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HSC
focuses on Testing and Transportation For Hopkinton Schools By Jessica Aker
Dr. Mary Colombo was pleased to highlight the overall improvement in Hopkinton students MCAS results from last spring. Math scores rose in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, and 10th grades. ELA scored improved in grades 7 through 10 with 28% of students at a more advanced level in grade 10. Science and Technology scores rose in grades 5 and 8. 10th grade students were required to take the Science and Technology assessments for the first time last year, and the results for Hopkinton 10th graders were exceptional. Hopkinton and schools and the district met the Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) goals.
“We want the students to reach the 80% benchmark, but we are always happy to see them go beyond that” said Columbo. She commented, “Students who move through more grades” seem to enhance their academic performance greatly.
Due to the rise in scores, the Hopkinton School District acquired Title I funds from the State of Massachusetts. The money will go towards supplemental educational services that parents can access outside of the school district, tutoring through the schools, and professional development. The State of Massachusetts requires each school district that is awarded Title I funds to use 10% of the money for staff development. The state also provides access to a free program, COGNOS, which contains data about MCAS tests from 2002 until the present.
While Hopkinton schools showed great improvements on the MCAS, Dr. Columbo realizes there are still some areas that need work. Special needs students in elementary and middle school often did not make AYP. Mathematics from grades 4 through 7 also needs further investigation in order to improve the scores.
Hopkinton schools are part of The Education Collaborative (TEC), which is an organization that includes 13 to 14 school districts at the middle school and high school level. Dr. Columbo stated that this organization is important because each community is similar based on similar demographic indicators, which allows Hopkinton schools to learn about various educational efforts and programs that have improved the quality of education, and subsequently MCAS scores in towns such as Holliston, Framingham, and Dedham. Among TEC schools, Hopkinton was rated first in 3rd grade ELA and Math. Grades 5 and 10 rated second among TEC schools in Science.
She said, “It is important to look at other areas besides MCAS results to help improve our student’s education. There are many programs that help to do just that, but no one program is perfect. They must be fine tuned to fit the needs of our students.”
The HSC discussed proposed changes in the School Trips and Student Transportation Policies. New laws and the changing needs of the community were highlighted as reasons for the necessary revisions in the policies.
The School Trip Policy needed to be changed because a new law to regulate school trips went into effect just a few days after Hopkinton had had a meeting to formalize the policy. The 2 areas of the policy that were affected include overnight trips and trips linked to educational efforts at Hopkinton schools. The State of Massachusetts mandated that school committees must now approve trips. Prior to the changes, Hopkinton had sought approval for trips from the superintendent of schools.
HSC Chair Nancy Burdick asked, “What if someone brings a presentation to us for a trip and we don’t endorse it? Can they still go through with the trip?”
According to the new policy, this action would be allowed if as long as school funds, property, or resources were not utilized in order to plan, finance or conduct the trip.
Ms. Burdick also asked about trips that occur annually. “What if there are some changes to the trip? Does that mean that the trip needs to be presented to us again? Would the trip still be known by the same name?”
Superintendent of Schools John E. Phelan, Jr. responded, “It would be the safest way to do it. Circumstances change from year to year. The nation’s political conditions could change. As long as there were not major issues in the past with a certain trip, then approving the trip again should run smoothly.”
In addition to educational trips, overnight trips to sporting events, mock trial tournaments, and similar events are also under examination. Questions about the definitions for such trips were one major concern for the HSC.
HSC member Rebecca Robak clarified that such trips are defined as travel between 12 to 6 AM that include supervision. Appropriate behavior of the students still applies to these trips despite the fact that they are traveling off campus.
“In the past, there have been some issues, so it’s important to define the consequences that students could face if they do not follow the rules.”
Dr. Colombo added that private forms of transportation to these events such as vans or cars driven by students or parents had been highly discouraged. Vice-Chair Phil Totino said he felt “uncomfortable” with such language due to liability issues. He suggested prohibiting the use of private transportation.
Dr. Phelan pointed out that it is sometimes the most “cost effective” way for students to get to an event.
Ms. Robak suggested that the language should say that private transportation should be discouraged, but the policy could be “relaxed for special cases.”
The next meeting of the HSC is scheduled for Thursday December 4, 2008 at 7:30 PM in the Middle School Library. |
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November
22, 2008