For All Parents
Superintendent’s Column
On December 2, 2008, the Wake County Board of Education made an important decision that is going to have a lasting, meaningful impact on your child’s education. The school board adopted the most aggressive academic goal our school system has ever had. The school board’s goal calls for all students to achieve high academic growth each year and for every student to graduate on time, prepared to compete globally, by 2014.
You can read more about this goal and how it is measured in this Parent Matters newsletter. In this space, I’d like to share some thoughts about what this goal means to you and your child.
Every part of this goal is a serious responsibility. Our schools and I are held accountable for ensuring that every child— your child — is challenged and succeeds in a strong and healthy school each year. Whether your child is struggling to keep up or far ahead, he or she has a great potential that we must help realize. This is true from kindergarten to twelfth grades. Supporting your child each year along the way is crucial in making sure that your child is prepared for high school on the first day of ninth grade and graduates on time.
The Wake County Public School System will rise to this occasion. Meeting this goal is simply the right thing to do; our schools must not “write off” any child. We know that you expect us to make sure that your child leaves our schools ready to thrive in a challenging, rapidly changing economy.
I make this promise to you: our school system will back up the talented people who support your child every day. “Programs” and “initiatives” aren’t the most important factor in your child’s success. Caring and diligent teachers, with a powerful community behind them and access to the resources they need, are the key. This is the kind of school system that we are building, with your help, for your child.
The Board Adopts New Academic Goal
After months of hard work, in December the Board of Education enacted a new academic goal for the school system. The goal reads: WCPSS students will demonstrate high academic growth; by 2014, all students will graduate on-time prepared to compete globally.
A Goal for All Students to Succeed
This new goal sends a clear message to the community that the Wake County Public School System is committed to providing an exceptional educational experience to each student enrolled in the school system.
The new goal has two parts. The first part focuses on ensuring children meet their individual targets for growth based on their End-of-Grade and End-of-Course assessments. Each year, student academic growth will be measured based on academic level, race, and risk. Every student is required to make a year’s worth of growth no matter where he or she is academically. Students must continue to learn and show growth on EOG math and reading tests, and EOC tests required for graduation. Superintendent Burns says our school system must work to eliminate the achievement gaps of students performing below grade level as well as challenge those students who are academically gifted.
The second part of the goal focuses on the high school graduation rate. Simply, we are striving for every student entering high school to graduate four years later. We have target graduation rates of 90 percent in 2010, 95 percent in 2012, and 100 percent in 2014. In 2008, our graduation rate was 78.3 percent. It was one of the highest graduation rates in the nation for large urban school districts.
Measuring Success
To track progress toward the goal, Superintendent Del Burns will be reporting each year to the school board a number of leading indicators for elementary, middle and high school. Here are just a few examples:
• Increase percent of students proficient in mathematics and reading
• Increase percent of students proficient in writing and science
• Increase in average SAT score
• Decrease in number of students at all grades missing more than 10 days of school
• Decrease in number of overage students
Working Together
During his mid-term report, Superintendent Burns said that meeting the goal would require shared leadership from administrators, school leaders and parents. Our educators and central service staff are meeting in teams to share strategies for improving academic performance. Teachers are dedicating time outside of the instructional day to discuss ways they can personalize instruction to help fit the needs of individual students.
Parents can help by sending their child to school every day. Research indicates that students have difficulty staying on top of their class work if they miss more than 10 days of school. In addition, playing a role in your child’s education is important. All North Carolina students must learn the Standard Course of Study developed by the State Board of Education. Whether helping with homework or providing a quiet place for students to study, parents should get involved in some way. Parents can learn more about the state curriculum requirements for each subject and grade level at: www.dpi.state.nc.us/curriculum/.
School District Budget Process
On March 3, Superintendent Del Burns will present the 2009-10 school system operating budget to the Board of Education. Although budget development is a year-long process, the Superintendent’s budget proposal formally begins the conversations around our district’s financial needs for the next school year. Information about the estimated level of funding WCPSS expects to receive, a detailed strategic spending plan that aligns with school system goals and a three-year business plan are provided during his yearly report — also known as the “Superintendent’s Plan for Student Success.” As with most large organizations, school district budget development is a complicated process, but we invite all parents to be involved and kept informed by playing an active role in our budget.
