Children are Successful in School (Anne Arundel County)

MSA: Math: % of Students, Grades 3-8, Scoring At or Above Proficient

76.1%2014

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Story Behind the Curve
  • Math is evil :)
  • Assessments have changed which does impact
  • Curriculum has undergone major transformation (Common Core)
  • With changes in teaching/curriculum, parents are less equipped to help support children with homework etc.
  • The way teachers teach has also changed
  • Behavioral health issues are on the rise
  • Special Ed assessments are on the rise (particularly young children)
  • Children presenting with a higher level of need
  • Need to change the way we engage children in the learning process - speak to their learning styles, make it relevant
  • Increase in violence
  • Opiate addiction
  • Attendance issues - high level of need, limited capacity of personnel to address attendance issues
  • Rise in immigrant children with significant trauma and language barriers/gaps (still required to meet standards)
  • ESL crisis in north county - not enough capacity to serve the number of parents who want/need to improve English proficiency
  • Economic issues - parents working multiple jobs, not home as much to support learning
  • Technology distractions
  • Less ability to "Deep work" - social media and technology has created a culture shift where younger learners are less able to focus, dig in and work through the "deep work"
  • Process for obtaining knowledge has changed (google vs. old research methods - instant gratification)
  • Behavioral health issues are having a far younger onset than in generations prior
  • Parents struggling as well
  • Need a 2 generation approach - can't "fix" a child if I can't work with the parents/family
  • Lack of understanding among educators around the trauma children are struggling with and how that impacts learning and behavior
  • Community has been ill-prepared to deal with increase in drug use and related impacts (affecting new populations/demographics)
Partners
  • AACPS
  • DJS
  • DSS
  • AACC
  • Health Dept
  • MHA
  • Youth
  • Parents
  • Faith
  • Philanthropy
  • Crisis Response
  • Rec & Parks
  • Family Support Partners
  • Peer supports
  • Navigators
  • Coaches
  • Mentors
  • Local businesses (private sector employers)
  • Private providers (education, mental health, etc.)
  • Engaged citizens
  • Neighborhood Associations (HOA's)
  • Police
  • Justice
  • Housing Authorities
  • Youth Centers - Boys & Girls Clubs etc
  • AAWDC
  • Unions - apprenticeships for Parents (2 gen)
  • Health Care providers - primary care, hospitals
  • Not-for-profit community
  • Legislators/Politicians
  • Goodwill (family supports)
  • Food Bank/feeding programs
  • Libraries
  • CASA
What Works
  • Mentoring
  • Tutoring
  • After-school programs/youth programs - B&GC, Y programs, Chesapeake Arts, MD Hall, etc.
  • Recreation programs/sports - specialized programming for high need/high risk youth
  • Trauma informed care/counseling and practice
  • Flip classroom learning
  • Strengthening Families
  • UWCM Family Stability initiatives (wraparound, school stability)
  • Wraparound strategies - SOC, Basic Needs, navigation, home visiting
  • Mental Health/Behavioral Health
  • Basic Needs - food, shelter, utilities
  • Real world applications for education (bringing in business partners to make learning practical)
  • Teacher supports (PD) - trauma informed learning, new learning styles, technology
  • Connections between middle and high schools
  • Library programs
  • Parent supports - education, ESOL, training programs, behavioral health services, basic needs
  • Parent involvement in school
  • PPW's
  • Community Conferencing
Strategy
  • Mentoring
  • Math PTSA's/Reading PTSA's - around a meal, instruct parents and kids on content, work together
  • Integrate new technologies and accelerated learning principals to engage kids in a way that is familiar to them/keeps it interesting
  • Two Generation Schools - Parents getting education on one side of the school, kids on the other side, families came together for meals, on-site child care, stipends for parents (off the wall!)
  • Two Generation Housing - including multiple generations (grandparents/parents/youth)
  • Mindfulness/meditation in schools (pilot in Belle Grove - expand!) - low cost for building program
  • Early identification of youth with mental health or behavioral issues and having them evaluated/treated early (insurance/MA coverage)
  • Early intervention for youth predisposed to drug use/generational drug use
  • Crisis/Systems of Care - emergency interventions and basic needs wraparound services
  • Significant reduction in drug availability (drug trafficking)
  • Move back to having activities be fun rather than competitive!
Data Discussion

The average percent of public school students in grades 3 through 8 performing at or above proficient levels in reading and mathematics on the Maryland School Assessment (MSA).


  • Data dis-aggregated by race/ethnicity
  • Look at educational level of parents - correlation?
  • 5 years of data to get a better sense of trend
  • ESL data
  • Dis-aggregate by behavioral health/mental health/behavior issues
  • Can we compare reading and math level and see correlations?
  • In classroom grades vs. standardized test (whole picture!)
  • Correlation between Kindergarten readiness vs. long term test proficiency in elementary/middle schools
  • Summer program data - can kids be caught up over the summer if they end the school year behind?
Scorecard Result Container Indicator Measure Action Actual Value Target Value Tag S R I P PM A m/d/yy m/d/yyyy