C. Espina gave an overview of the Academic Committee and emailed committee members the "Board Committees e-book" resource provided by Board on Track.

The Academic Committee agreed to meet on the Monday before the monthly board meeting at 3:30 pm. The teachers will rotate and attend as they can, depending on the committee's agenda items to discuss.

• Curriculum
  • Our curriculum needs to be laid out for incoming 12th graders.

Teachers shared a high-level overview of some of their work:

• Maria Torron-Gomez reported on her efforts to get ELL curriculum for the school. She has reached out to OSPI and getting more information on ELL needs to share her findings with us by May 1st. 
  • Maria wants to strengthen WIHS's partnership with the college board, hoping to launch an AP Spanish course and offer AP classes next school year. Maria would like to survey teachers and bring some teacher training this summer. The college board needs to vet the school first. Maria is taking the lead to see how our bilingual students might qualify for a seal of bi-literacy. 
  • A challenge to offering AP courses is cost-effectiveness for students. Is there a way for AP course costs to be waived?
• Dawn Krenz has been focusing on critical literacy via document analysis.
• Erin O'Brien collaborates with parents in IEP and 504 reviews to build plans with students and parents. Students fill out reflection sheets to reflect on their own progress toward their IEP goals.
• The next Academic Committee is May 22nd at 3:30 pm.  
  • We'll cover the interim assessment data to review at the May Academic Committee. 
  • The committee will review the curriculum for alignment work, examine the structure of phenomenon-based learning, and how our curriculum meets the expectations of the Charter. Red Comet - a wide variety of online courses that we might be able to offer (including electives).

• As soon as the board approves school calendar, Dawn will present the assessment plan to the Committee.
• Communication and outreach strategy in how WIHS will increase student participation in SBA Benchmark tests.
• Interim assessments took place last week, but the data has not been disaggregated yet. The next round of interim assessments is scheduled for the first week of May, and the benchmark assessments will happen in the weeks after that.
• Erin O'Brien is looking at the WA-AIM for SPED students so they can practice.
• Student Growth based on state tests and interim assessments.
  • Benchmark tests are scheduled for this spring. 
  • Smarter Balanced interim assessments - is this the best way to evaluate our students' growth? What other assessments are available that align with our school more closely? One idea is for people to bring ideas and options for other assessments.
  • Written reports to Board and CSC will be submitted after each assessment.