Elgin Math & Science Academy

Minutes

Academic Excellence Committee Meeting

Date and Time

Monday November 6, 2023 at 3:15 PM

Location

MPR (Multi-purpose Room) - Gym Building

1600 Dundee Ave

Elgin, IL 60120

Committee Members Present

B. Lane, K. Kelly

Committee Members Absent

G. Swick, K. Shaw

Guests Present

J. Willer, K. Coventry, P. Heer, R. Manderschied, S. Ismond

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

B. Lane called a meeting of the Academic Excellence Committee of Elgin Math & Science Academy to order on Monday Nov 6, 2023 at 3:21 PM.

II. Academic Excellence

A.

Reviewing Additional Subgroup Data

J. Willer discussed the IAR data for the subgroup of black and Hispanic students. 

  • Significant discrepancies for black and Hispanic students in Math. The only grade level to qualify for a subgroup for Black students is 4th grade. 

 

 

J. Willer discussed the NWEA data by ethnicity and gender school-wide.

J. Willer discussed action steps and ideas. 

 - Meet with each grade level to review this data and how they are performing.

 - Review classroom assessments as an initial monitoring point.

 - Review student platform usage with teachers (Symphony, Lexia, IXL, and PowerUp).

 - Monthly meetings with classrooms for course corrections.

 - Peer tutoring as community service for transcripts.

 - Rebooting our before-school interventions.

S. Ismond discussed SPED performance:

 - 12 additional SPED students compared to last year. 

 - 78 SPED students compared to 65 last year.

 - Half of our students perform on grade level when receiving the needed services.

 - Math and Reading IEP broken down by race. 

 - Highest growth in IAR.

 - 21 students with 504s.

P. Heer discussed MLL Performance data.

 - This year we have 130 students for MLL.

 - Discussion of the breakdown of school-wide data.

 - Team identified areas of action steps where we want to see reading and math.

   - Visuals on anchor charts, and word walls in classrooms.

   - Texts are chunked for MLL learners. 

   - Pre-teaching vocabulary and content.

J. Willer reviewed the data for summer school interventions. The goal is for retention and there was growth in reading.

B.

Reviewing Current Staffing Concerns

J. Willer discussed current staffing concerns. 

  • Departmentalization Support - How this looks, long-term range. 
  • EMSA's evolution - increased in size.
  • Norming in new building/space. 
  • Dismissal 

C.

Reviewing Next Steps from 22-23 SY

J. Willer discussed the next steps for Academic Excellence.

 - Strategic Plan

 - Coaching cycles

 - Focus on culture and crew.

 - Management in an active classroom.

 - Towards the end of October learning targets and checks for understanding. 

 

 

D.

Offboarding Survey for Students

J. Willer discussed the family exit survey for when families leave.

III. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 4:31 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
K. Coventry