Davenport Schools and the members of the School Board and the Poverty Sounding Group would like to pay tribute to Bill Sherwood. This presentation continues his work. 1
Overcoming the Challenges of Poverty in Davenport Schools A Deeper Dialogue Session 2 District Presenters: Sarah Harris Ellen Reilly Tammy Conrad & Bill Schneden Moderator: Ken Krumwiede, Committee Chair Board Member, Davenport Schools
Quotable 3 Poverty must not be a bar to learning and learning must offer an escape from poverty. -Lyndon B. Johnson
Board Priorities 4 Board Priority #1: Provide leadership and direction to improve the overall learning environment in our classrooms, schools and district including the health, safety, security and happiness of students and staff. Board Priority #2: Direct and support actions, programs, and activities which reduce the impacts of poverty on our students, their families and our community. March 2 nd , 2015 Board Presentation
Local Poverty Statistics 5 FARMS rate 13-14 % of Residents below the poverty line by community Bettendorf 34% 6% Davenport 68% 18% PV 10% 5% North Scott 25% 4.5% State rate 40% 12.4%
District Poverty Committee 6 Approximately 40 community members. Cross section of membership – community, parents, social and religious organizations, chamber, city and county representation and education representatives. Our Purpose: Develop an ongoing group to act as a sounding board to generate and field ideas to reduce the impact of poverty on education. March 2 nd , 2015 School Board Presentation
Identified Priorities 7 Transportation School Climate and Training Early Childhood Education/Kindergarten Readiness Other issues identified but agreed to begin with these top three.
Transportation 8 The transportation sub-committee was formed by the broader Poverty Sounding Group. Each school community is unique and will vary according to the needs, demographics and geography of each school. Multiple ideas for improving transportation options were discussed. This is the first attempt at a “ stragegy ”.
Transportation 9 Start Small: There are seven schools identified as having a high number of chronic absences (defined as missing greater than 11% of school days). Buchanan Elementary Hayes Elementary Monroe Elementary Washington Elementary Jefferson Elementary Madison Elementary Young K-8
Transportation 10 Selection of a Single School to start: Madison selected to increase attendance of those identified students who are missing more than 11% of school. Family-based supports through Family Matters and an attendance grant received by Madison during the 2014-2015 school year, Madison is a 100% walk zone.
Transportation 11 40 students chronically absent Parents contacted to ask what barriers were preventing their students from getting to school. Transportation was a number one reason. Crossing Locust, walking through rough neighborhoods among issues.
Transportation 12 Madison Elementary This is to give some perspective to the distance and area that students must walk to Madison Java Java Coffee House
Transportation 13 Criteria for access to bussing: South of Locust 1. Distance from bus stop had to be 2. closer for student to walk than distance to school There had to be an existing stop 3. where students could board
Transportation 14 Met with Beth O’Dette (Queen of Routing) She plotted out addresses and routes 5 routes were identified as options Madison & Family Matters staff contacted parents and sent info home along with bus ridership guidelines (must be signed by parent) The process is now in place. Attendance progress is being monitored. At the end of the year, results will be examined and if successful, other schools will be reviewed.
Training and Climate 15 The training and climate sub-committee was formed by the broader Poverty Sounding Group. Understanding there is an entire Climate working group around this as a board priority. The group focused on coordinated efforts with the existing Board Climate group. The group identified gaps, new options and innovative ideas.
Training and Climate 16 Start here… Onboarding process: Who We Are! District enrollment, socioeconomic status, ethnic minority data, program opportunities and District of Distinction info on the amazing programs offered in our schools. Review job applications to apply. Add key components for supporting a positive climate in interviews.
Training and Climate 17 Create professional development series to help support changing perspective on what poverty means. Poverty and Prosperity Listen First Classroom management ACEs – Adverse Childhood Experiences Communication and tough conversations Ethics and issues Mental Health
Training and Climate 18 Prosperity Summit Support community wide event Navigators Training – March 10 The QC Opportunity Community Conference - April 18
19 Preschool/Kindergarten Readiness
Preschool/Kindergarten Readiness 20 52% of DCSD Kindergarten attend 4 year old preschool 50% of Title 1 Kindergarten attend 4 year old preschool. I.E.- 32 of 71 of Fillmore’s Kindergarten 32 of 72 of Monroe’s Kindergarten
Early Childhood Retreat Team 21 • