Dr. Suzanne Scallion
Fall is here and there is proof in the classrooms across the city as students settle into the routines of the school year. We continue to implement a strategic plan to improve student learning across the district and respond to information we can glean from multiple measures including MCAS data. The changes that we have launched in the past 6 months are on target with the needs shown in our results. It will take several years to reach the targets that we have established for our students and we believe that a successful partnership between home, school and the community will help us meet our goals.
Recently I have been asked, “What does it mean that Westfield is a Level 3 school district?” On the basis of our MCAS results, it means that a single subgroup or school has scored in the bottom twentieth percentile of the state. In other words, it means that a district receives an overall score based on its lowest performance. In our case, several of our schools and subgroups scored in the Level 3 range. While this certainly creates a sense of urgency to find a way to increase student achievement, it fails to recognize those programs and schools that continue to show growth. We are determined that our students will receive an education that prepares them to be competitive anywhere. We will detail our MCAS results at upcoming School Committee meetings and in future columns.
Our scores were not a surprise as we have recognized our need to align our programs with the new curriculum standards. For example, a visitor to a Science classroom in the Middle School last spring was struck by the fact that the students were studying what was taught in High School Biology a decade ago. The material that we expect students to know and the skills we expect them to do have changed dramatically in just the past few years. Our teachers have not had time to plan the revisions that must be brought to life in our classrooms. This has changed with the implementation of our Staff Development Program. We have begun the intense task of developing curriculum guides for teachers to use that ensures a consistent program across the city.
A few stellar curriculum initiatives that we have recently launched include the partnership with Bay State Reading Institute and the adoption of a state-of-the-art Reading Program known as Reading Street. Our children in pre-school though Grade 2 will start using this program next week. Our Middle Schools will be doing Staff Development with the Keys to Literacy group with a focus on comprehension. Our new elementary Math program is in its second year and we saw an increase in the number of children achieving Advanced on the MCAS. And, Westfield High Schools is in its second year with Department Heads leading the curriculum changes. We continue to explore how to best implement the concepts needed for advanced mathematics at all levels.
The district intervention programs will provide targeted support to underachieving students. This will begin in mid-October and run for 6 months and provide a longer day for students who require support in Math or Literacy. We are optimistic that this program will provide many of our students with the push they need to reach higher levels of achievement. This is a new program and it will run three days a week.
All said, there is a lot happening in the schools. Please support our students and staff in any way that you can. When you are out and about, share the news about the exciting initiatives underway to support our learners. The most important gift to the future of Westfield is a solid education for our children. This will happen as a result of our collective efforts, enthusiasm and good will.
Best wishes,
Dr. Suzanne Scallion, Superintendent
