nothing confirmed from DESE yet regarding our 2 requests for amendments to charter. 

Overview- The November decision to remove MCAS as a high school graduation requirement, but scholars must still take the assessment. Discussion points included:

• next step of us drafting our new graduation requirements with AAC review in January for a January or February board vote
• Some on the committee voiced concern on lack of effort when it "doesn't count" anymore
• Atlantis doesn't have a desire to make this a graduation requirement, not sure on Durfee, but doubtful- we will look to get more information 
• There was question of what districts would use in place of MCAS, but MTA and others stance is that want teachers to be treated as professionals in determining this by course (pro-teacher discretion of if have met the graduation requirement as it pertains to that course). 
• Question of it could be looked at as one of multiple measures/ considerations for graduation 
• There may need to be an interim requirement during this time 
• Conversation around DESE's push for HQIM (high quality instructional materials) and how this can be amplified to ensure all scholars are getting an equitable, rigorous experience
• One person on the committee said they would be curious to know what the conversation is, in house, around thoughts on this
• Another committee member thought DESE should be the one to give more clear guidance as districts navigate this topic

Attendance

• Keeping eyes on enrollment, a few families have left for various reasons (moving/ other reasons)
• Budget and projections still well in hand
• In terms of monthly attendance, still seeing a dip in terms of colder months (sickness) but above where we were last year at this time
• chronic absenteeism- consistent meetings with attendance coordinator (5 or 6 meetings today alone- some were second meetings), that communication is happening regularly and making an impact
  • patterns here include some medical things for a few scholars 
  • others there are transportation (we have gotten creative- ex.) Gifting family an Uber giftcard)
• Staff attendance averages- Nov. 92.5%, higher than it was this time last year

Discipline

• MS what we are noticing, when there are larger events/ scholar interactions that have occurred, there is a cluster in the data. Overall, our results are lower than last year (good thing), but ISS has risen a bit (compared to OSS data)
  • Utilizing ISS more often, to prevent scholars being removed from the learning environment
    • how can we lessen this further
    • how can we further leverage our restorative justice coordinator?

Academics

• Discussion of pass rates and factors around subpopulations 
• Questions around differences in grading where we brought to bear the idea of grading for equity and the push for this to spread across the district over time
  • Teacher misconceptions around doing the work being more important than the acquisition/ mastery of standards
• Scholars who identify as males historically underperforming compared to females
• African American/Latino scholars met or outperformed against their peers in HS Science
• HS math pass rates highest they have been in years- attribute much of this to grading for equity (Algebra II and 2 sections of Integrated I piloting this)
• HS English, juniors, feeling the challenging of being graded on standards mastery (grading for equity pilot as well)
• Strong ELA and History results attributed to new curriculums in these content areas and the significant professional development they have received in support of this

DCIs proposed this as a standing agenda item due to the district focus on MTSS beginning last year with handbook writing and this year's strong launch at beginning of the school year. Chair agreed this is a great idea for a standing item. 

We named that the weekly analysis of scholar CFUs (checks for understanding) tied to target standards in ELA and Math and being able to plan interventions quickly, based on this data is consequential to scholar outcomes and is often a more reliable data source than a gradebook grade. 

overview of curriculum related MS and HS field trips as well as the standing college field trips by grade level that were presented in the attached slide deck. 

Would be very interested in following up on grading for equity, likely near end of year when they've lived it fully

• What went well?
• What didn't?
• How did it help scholar outcomes?

Perhaps May

DCIs are meeting with this group on a regular basis and will bring this to them

Would also be interested in any resistance and why (from those that are not leaning into this yet)

Are you assessing that which you wish to assess? Does it show the standard you are measuring? Have we removed any noise in the data, as much as possible?

Sunil also mentioned that we will be looking for best time/ location to hold committee and board meetings (March AAC is last remote meeting allowed) moving forward. 

Diana wished everyone a happy holiday season.