 15 -9: 50 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Base Camp Within this time three things happen: • Mountaineer Time: students with a 3. 3 or above have choice to how they spend the period. • Base Camp-students below a 3. 3 and with NO F’s are assigned a room for study hall. • Focused Learning-students with an F in any class are assigned to the teacher of that class to get additional time and support.

Focused Learning • Students are placed every three weeks • Students can be requested by a teacher even if they don’t have an F. • Students in Base Camp or Mountaineer Time can request a note to place themselves into a focused learning session.

Focused Learning How are we doing?

Focused Learning How are we doing? Data by Cycle 1 Cycle 2 FL Kids N Fs 22. 41% 32. 42% FL Kids w/ Fs 38. 98% 32. 42% MT Kids 38. 98% 35. 17% English Fs 20. 61% 13. 11% Math Fs 16. 21% 17. 12% Science Fs 19. 52% 18. 18% Social Fs 16. 67% 18. 87% Spanish Fs 20. 33% 08. 94% Music Fs 04. 73% 00. 00% Art Fs 00. 93% CTE Fs 07. 43% 06. 32% Health Fs 18. 60% 02. 33% PE Fs 00. 00% 00. 58%

Focused Learning How are we doing? English Data by Cycle 1 Cycle 2 Cycle 3 Cycle 4 Cycle 5 Cycle 6 Cycle 7 Cycle 8 Cycle 9 ENGLISH 9 (ENG 901) 09. 62% 11. 54% ENGLISH 12 (ENG 121) 38. 78% 28. 57% 18. 37% ENGLISH 10 HONORS (ENH 101) 12. 50% 08. 93% 07. 14% ENGLISH 11 (ENG 111) 46. 81% 19. 15% ENGLISH 10 (ENG 101) 29. 79% 17. 02% 20. 21%

Focused Learning How are we doing? Data by Specific Course ENGLISH 9(ENG 901)(HARRIS) Cycle 1 Cycle 2 Cycle 3 10. 45% 07. 46% 05. 97% Cycle 4 Cycle 5 Cycle 6 Cycle 7 Cycle 8 Cycle 9 Cycle 3 Cycle 4 Data by course and student Student Name Cycle 1 Cycle 2 Student A 55. 20% Student B 55. 30% 50. 80% Student C 14. 60% 56. 70% 59. 20% Student D 5. 40% 16. 80% 11. 20% Student E 51. 20% Student F 5. 60% Student G Student H 26. 50% 40. 50% 37. 20% 50. 20% 56. 10%

Website Visit the 9 th Grade Course Failure Page for resources and strategies to support your work. http: //www. k 12. wa. us/Data. Admin/Performance. Indicators/ 9 th. Grade. Failure/default. aspx OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 40

Questions Contact Kefi. Andersen@k 12. wa. us Is your school or district addressing 9 th grade failure? Contact us and let us know what you are doing! OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 41

Accessing Your Data • Contact your District Data Security Manager to get access to the Performance Indicators Preview application. • The role is “PI_Preview Basic User” • Logon to EDS: https: //eds. ospi. k 12. wa. us/ • Select the “Performance Indicators Preview” application. • Select the school or district organization in which your DDSM assigned your role. • Click on Reports OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 42

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Helpful Resources District preview page • Copy of this presentation • Recording of the webinar data walkthrough • Helpful resources • http: //www. k 12. wa. us/Data. Admin/Performance. Indicators/Webinars. aspx Support Resources • Visit the 9 th Grade Course Failure Page for resources and strategies to support your work. http: //www. k 12. wa. us/Data. Admin/Performance. Indicators/9 th. Grade. Failure/default. aspx OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 50

Webinar on District Preview Page OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 51

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Next Month December 14, 10 -11 am Creating a Multi-Tiered System of Supports for Integrated Student Services Contact Kefi. Andersen@k 12. wa. us Is your school or district addressing 9 th grade failure? Contact us and let us know what you are doing! OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 3/6/2021 53