GG UUAAMM PPUUBBLLIICC SSCCHHOOOOLL SSYYSSTTEEMM 2007 Goals and Objectives District Action Plan June 2007 Message from Superintendent 1 Success For All 31 School Based Summer Program 32 Background 2 Special Education 32 Alignment of Mandates 3 V. Home-School Connection 34 DAP Mid-term Review Results 6 Family School Partnership 34 Education Is Important! Campaign 35 Summary of Recommended Changes 7 Comprehensive Parents / Family Involvement Program 35 PART 1 – NARRATIVE VI. Education Indicator System 37 Education Indicators 37 I. Standards and Assessment 8 Finance 39 Teacher Survey 8 Continuous Evaluation of the DAP 40 Alignment Planning 9 Teacher Involvement at District Level 9 VII. System-wide Needs / Changes 41 Transition Program 42 II. Reading First (Reading, Language Arts, & Math Reform) 11 Eskuelan Puengi 43 Instructional Strategies 12 Ninth Grade Academy 43 Essential Learning Outcomes 12 High Schools That Work 44 Professional Development and Training 14 Alternative School 46 III. Personnel Quality & Accountability 18 PART 2 – ACTION PLANS Teacher Certification Levels 18 I. Standards and Assessment 45 Teacher Supply & Demand 18 II. Reading, Language Arts, & Math Reform 53 Teacher Entry Requirements 19 III. Personnel Quality & Accountability 58 Teacher Recruitment 19 IV. Federal, Local and State Programs 63 Teacher Retention 21 V. Home-School Connection 78 Teacher Professional Development 23 VI. Education Indicator System 80 Teacher Evaluation & Accountability 25 VII. System-wide Needs / Changes 87 Principal Quality and Professional Development 26 Principal Evaluation & Accountability 27 APPENDICES Appendix A: GPSS Vision, Goals & Objectives IV. Federal, Local and State Programs 29 Appendix B: P.L. 28-45 Chamorro Studies & Special Projects 29 Appendix C: Guam Education Policy Board Members After-School Programs 29 Appendix D: District Action Plan Committee Head Start Programs 29 Appendix E: Acronyms English as a Second Language 31 Appendix F: Existing Federal Programs Revised DAP Appendices 2 District Action Plan June 2007 4. Recommending instructional alternatives based on Message from the Superintendent data; and 5. Providing recommendations that will enhance the Buenas yan Hafa Adai! The Guam Public School System plan’s objectives. remains steadfast on our mission by “Preparing all students for life, Promoting Excellence, and Providing Support!” As with any endeavor of this magnitude, the planning process To advance the public school system to a new level of was complex, but the end product can be a source of renewed excellence, it is imperative that we continue to work enthusiasm for our school system. Given the respect that we collaboratively in ensuring that the District Action Plan’s (DAP) have for the knowledge and expertise of our education goals and objectives are addressed. Moreover, it is critical community, we welcome critical discourse surrounding the that the process and responsibilities of the District Action Plan proposed action plans and benchmarks. be reviewed since the document was created in School Year 2000 to address the “No Child Left Behind” Act instituted by We are confident that as the revised District Action Plan is President Bush. Hence, it was only fitting for the school implemented, the quality of teaching and learning will be system to re-evaluate the provisions and activities described in enhanced and the standards of performance will be raised. the DAP and make necessary revisions or updates to meet the We are committed to establishing a ―world class‖ educational current needs of our system. system in spite of the operational challenges our educators and administrators face daily. This commitment is made to In our efforts to re-examine the current needs of the district, every child enrolled in our public school system. We ask you the Division of Curriculum & Instruction, Research, Planning & to partner with us as we move towards achieving our goals so Evaluation Division, and the Federal Programs Division were that together we “Prepare all students for Life, Promote tasked to facilitate, together with educational stakeholders, the Excellence, and Provide Support!” revision of the District Action Plan. The review included the following: Senseramente, 1. Facilitating the District Action Plan strategies to meet changing needs in our school system; 2. Ensuring that the federally funded activities in the LUIS S.N. REYES District Action Plan are consistent and in compliance with federal and local regulations and Date: guidelines; 3. Providing information, projection, and statistical analysis to measure attainment of program goals and objectives; Revised DAP Appendices 3 District Action Plan June 2007 BACKGROUND The Guam Education Policy Board initially adopted the Guam 6. System-Wide Needs and Assessment – describes needs Public School System District Action Plan in May 2003. The that must be addressed and system changes that have to DAP established the direction and details for improving be introduced to facilitate academic achievement academic performance in reading, math, and language arts by 7. School-Wide Indicator System – describes indicators that using the provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act as a can be used to communicate educational progress to framework. The adopted DAP was also used as a basis for parents, students, teachers, community at large and policy the Title V Consolidated Grant application. makers There were seven (7) major components that made up the The District Action Plan was mandated by Public Law 26-167 DAP (2003): Section 3127, which states in part ―The Guam Public School System is hereby authorized to create a District Action Plan in 1. Standards and Assessment – focused on what needed to support of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The Guam be done to increase student achievement as students Public School System’s District Action Plan shall be progressed from grade to grade and across each content established by policy of the Guam Education Policy Board.‖ area 2. Reading First Initiative – focused on supporting schools to Re-evaluation of the District Action Plan (DAP) make every child a proficient reader through scientifically based reading instruction In September 2006, the Superintendent of Education 3. Personnel Quality and Accountability – addressed appointed the Associate Superintendent of Curriculum & strategies for improving the quality of teachers and Instruction, the Administrator of Research, Planning & principals as well as accountability for job performance that Evaluation, and the Administrator of Federal Programs to is linked to professional standards and student learning collaboratively review and update the District Action Plan in outcomes September 2006. Specifically, the purpose of the DAP review 4. Home School Connection – focused on steps to increase was twofold: (1) To conduct an assessment of what has been parental involvement and strengthen the school home accomplished (mid-term review) and (2) to propose revisions partnership to meet the goals and objectives of the District Action Plan. 5. Federal, State and Local Programs – integrates existing local and federal programs under the DAP umbrella to Ten (10) working groups were formulated to fulfill the purposes improve coordination of resources and avoid duplication of of the DAP review. The role of the working groups was to: efforts 1. Review, update, and revise each of the DAP components Revised DAP Appendices 4 District Action Plan June 2007 2. Identify progress made within the last three (3) years I. STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENT 3. Provide recommendations for new initiatives 4. Include new initiatives to include timelines GEPB Goal 2: All Guam Public School System students will 5. Present to all stakeholders successfully progress from grade to grade and from one level 6. The working groups reviewed and made revisions in of schooling to another in order to maximize the opportunities light of the following factors to successfully graduate from high school. 7. Extent to which action steps affirmed the GPSS Vision The applicable requirements of P.L. 28-45 that will support the 8. Progress towards goals and outcomes from the 2003 achievement of GEPB Goal 2 are: DAP 9. Extent to which revisions support the following mandates in conjunction with the NCLB provisions: A certified teacher for every class a ratio established by o Public Law 28-45 relevant collective bargaining agreements o Guam Education Policy Board Goals Certified professional administrators Certified Guidance Counselors Please refer to Appendix A & B for a detailed description of the Certified School Health Counselors mandates. Certified Allied Health Professionals Adopted and required textbooks and workbooks issued The subcommittees also took into consideration Public Law to each public school student for the classes in which 28-45: “Every Child is Entitled to An Adequate Education Act” he or she enrolled Section 10. Guam Public School System. 5 GCA §3107., which Libraries, which meet the standards of the American requires GPSS to increase “in the percentage of the students at Level Association of School Librarians, at each school, 3, which demonstrates solid academic performance as measured by operated by certified Librarians SAT 10, by at least five percent (5%) each grade level per year until the Guam Education Policy Board’s adopted goal of ninety percent II. READING FIRST INITIATIVE (90%) at Level 3 in ten (10) years is reached.” GEPB Goal 2: All Guam Public School System students will successfully progress