Key Points 
 

• Amy presented data on homework completion rates and attendance rates across grade levels, highlighting the correlation between these metrics and MCAS scores.
• The group discussed the importance of homework and strategies to support students, including exploring external tutoring services and free homework help apps.
• Attendance data showed the middle school performing well, while 10th graders at the high school were struggling to meet the 95% daily attendance goal.
• The group reviewed the implementation of new ELA and science curricula, noting the benefits of having well-designed lesson plans for coaching teachers.
• Rachel mentioned an upcoming parent meeting to promote the importance of attendance and homework to families.
• The group approved the previous meeting's minutes.
• Andrea suggested involving students more in discussions about the importance of attendance.
• Amy shared the school's interventions for chronically absent students, including personalized outreach and home visits.
   

Middle School Attendance Performance

The middle school is performing well with a 96.4% average daily attendance rate, exceeding the goal of 95%.

• Fifth, sixth, and seventh grades are particularly strong.
• Eighth grade is close to the target.

High School Attendance Issues

The high school's attendance rate is lower, especially for 10th graders.

• The school is launching intervention processes to address this issue.

Chronic Absenteeism Monitoring

Chronic absenteeism is being closely monitored.

• Students who missed two or more days in the first few weeks are flagged for intervention.
• Data shows that these students are likely to remain chronically absent throughout the year.

New Attendance Tracking Systems

The school has implemented new systems to track and respond to attendance issues promptly.

• This includes personalized phone calls to parents of chronically absent students.
• Case managers are assigned for severe cases.

Attendance Incentives

To incentivize attendance, the school is offering a raffle for a $100 gift card for students with 100% attendance.

• This is an increase from the previous year's 95% threshold.

Homework Completion and MCAS Performance

Data shows a strong correlation between homework completion rates and MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) performance.

• Students meeting expectations on MCAS typically complete 75-80% of their math homework.
• They also complete 60-70% of their reading homework.

Middle School Math Homework Discrepancies

Middle school math homework completion rates vary widely between classes, ranging from 42% to 90%.

• The school is investigating reasons for these discrepancies, including differences in teacher grading practices.

High School Homework Data Collection

High school homework data is limited as teachers are just beginning to record homework assignments consistently.

Interventions for Homework Completion

The school is considering various interventions to improve homework completion.

• These include exploring external tutoring services and free apps that can assist students with homework problems.

High School No-cell Phone Policy

The high school has implemented a no-cell phone policy, confiscating phones at the door.

• This has led to noticeable improvements in student engagement and social interaction, particularly during lunch periods.

Removal of Food Delivery Services

The removal of food delivery services has been well-received by teachers.

• This change has reduced disruptions.

Parent Engagement Challenges

Parent engagement in school meetings has decreased since the pandemic.

• This presents a challenge for communication and involvement.

Ongoing Adaptation Strategies

The school continues to adapt its strategies for student support, data tracking, and curriculum implementation.

• These adaptations aim to address ongoing challenges and improve student outcomes.

New ELA Curriculum Implementation

A new English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum has been implemented in the middle school.

• Early observations indicate that it allows for more effective coaching of teachers.
• It also enables clearer identification of instructional issues.

Math Curriculum Re-examination

The math curriculum, while not new, is being re-examined with insights gained from the ELA curriculum implementation.

• Teachers are being encouraged to follow lesson plans more closely to ensure learning objectives are met.

New Science Curriculum Implementation

A new science curriculum, OpenSciEd, has been implemented in both middle and high schools.

• This curriculum is more inquiry-based, which may align better with anticipated changes to the state science tests.

Shift to Pre-written Curricula

The shift to pre-written curricula across subjects is expected to improve instruction quality and consistency.

• It will also facilitate better support for diverse learner needs.