Last week’s “NSBORO News” newsletter included links for information on how the public schools intend to comply with the Federal Student Opportunity Act (SOA).
The message from Superintendent Gregory Martineau stated:
Prior to submitting the plan, we are seeking stakeholder feedback and input.
Rather than a survey, the linked forms include a field for the public to submit comments.
The Northborough-Southborough Public Schools’ newsletter explains that the schools must submit “three-year, evidence-based plans aimed at closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.”
For all three NSBORO districts, administrators identified that subgroup as students with disabilities (SWD). Each districts’ plan points to concerns about MCAS scores and absenteeism rates for the demographic.
For Southborough and Northborough K-8 schools, plans highlight shortfalls in English Language Arts scores that need to be addressed. For Algonquin, the focus is on Math.
The SOA Plan for Southborough K-8 states:
Based on a review of District data, students with disabilities (SWD) are not achieving at the same rate as their peers. In 2023, 54% of SWD in third, 23% of SWD in sixth, and 42% of SWD in eighth grade met or exceeded grade-level expectations in English Language Arts (ELA), whereas 78% of all third, 66% of all sixth, and 79% of all eighth-grade students met or exceeded grade-level expectations in ELA. Additionally, SWD’s chronic absenteeism rate in 2023 was 21.5% compared to 15.8% for all third, sixth, and eighth graders.
The plan to address that is described as:
Ensuring evidence-based, systematic, culturally, and linguistically sustaining literacy instruction to SWDs is the best method to address these disparities. As a result, the District is making a multi-year investment in a comprehensive K-8 English Language Arts curriculum for the core literacy block to help students develop the skills they need to become successful readers, writers, and communicators. The District is providing professional development to support effective implementation. Schools are developing schedules so that SWDs are in the general education classroom, with support as needed, during core literacy instruction including foundational skills, exposure to complex texts, and writing to ensure that they experience high-quality, evidence-based literacy instruction. The District will also expand its specialized reading support to SWDs using the Orton Gillingham Program. To ensure that educators are fully equipped to teach this methodology, the District will offer comprehensive training focusing on fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension using a multi-sensory, systematic, and direct approach. The District is creating opportunities for educators to develop their knowledge and skills in relation to the Science of Reading through professional development offered by Crafting Minds and other providers. Over the course of the next three years, the District will make significant investments in English language arts programs, professional development, and staffing.
“Stakeholders” are able to comment here.
The SOA Plan for Algonquin Regional states:
Based on a review of District data, students with disabilities (SWD) are not achieving at the same rate as their peers. In 2023, 31% of SWD in tenth grade met or exceeded grade-level expectations in mathematics, whereas 89% of all tenth-grade students met or exceeded grade-level expectations in mathematics. Additionally, SWD’s chronic absenteeism rate in 2023 was 31.6% compared to 17.1% for all tenth graders.
The plan to address that is described as:
The strategy is to provide high-impact math tutoring. Tutoring will be embedded in the student’s regular school schedule and will occur a minimum of three times per week for a total of ninety minutes. The program will be supplemental to their primary math class, ensuring that it does not take away from Tier 1 instruction, extracurriculars, and other responsibilities.
Over the course of the next three years, the District will make significant investments in mathematics curriculum, professional development, and staffing.
“Stakeholders” are able to comment here.
