Freehold Borough Strategic Planning 3-8 Subcommittee Rich PepeJoy Forrest Will SmithSarah Jacobsen Nicole SabelJohn Brovak Tracey EdwardsDiane Dispenza Kelly BernazzoliSteve Hirsch Dr. Michael Lichardi

OUR VISITS - Metuchen Metuchen – Edgar Middle School Demographic Data DFG = I, P-12 district, ~2,300 students Grade Span Structure P-K (~150 students) – Principal + shared supervisors* 1-4 (~700) – Principal + shared supervisors* 5-8 (~700) – Principal + AP + shared supervisors* + 2 counselors 9-12 (~800) – N/A * 5 district content supervisors Common Planning PE/Cycle - 2/day => 1 daily prep + 4 duty periods/week + 1 PLC/wk Grouping ELA: unique learners, high, average, skills, BSI, resource, ESL/Bilingual (heterogeneous for Writers Workshop) Math – unique learners, high, average, low average, skills-double period, resource, ESL/Bilingual Technology SMART Boards in every classroom Labs: technology, writing, industrial arts Social Media: Edmodo Challenges5 th and 8 th in same building

OUR VISITS - Red Bank Red Bank Borough – Red Bank Middle School Demographic DataDFG =CD, K-8 district, ~1,000 students Grade Span Structure K-3 (~550) 4-8 (~450) Common Planning Daily with grade level + 1 additional common planning period / week 4 th & 5 th have same 2 back-to-back periods for prep/duty…same for 7 th & 8 th Grouping ELA 4-8 Bilingual OR ESL-only (during specials) Math 4-8 Bilingual OR ESL-only (during specials) Technology STEM Initiative – Project Lead the Way LinkIt assessment & data warehouse system Challenges3 rd -4 th articulation

OUR VISITS - MERS I MERS – MEMS Demographic DataDFG = GH, P-8 district, ~4,100 students Grade Span Structure P-K (~400) 1-5 (~3,000) 6 (~650) – Principal + AP + Counselor 7-8 (~1,400) – Principal + 2 AP’s + 2 Counselors + CST * 3 shared district supervisors (Math, ELA, Science) Common Planning Every other day for 60 minutes during PE (including Special Education teachers) + daily prep during cycle classes Grouping ELA: 3 levels + supplemental assessment readiness class Math: 4 levels (including 8 th grade Geometry track) + supplemental assessment readiness class Technology SMART Boards in most classrooms SMART Table in Life Skills room New Classrooms: mounted projectors w/ easy access station + phonic ears w/ mounted speakers Challenges(none mentioned)

OUR VISITS - MERS II MERS – Pine Brook Demographic DataDFG = GH, P-8 district, ~4,100 students Grade Span Structure P-K (~400) 1-5 (~3,000) 6 (~650) – Principal + Assistant Principal + Counselor 7-8 (~1,400) – Principal + 2 AP’s + 2 Counselors + CST * 3 shared district supervisors (Math, ELA, Science) Common Planning Daily prep + 3 extra periods (during PE) – 1 team mtg w/ admin per week + 2 extra preps + monthly department PLC (contractual – after hours) GroupingMath: Pre-Algebra-A (gifted), Pre-Algebra-B (advanced), 6A, 6-ICS Technology SMART Board & document camera in every room LinkIt assessment & data warehouse system ChallengesNo vertical articulation, no long-term relationships with students, only math teachers have multiple classes for which to prep

Visit Highlights Gradual transition to middle school environment beginning in 5 th grade with structured support for students is critical Schedules all built to provide daily prep + extra periods for common planning & PLC-based PD Extra periods dedicated to targeted instruction (remediation, supplemental support, enrichment) Time dedicated to departmental collaboration (at least monthly) All districts visited have leveled grouping for Math & Reading

We Recommend… Part 1: Grade Span Structure P-2, 3-8* *3-8 school to have tiered schedule 3-4 common bell schedule 5-8 common bell schedule Rationale 5 th & 6 th together to allow for gradual transition from elementary setting to departmentalized setting 6 th, 7 th, & 8 th in same grade span to allow for articulation related to progression toward proficiency with 8 th grade standards 6 th in same grade span as 7 th & 8 th is needed in our district to ensure we have enough students to field sports teams

We Recommend… Part II: Scheduling Considerations In addition to daily prep period, provide a second daily release period to be used for common planning, collaboration, articulation, and targeted instruction Rationale Provides weekly time for targeted instruction for the purpose of remediation, supplemental support, and enrichment Provides opportunities for job-embedded, ongoing professional growth Provides opportunities for horizontal and vertical articulation Provides time for working with data to make instructional decisions