1. Granger Jr. High School Let’s Get It Started “Three replicable systems essential for academic success” Robert Bleisch & Ruben Baeza Assistant Principal’s Granger Jr. High School

2. Overview 1.Who We Are: Community/Demographics 2. Where We Were: Dysfunctional School Culture 3. What We Did: Three replicable systems 4. The Results: Academic Champs!!!

4. Who We Are... National City, CA Highest poverty rate in the county ($15,000 per capita) Highest violent crime rates in county Highest unemployment rate in San Diego County (20%) Highest immigrant population in the county Highest adult illiteracy rate in the state Lowest rents/property values in county

6. Who We Are cont. Population: 1078 Grade 7-9 Free Lunch91% Eng. Lang. Learners 30% Hispanic 68% Filipino19% White5% African American1%

8. Where We Were (2002)

9. Lowest performing school in district: -Year 3 PI -604 API Low attendance: -Lowest in the district Excessive Stu Problems: -Undisciplined & Rude Homework ????: -Unmotivated/Unprepared Where We Were in 2002..(reality)

10. Where We Were... Unsafe campus: -High Gang Presence -High Crime/Violence -Fights/bullying the norm Poor School Pride: -Few clubs/activities Low teacher expectations -Students have a right to fail Low parent involvement

12. What We Decided To Do

13. Granger’s Mission  To ensure all students realize their boundless potential through a system of learning distinguished by :  Enrichment & rigor  Recognizing achievement  Timely support & intervention  Safe & nurturing environment  Building character, respect & trust  A culture where success in the only option  A strong partnership between family, school & community

14. Increase Attendance

15. Increase Attendance cont. 1. Changed Attendance Policy: Described the importance of coming to school every day. Included research linking irregular attendance and crime, risky behaviors and school failure. Informed that irregular attendance would not be tolerated- no excuses!!! Shared information re the law in California. Detailed progressive consequences

16. Increase Attendance Cont. 2. Comprehensive SYSTEM: Positive reinforcement: - Increased class competitions (earn non-uniform days). - Quarterly recognition event (certificate and pizza/ice cream). - Griffin Dollars/school raffle (ipods, TV’s, games etc.) Progressive Consequences: - Parent phone call (each abs) - Dr. Note Contract/Sat Sch (3 rd abs). - PM O-RM (2 hr detention if no show to Sat Sch). - Pre-SARB meetings to sign attendance laws contract (5 th abs). - Student Study Team (6 th abs). - Student Attendance Review Board (7 th abs). - Behavior Contract (8 th abs)

19. Improve Behavior

20. Improve Behavior cont. 1.Changed Policy: - Instruction sacred !!!! - Empowered teachers to remove students - Teachers supported by admin

21. Improve Behavior cont. 2. Procedures revamped: - Every Referral tracked and documented - Immediate consequence assigned (2 hrs after-Sch) - Parents notified - Student picked-up/escorted at the end of the day. - Progressive discipline used - No teacher time or involvement required

22. Mandatory Academic Support “The Granger Model”

23. 1. Attitude of a Winner (resiliency philosophy) 2. Mandatory Academic Support 3. Six Step Folder Distribution SYSTEM 4. Five Research-based Principles of Intervention

24. 1. Attitude of a Winner Resiliency Philosophy It’s an ATTITUDE: believe in yourself, work hard, dream big and NEVER, EVER GIVE UP! We EMPOWER students : hold high expectations, provide support & encouragement. No hay pobrecitios: do not feel sorry: We view our students as capable, not broken!!! FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION!

25. 2. Mandatory Academic Support 1. Changed school policy (Mandatory HW ) 2. Informed parents (meetings, letters, phone calls) 3. Allocated Resources (10 tutors, ASP bus, Teacher Extra duty) 4. Immediate Interventions after-school (same day) 5. Changed the bell schedule (Moved Advisory) 6. Added Targeted Support (formal and informal assessments) 7. Defended Program (from attack!!!!)

26. TARGETED SUPPORT 1. Homework: Academic Enrichment Center (All) 2. Re-teach: Support Classes (Anyone- below 70% on a weekly CFA) 3. Re-teach: Blended SC (Anyone- informal assessments) 4. Re-teach: Saturday Workshops (Below 70% on Quarterlies) - -

27. Targeted Support cont. 5. Intensive Intervention: Rising Stars (Anyone- two or more F;s) 6. Intensive Intervention: Shinning Stars (Basic EL’s) 7. Intensive Intervention: 7th Period Classes (FBB, BB) 8. Credit Recovery (CR): Credit make-up 9. Review: ABC Intervention (P and A)

28. Six Step Folder Distribution SYSTEM 1. Folders Prepared (placed in AEC box) 2. AEC Box picked-up (by the end of lunch 1:15) 3. Daily List Prepared (emailed on Staff News) 4. Folder Sorted (according to room #) 5. Folders Distributed (during 6 th per passing period) 6. students released to cafeteria (5 min early)

30. Research-based Principles of Intervention 1. DIRECTIVE 2. TIMELY 3. TARGETED 4. FLEXIBLE 5. SYSTEMATIC

31. The Results: Academic Performance Index (API) & Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

32. API Scores

33. API Subgroup Results 2004-2009

34. AYP Gains in Math 2004-2009

35. AYP ELA Results 2004-2009

36. SchoolAPI East Lake Middle849 Ranch del Rey Middle829 Bonita Vista Middle805 Hilltop Middle782 Granger Junior782 National City Middle780 Chula Vista Middle743 Mar Vista Middle742 Montgomery Middle734 Castle Park Middle696 Southwest Middle687 API Ranking 2009 West Side % Free or Red 12% 14% 18 % 42 % 91 % 85 % 68 % 64 % 65 % 64 % 80 %

37. Academic Success Granger (GJH) & National City Middle (NCM) GJH: 178 pts. in 6 yrs (604-782): 2003-2009; ranked 10 out of 10 on similar schools ranking NCM: 128 pts in 3 yrs (652-780): 2006-2009; ranked 10 out of 10 on similar schools ranking GJH/NCM: Both pulled out of Program Improvement 1 st year “GJH Model” implemented. GJH/NCM : Top two performing similar school in the district (out of 7 schools in w/ similar demographics)

39. The SYSTEM is the solution!