Full Focus on Learning 3
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Taft High School Focus on Learning Chapter 4 Self Study Findings William Howard Taft High School 2013 WASC Accreditation Focus on Learning 79 Taft High School Focus on Learning Organization Vision And Purpose, Leadership And Staff, Resources Chairpersons Lance Tapper and Richard GiBBons Andrea Albarracin Student Jessica Bandarizadeh Student Maria Bergin Special Education Eileen Capinha-Viadero ROP Richard Christy Assistant Principal, Dean’s Office Tatiana Chteine Science Mark Drucker Athletic Director George Fuentes Deaf/Hard of Hearing Richard Gibbons Social Studies Jessica Kissen Social Studies Chris Mahon English Kevin Mehdizadeh Student Richard Moore Science Nina Nazarian Art Teri Owen College Counselor Tom Pease Music, Drama Ivonne Quiros Student Regina Reyes Special Education Katie Smilanick Student Gloria Saucedo World Languages Denise Sidansky Deaf/Hard of Hearing Fataneh Tabatabai World Languages Natalie Tangner Counselor Lance Tapper Categorical Program Advisor Louis Tartaglia Science David Toledo Student Gil Whitley Social Studies 80 Taft High School Focus on Learning A1. a) To what extent does the school have a clearly stated vision or purpose based on its student needs, current educational research and the belief that all students can achieve high levels? b) To what extent is the school's purpose supported by the governing board and the central administration and further defined by expected school wide learning results and the academic standards? Taft’s student population has declined from 3,597 in 2004-05 to 2,593 in 2011-12. This is due to many factors including lower birth rates, opening of new public and charter schools, and the end of mandatory educational bussing programs in our District. It is also important to note that local students make up only about one third of our student population, the other two thirds come to us from outside our area. Taft is therefore a “school of attraction.” One of the key goals in creating our vision, mission, and ESLRs was to give our school a unique identity that would attract students. Though we are smaller, our ethnic and socio- economic makeup has remained the same percentage-wise. Taft values its diversity, and when we created our new vision, we considered it important to define the school as a “diverse learning community.” This diversity has also led us to consider how our students will survive in a global community and how we can best prepare them for that role. In addition to our diversity, Taft prides itself in its academic success. Taft has won three national Academic Decathlon Championships, and our CST scores are approaching the 800 mark. While these accomplishments are admirable, we want to continue to focus on academic achievement so that we may improve even further. Taft also has a strong athletic and visual art programs. Our ability to maintain these programs as well as strong academics will allow us to attract students to our school. Thus we felt it was important to state in our mission, “Taft will provide all students with the opportunity to develop their individual passions and talents.” Our new vision for the future of our school was developed to prepare our students for an ever changing and challenging world that is more global and diverse in nature with technology as the means to achieve far reaching communication. Therefore, our new mission was developed to help students reach their individual potential through a variety of programs and instruction that foster an understanding of this complex world society. The new Expected School Wide Learning Results were established to hone skills that will accomplish this goal of preparation for a 21st century global society. Therefore, academic achievement as well as personal growth and social responsibility are also included in our vision. 21st Century Skills refer to the following “super skills” as identified in the Common Core State Standards: • Communication: Sharing thoughts, questions, ideas and solutions • Collaboration: Working together to reach a goal - putting talent, expertise, and smarts to work • Critical Thinking: Looking at problems in a new way, linking learning across subjects and disciplines • Creativity: Trying new approaches to get things done equals innovation and invention. 81 Taft High School Focus on Learning The process used to create Taft’s vision, mission, and ESLRs involved general discussions with students, teachers (in department meetings) and parents (at Coffee with the Principal and School Site Council/Governance Meetings). Taft has surveyed our students and parents through LAUSD’s survey process and our own school surveys to receive input on the effectiveness and direction of our school’s programs. These annual surveys reveal that Taft students and parents are concerned about a high quality instructional experience that also includes many opportunities for students to partake in academic, artistic, and athletic growth. Our staff conducted surveys through the RTI2 and also met in focus groups to discuss the perceived needs for the school. Common threads emerged about the