semester in which they are taking the class. The specialist will also actively recruit students
eligible for the Citizenship and GED classes, and will introduce the programs to prospective
students through presentations, community meetings, and participation in festivals and
community-based activities.
The Supportive Services department obtained a software system used to track student
service data by ID numbers and store students records and portfolios. The department is now
able to rely on centralized, permanent data in order to ensure accurate record keeping.
2. What performance issues were identified as a result of the evaluation of the school’s
accountability plan performance? What program changes will be undertaken or are under
consideration as a result of the evaluation of the school’s accountability plan performance?
In line with maintaining school-wide excellence and the school’s performance-based
curriculum, during the 2004-2005 school year the school institutionalized the best practice of
writing daily performance-based objectives on the board for all students to read. These daily
performance-based objectives make certain that students understand what they are going to learn,
and that teachers uphold a high level of active learning methods in the classroom. This has been
a successful practice and has been continued.
The school has also begun to implement new action plans towards continuing to increase
student achievement. During the 2005-2006 school year teachers established mini-libraries in
the classrooms, giving students more meaningful opportunities to practice reading.
One student in Lisa Walker’s ESL
Level 2 class, Kebebush Hintsa, described
the benefits of the library: “It is a nice
program for us. Before, I did not read
books, mostly only exercises for school. I
am now reading more in my free time. It is
good that the teacher helps us by choosing
books at our reading level. I enjoy it and it
helps me know more words in English. I
also understand more about young people
in America, what their school life is like,
and what they do.” Ms. Walker pointed
out that Ms. Hintsa is reading a “Sweet
Valley Twins” novel from a popular teen
series: “If they start a series they will get
hooked and keep reading.”
Students are engrossed in their reading.
In direct response to the heterogeneous nature of the Orientation (Literacy) classes, two
levels of Orientation were established: A and B. This change responds to students who need
basic literacy (Orientation A) and are not literate or minimally literate in their own language; and
those who are literate in their native language but have minimal language learning experience
(Orientation B). The school has continued to hold both classes.
Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, Annual Report SY 2005-2006
- 55 -