1. Federal Grant Programs Conference October 23, 2017
Lessons Learned: Leveraging Local Resources, Curriculum, and Title I to Improve Student Achievement
Federal Grant Programs Conference
October 23, 2017

2. Learning Goals Revisit the ideas of tiered instruction or RTI.
Understand the different components of an effective tiered instruction/RTI model.
Understand the benefits of a unified approach towards improving student achievement.
Identify components of your school’s/district’s instructional program that can be better aligned to improve student outcomes.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

3. Our Story: Morris realized exceptional gains by integrating efforts.
Promoting faculty buy-in of RTI
Committing local resources to specialists
Carefully choosing curriculum and assessments
Strategic Use of Title I
Deliberate planning the School Day
Promoting shared ownership of all students
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

4. Our district Lenox: A small town of about 5500 in Berkshire County.
Enrollment: Total district enrollment of about 770 in grades PK-12.
18.2% Economically Disadvantaged (2017)
26.6% High Needs
Structure: 2 Schools – a PK-5 elementary and a 6-12 middle/high school
Staffing: About 100 licensed faculty, about 50 staff
Title I Designation: TAP, one school. Total grant of about $165,000.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

5. Morris School 2011
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

6. Morris School:
Good performance but inconsistent gains in ELA and math.
Inconsistent models of instruction within grades and across grades.
Disconnect of services between classroom instruction and Title I.
Traditions and individual preferences dictate schedules and, to a lesser degree, curriculum.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

7. Morris School 2012
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

8. Morris School 2016
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

9. Tiered Instruction http://www.monroe.k12.al.us
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

10. Specialists
Reading (2010): Responsible for selecting curriculum, supporting teachers with coaching, selection and delivery of benchmark assessments, diagnosis of reading issues and identification of interventions, and providing interventions to students. Co-leads data teams.
Math (2012): Curriculum, coaching, benchmark assessments, and identification of math deficits and identification of interventions. Co-leads data teams and provides interventions.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

11. Data Teams: Grade 2 Reading Fluency
Name:
June
Sept./Oct.
Jan
March
May A
Christian I
I-J
K-L M C
Sarah M+ N O+ Q
Charlotte O P D
Aiden
J-K K J
Aurora E
E-F
MOVED
Oliver
L-M L --
Spencer
Greta S
Jaydah
G-H
H-I
Logan R
Henry
M-N
Sophia H T
Michael
O-P
Title
below level 2 quarters
Watch
below level 1 quarter
Sped Intervention
on level
above level 1 quarter
above level 2 or more quarters
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

12. Tiered Instruction http://www.monroe.k12.al.us
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

13. Title I Services Title I Teacher/Parent Liaison (1)
Coordinates program/assessments
Plans interventions
Provides interventions
Title I Tutors (3)
Provide interventions
Support instruction (grades 1 and 2)
Conduct progress monitoring assessments
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

14. Title I Services
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

15. Title I Interventions 20 -30 Minutes
Small Group (no more than 3 students)
Skill Focused
Intended to be temporary
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

16. Research-based Curriculum
2010:
K-3 Fundations Phonics Program
Literature-based ELA (Daily Five)
2011:
GoMath!
Aimsweb and Curriculum-based benchmarks
2012:
Technology-based supports for classroom instruction
2014:
Professional Learning Communities established for teachers to focus on aligned practice, pacing instruction, and solving instructional problems.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

17. Tiered Instruction
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

18. The School Day 90 minute ELA block 60-90 minute math block
30 minute intervention periods
PLCs
Interventions provided through push-in, side by side, and pull-out models.
Specials, Arts, Language, etc.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

19. Shared Ownership
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

20. Tiered Instruction
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

21. Lessons Learned: Tiered Instruction works.
Create a positive, unifying narrative.
‘Moving the dial’ on a school-wide basis takes a school-wide effort.
Quality interventions make a huge impact.
Initiatives enacted in isolation will be limited in benefit.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

22. Questions, comments?
Timothy Lee, Superintendent Lenox Public Schools
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education