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Youngstown schools superintendent says plan’s goals are achievable
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
City schools Superintendent Connie Hathorn says the goals outlined in the latest academic recovery plan for the district are attainable.
“I don’t think they’re out of reach,” he said.
The updated plan, adopted by the Youngstown Academic Distress Commission Oct. 3, lists short and long-term goals to improve the district’s academic performance. The commission was appointed in 2010 to guide the district out of academic difficulty.
The updated plan was submitted to Richard Ross, state superintendent of public instruction, the same day it was adopted by the commission.
John Charlton, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Education, said Ross is reviewing the plan and will decide whether to approve it within 30 days.
The plan isn’t final until it’s approved by Ross.
Long-term goals list high marks for improvement. By the end of the 2016-17 school year the district:
Will have achieved a Performance Index score of 85 for two consecutive years.
Will have achieved a value-added rating of “C” for two consecutive years.
Will meet proficient standards in 14 out of 22 academic performance indicators.
The four-year graduation rate will exceed 80 percent.
Also, annual goals support the long-term goals. The annual goals were developed to create annual benchmarks toward achieving the long-term goals, the plan says.
“The YADC recognizes that the annual goals are ambitious and will require purposeful and significant commitment, cooperation and collaboration,” it says. “However, the YADC also recognizes the learning needs of the students who deserve a school and a district which will no longer accept poor achievement results that have been prevalent for far too long.”
The annual goals are:
Improve the climate and culture of individual schools and the district as measured by surveys of students, staff and parents.
Reduce by 10 percent per year over the next three years student offenses resulting in school suspensions.
Increase percentage of students proficient in mathematics by an average of 11 percent. The 2013-14 Ohio Achievement Assessment/Ohio Graduation Test results are the baseline.
Increase percentage of students proficient in reading by a 10 percent average using 2013-14 OAA/OGT as baseline.
Achieve composite district value-added rating of “met expected growth” for all subgroups for two out of the next three school years.
Reduce education gap between city school and state subgroup annual measurable objectives by 10 percent annually as measured by state assessments using 2013-14 results as the baseline.
Increase the district’s four-year graduation rate to at least 80 percent in 2015, 82 percent in 2016 and 84 percent in 2017. The district’s graduation four-year rate on the 2013-14 report card was 69 percent.
Increase the student attendance rate to 95 percent in the elementary schools, 94 percent in the middle schools, 92 percent in the high schools and 85 percent in the alternative school. The district’s overall attendance rate is 92 percent, according to the 2013 to 2014 state report card.
Increase staff attendance rate to 95 percent.
Increase staff participation rate for professional development to 95 percent.
Increase the district’s positive interaction with parents/guardians as reflected in an annual satisfaction survey.
Hathorn said that because the graduation rate data lags a year behind, changes implemented by the district won’t be reflected until the 2015-16 report cards.
He believes the other goals can be achieved.
“There’s a sense of urgency to get there,” Hathorn said. “We saw gains and we’re going in right direction.”
A reading program implemented in the district the last couple years is showing results and the district this year is implementing a new math program. Both initiatives have gotten positive reviews from teachers, the superintendent said.
He said staff participation at professional development hasn’t been a problem
He also plans to meet with union leaders, principals and teachers to determine causes of staff absenteeism and try to reach a solution.