need to uphold high standards in all areas, but to continue to innovate in the presentation of information toward the common core standards and support for A-G requirements now at the forefront of our district’s mandate. The Leadership Team composed of administrators, coordinators, and teachers then compiled all the data and met to find commonalities that targeted our ideas toward the new vision, mission, and ESLRs for Taft in this ever changing 21st century global society. During the summer, a subcommittee of the Leadership Team was formed to create the structure and wording of the vision, mission, and ESLRs. A draft was then presented to students, faculty and parents for further input. The School Site Council/Governance Council approved the final version in the fall of 2012. Taft’s Vision Taft is a diverse learning community that prepares students to take on the challenges of a global society through academic achievement, personal growth, and social responsibility. Taft’s Mission Taft will provide all students with the opportunity to develop their individual passions and talents through innovative programs and instruction that challenge them academically and creatively. Expected School Wide Learning Results Taft High School Students will be able to • Think critically and creatively o Synthesize and integrate information o Foster divergent thinking • Develop Communication skills o Write, speak, and listen effectively • Utilize Technology o Create, compute, and communicate • Collaborate o Use Interpersonal skills to reach a common goal 82 Taft High School Focus on Learning • Conduct Research o Access. Analyze, evaluate data Meetings, Connect-Ed, email, posters, handouts and other media will be used to disseminate the vision, mission, and ESLRs to all stakeholders. Evaluation of these goals will be an on- going review process through surveys, data analysis, observation, and staff evaluation. The Leadership Team will be the primary group for determining the effectiveness of our vision, mission, and ESLRs, and will report and make recommendations to the School Site Council/Governance Council. The School Site Council/Governance Council will determine if revisions or modifications to the vision, mission, and ESLRs are necessary. Evidence for A1: • Common Core Assessments • Parent, student, faculty surveys • CAHSEE scores • AP scores • Leadership Committee • SSC/Governance • ELAC /ELA Subcommittee to SSC • A-G course completion • LAUSD Performance Meter Goals • Professional Development • LAUSD Core Content Area Periodic Assessments Growth Areas Taft should continue to evaluate its vision, mission, and ESLRs to meet the needs of its population and to make it attractive to students who live outside our school’s boundaries. 83 Taft High School Focus on Learning A2. To what extent does the governing board a) have policies and bylaws that are aligned with the school’s purpose and support the achievement of the expected school-wide learning results and academic standards based on data-driven instructional decisions for the school; b) delegate implementation of these policies to the professional staff; c) regularly monitor results and approve the single school-wide action plan and its relationship to the Local Educational Association (LEA) plan? The School Site Council/Governance Council for Taft High School is under the aegis of both LAUSD guidelines set forth in policy memoranda and California State Education Codes which also follow the standards set by the federal No Child Left Behind law. Taft is unique because it has also created a contract with LAUSD to become an Extended School Based Management Model (ESBMM) school. This allows Taft the flexibility to modify and change certain District policies to better satisfy the needs of our school population. Specifically, this allows the school to have more control over our staff development, yearly calendar, periodic assessments, bell schedules, hiring for staff, and certain monetary expenditures. The SSC/Governance Council is made up of students, parents, classified staff, certificated staff, and the principal. The proportions for each group are set out in district memoranda and are currently 25% parents, 25% students, 44% certificated and classified staff, and 6% principal. The principal is the only automatic member of the council. Elections for student representatives, staff, and parents are held each spring for the following school year. Student representatives have an annual term of office and must be re-elected each year. Staff and parents are on a two –year rotating term that allows for the council to retain some if these groups for up to two years for continuity. The SSC is the governing board for the entire school. It approves budget proposals from categorical funds. It interviews and approves major changes in staffing. It reviews and approves changes to the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) and uses this plan together with district, state, and federal guidelines to review the school’s academic and other policies to ensure student success. School Site Council/Governance Council meets about twice a month during the school year.