| Five Questions to Increase Your Understanding |
1. What are the major factors affecting this year’s budget process? |
| 2. How is the budget decided? In early March, the “Superintendent’s Plan for Student Success” is presented to the Board of Education. The Board then holds a public hearing for community input, followed by Board work sessions for discussion. The “Board’s Plan for Student Success” is finalized in April and is presented to County Commissioners by mid May. |
| 3. Where does the money come from? The Board receives funding from county, state, and federal government sources and must comply with the funding requirements of those governing bodies. |
| 4. How do I get involved in school budget decisions? Parents can participate in a public hearing on the budget in March before the Board adopts a budget resolution. There will be another opportunity for a public hearing at the county level when the resolution is presented to the Wake County Board of Commissioners who have final say in adopting the school system’s budget. Dates for the upcoming public hearings will be announced on our website. |
| 5. How can I learn more? • The WCPSS website (www.wcpss.net ) is the best source for information about our upcoming school system budget. Summary articles, podcasts and the full budget document will be available on our website. Be sure to check back frequently for updates. • The latest information about budget news and other school board decisions can be received via e-mail by signing up for the School-Community News electronic newsletter. To sign up, visit www.wcpss.net/signup/newsletters/login, and complete the sign up information, then choose School- Community News. • Receive news releases via e-mail as they are sent to local news media by signing up for them online at www.wcpss.net/signup/newsletters/login! |
Helping Your Child with Homework
Helping your child follow through on homework assignments can build his or her sense of accomplishment and confidence. Here are some simple things parents can do to set the stage for homework success.
1. Set a regular time for homework that fits into your family’s schedule. Hold your child accountable for beginning homework on time and be consistent in your expectations. You may find it helpful to post the schedule in a prominent place like the refrigerator. By having a predictable schedule your child will better focus on what he or she needs to do, instead of wondering when to do it.
2. Pick a place for homework. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It may be at the kitchen table, at a small desk, or in a corner of the living room. This place should have good lighting and be fairly quiet.
3. Remove distractions. Turn off the television and limit any telephone calls during homework time. Loud music also can be a deterrent to concentration, so turn off radios and CDs. If the household tends to be noisy, try having all family members engage in some quiet activities during homework time.
4. Provide the needed materials. By keeping supplies such as pencils, pens, paper, and markers readily available, students can maximize their time on completing homework assignments, not searching for needed materials.
5. Set a good example. Show your child that you value learning. Let him see you reading books, newspapers, and computer screens. Talk about the many things you write each day: e-mails, letters, lists, reports. Discuss the various ways you use math on a regular basis: balancing your checkbook, measuring for carpet, figuring out which item is the best buy. Your child will begin to see how what he or she is learning is important.
6. Monitor completion of homework. Most students need your help in developing the habit of completing homework independently. Here are some suggestions for monitoring your child’s work. If your student uses an agenda or homework calendar, review what is assigned at the beginning of the homework time and ask your child if they understand what they are supposed to do. If your child has several different assignments, help him or her predict how long each assignment will take. He or she may need to use a timer to help pace the work. When homework is completed, look over the work and spot check for understanding. It may be tempting to sit down with your child and help with every assignment.
Beware. This approach often results in children becoming so dependent on their parents that they don’t believe they can do their homework on their own. Remember, the purpose of homework is to practice skills that the students have been introduced to in school.
New Area Superintendent Assignments
During an independent curriculum audit conducted in 2007, auditors recommended WCPSS become more responsive to our growing school communities by increasing the number of area superintendents who provide direct support to our schools.
Since welcoming two new faces to the Office of Area Superintendent in January, school assignments for each of our area superintendents have changed to provide greater support to our schools. Former WCPSS Principal Andre Smith fills a new position as area superintendent for the North Eastern Wake County area. Former WCPSS Principal Cathy Moore has taken over as area superintendent for Central Wake County.
With the increased accountability, there are now seven area superintendents responsible for providing support and oversight to our 156 schools. Area superintendents work with principals to improve the use of existing school resources, select new principals and provide direction for school improvement plans.
Get to Know Your Area Superintendent
Superintendent Name |
Area Superintendent Serves |
Office Phone Number |
Ann Hooker |
Northern Area Superintendent |
(919) 850-1954 |
Cathy Moore |
Central Area Superintendent |
(919) 850-1775 |
Danny Barnes |
Eastern Area Superintendent |
(919) 850-1776 |
Andre Smith |
North Eastern Area Superintendent |
(919) 850-1805 |
Lloyd Gardner |
Southern Area Superintendent |
(919) 850-1845 |
Julye Mizelle |
South Western Area Superintendent |
(919) 850-1746 |
Kathy Chontos |
Western Area Superintendent |
(919) 850-8915 |
Want to know your school’s area superintendent? Find out at: http://www.wcpss.net/superintendent/area-superintendents/. |
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