Explain the activities in which your school will participate to increase your overall rating. Include specific details.

As evidenced in the SES Band Data, which content area(s) will be the focus for improving student achievement and why was this area chosen?

We will be focusing on Literacy to improve student achievment. This area was chosen because the data shows that the majority of our students are coming to us with low Reading and Writing scores. 

What specific BEST Practice(s) will be implemented or scaled-up to improve teaching and learning in order to increase performance within the SES Band?

All teachers will participate in PLCs designed to incorporate BEST strategies through our school-wide literacy initiative in reading and vocabulary.

Describe in detail how the BEST Practice(s) will be scaled-up.

The PLCs that the teachers will participate in will incorporate three main components of our students' special needs. Those components are mental health counseling, behavioral strategies, and our school-wide literacy initiative to improve reading and writing proficiency.

What specific school-level progress monitoring data is collected and how often?

Our instructional focus calendar is designed by cycles. Each cycle is 3 weeks long. At the end of each cycle the students take an assessment for the cycle. Teachers fill out a data sheet and meet with administration for data chats. At the data chats teachers discuss their plan for students scoring at each level.

How does the school ensure the fidelity of students not progressing towards school and district goals?

When students enroll they are assigned a case manager. Students are given a personalized plan and the case manager meet with them bi-weekly to discuss progress academically and behaviorally. Parents are contacted and made aware of how child doing.

How does the school ensure that all classroom instruction is accessible to the full range of learners using Universal Designs for Learning (UDL) for effective instructional design (planning) and delivery (teaching)?

All content area teachers use grade-level Florida Standards to plan and deliver lessons in the classroom. Each teacher follows the district pacing guide for the respective discipline. Each week teachers participate in PLCs which focus on understanding, unwrapping, and planning using the Florida Standards. Teachers use canvas to share work as well as best practices with colleagues. 

How does the school ensure Tier 1 Standards-Based classroom instruction is being implemented properly and effectively?

Administrators visit classrooms weekly. In addition, teachers have been trained on how to utilize Tier1 interventions through BASIS. Through the training, teachers were made aware of the Tier 1 standards, so that Tier 1 standard are implemented.  In addition, through RTi, the RTi team is able to review BASIS and can review if teachers are utilizing Tier 1 Interventions.

Describe texts used for core, supplemental, and intervention programs at each grade level. How does the school ensure students have access to a balance of literary and informational text in a variety of mediums?

Students are able to access books via online.

How does your school implement the Broward County Public Schools Social and Emotional Learning Standards to ensure students are developing social and emotional skills?

All students are exposed to “Morning Meetings” focusing on social skills linked to District’s character education and school’s PBIS.  Morning meetings take place every day for 20 minutes during first period in all classes.  Morning meetings open and close with focused breathing, greeting, sharing, group activity, summary and focused breathing to close session out. Chief Bus Rider-students displaying model behavior are recognized by the staff on the bus by receiving a Chief Bus Rider ticket and rewarded once a week on Wednesday with various items, from edibles to school supplies or a pass to come to school out of uniform. Chief Student of the Week-staff at the school recognizes student’s who show cooperation and compassion towards others. SEL Class –Critical Thinking class uses Suite 360 and supports students who are lacking social skills and insight necessary to be successful in school and community settings.

In which ways are the five competencies of the Social Emotional Learning explicitly taught and/or integrated school-wide and in the classroom?

All students are exposed to “Morning Meetings” focusing on social skills linked to District’s character education and school’s PBIS.  Morning meetings take place every day for 20 minutes during first period in all classes.  Morning meetings open and close with focused breathing, greeting, sharing, group activity, summary and focused breathing to close session out. Each day the morning meetings have a lesson taken from the LEAPs curriculum.

How does your school-wide policy and practices support the social emotional learning for students?

Morning Meetings are held every morning for the first 20 minutes. Students participate in focus breathing and a discussion around lessons taken from LEAPs. All administratively placed students are assigned to the Social Emotional Learning class. Each month all students participate in Empowerment Sessions where a guest speaker presents on behavior.