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School Connection

August 24, 2004

Goal 2008: WCPSS is committed to academic excellence. By 2008, 95 percent of students in grades 3 through 12 will be at or above grade level as measured by the State of North Carolina End-of-Grade or Course tests, and all student groups will demonstrate high growth.


TENTH DAY COUNT REFLECTS GROWING ENROLLMENT
Tenth day enrollment for WCPSS was 113,954. That's 5,479 more than the 108,475 students who were in school the tenth day one year ago. The 20th day population number for last year was 108,970.

BOARD REVIEWS PROGRESS TOWARD GOAL 2008
At its August 17 committee of the whole meeting, Board of Education members heard from Associate Superintendent Jo Baker and Assistant Superintendent Toni Patterson on progress being made toward Goal 2008.

The board adopted the goal which states that "By 2008, 95 percent of students in grades 3 through 12 will be at or above grade level as measured by the State of North Carolina End-of-Grade or Course tests, and all student groups will demonstrate high growth."

Baker described an instruction plan of action developed by staff to achieve the goal and steps taken to share this plan with the board, county commissioners and other key stakeholder groups. She said budget restrictions for 2004-2005 have impacted the ability to implement the plan, but some progress has been made where staff and resources could be realigned. Some of the steps taken include:

Some of the steps that could not be funded include:

Other action steps would require additional funding, but funding was not requested in the 2004-2005 budget.

Patterson described a Human Resources plan of action developed by staff. She said steps included making salaries competitive, investing in effective training and support delivery systems and creating a teacher career progression to provide advancement opportunities and improved working conditions. She said the WCPSS Teacher Recruitment Center has been established, the online WCPSS applicant success inventory is being used to improve applicant screening, pre-employment orientations are occurring on a regular basis and staff development has been aligned across departments and functions to support a career pathway model for teachers. She said other recruitment/retention efforts depend on the budget.

BOARD HEARS REPORT ON EOG AND EOC TESTING RESULTS
At its August 17 meeting, the Board of Education heard from Chuck Dulaney of WCPSS Evaluation and Research on state testing results and the school system's success measured against the federal standard of Adequate Yearly Progress and the state's ABCs of Public Education.

Dulaney told the board composite EOG results showed little change from the previous year, with 91.1 percent of all EOG tests scoring in Level III or IV. End-of-Course test results showed higher average scale scores in 5 of 8 subjects, but little change in overall EOC proficiency, with 83.2 percent of EOC tests scoring in Level III or IV (using only the most recent test for each student).

Under the ABC accountability program, 56 schools were recognized as Honor School of Excellence, 8 schools were recognized as School of Excellence, 35 schools were recognized as School of Distinction, 58 schools achieved High Growth, and 48 schools achieved Expected Growth. Composite Growth at 20 schools was below the expected level.

A School of Excellence has 90 percent of its students at or above grade level on the EOG. A School of Distinction has 80 percent of its students at or above grade level on the test.

Dulaney noted that WCPSS schools performance on the ABCs measures showed an increase in Schools of Excellence. He said ABC Growth measures showed fewer schools achieving High Growth and more schools not meeting Expected Growth.

In the second year of the federal No Child Left Behind law, Dulaney noted that more WCPSS schools met the law's standards. The law's Adequate Yearly Progress measures showed more schools successfully meeting AYP targets, increasing from 44 percent of schools in 2002-03 to 72 percent of schools in 2003-2004.

Superintendent Bill McNeal said WCPSS Evaluation and Research staff would continue to review testing results and work with schools to help identify steps that can be taken to boost academic success.

BOARD AGREES TO PURCHASE SITE FOR ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL
After closed session discussions to discuss property acquisition at its August 17 meeting, the Board of Education agreed to purchase the Hedingham Oaks office complex on US 64 for an alternative school that is part of PLAN 2004. The site includes two office buildings on a 7.7 acre site about 1.5 miles off I-440. One of the buildings will be used for the school that will serve up to 150 students. School officials would recommend at-risk students experiencing behavioral problems to the school for short-term assignment. The school would provide the individualized instruction that would prepare the child to return to their school.

BOARD HEARS UPDATE ON LEGISLATIVE ACTION
At its August 17 meeting, WCPSS legislative liaison Susan Harrison reviewed actions of the recent legislative session and its impact on the school system. Harrison said lawmakers approved a $15.9 billion state budget, which included $6,157,907 for public schools K-12. She said public school funding accounts for 38.7% of the total state budget and continues to decrease as a percentage of the total state budget. Public school funding has averaged 44.1% of the state budget in the past 34 years.
Harrison said state budget initiatives had an impact on WCPSS salaries including a .67 percent increase in teachers' base pay, plus one step, an average 1.83 percent increase. Together this totaled to an average of 2.5 percent. Principals and Assistant Principals will see an average 2.4 percent increase in pay. Central Office staff will see an increase of $1,000 or 2.5 percent annually, whichever is the greater. Non-certified employees will see an increase of $1,000 or 2.5 percent annually, whichever is the greater.

Harrison also reviewed with the board the changes in the school calendar that will be required by passage of House Bill 1464.

APPOINTMENT
At its August 17 meeting, the Board of Education named Peggy D. Credle assistant principal at Leesville Road High School. Credle has been an assistant principal at West Millbrook Middle since 2002. She has worked as a teacher at Carnage and Martin middle schools, as well as Broughton High.

WCPSS COUNSELING SPONSORS COLLEGE PLANNING PROGRAM
Students may attend a college planning program 2-4:40 p.m., Sunday, September 12 at the NC State University McKimmon Center. Representatives from universities, community colleges, and military institutions will be there to answer questions from students. The program is sponsored by the WCPSS Counseling and Students Services Office, Carolina Association of College Admissions Officers and NC State University.

WAKE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP TO RELEASE SURVEY RESULTS
Wake Education Partnership will release the results of its community assessment Sept. 14 at Athens Drive High School. Keith Frederick, president of Frederick Polls, will present the results of this fourth poll surveying Wake County citizens on education.

CALENDAR

August 24

8:30 a.m. Board Retreat in board conference room, 3600 Wake Forest Road

Sept. 7

2 p.m. Board meets in Committee of the Whole in the board conference room; 4 p.m. Board meeting, board room, 3600 Wake Forest Road.

Sept. 14

9:30 a.m. Board policy committee; 11 a.m. Board human resources committee; 12:30 Board instructional program committee; 2 p.m. Board finance committee in the board conference room, 3600 Wake Forest Road

You can find more information on school events at http://www.wcpss.net/Calendars


School Connection is published electronically every other week for everyone interested in the Wake County Public School System. Is what you read in this edition helpful? What information would you like to see in future editions? Contact me by calling 850-1829 or e-mailing bposton@wcpss.net.

Bill Poston
Wake County Public School System
Communications Department
3600 Wake Forest Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611

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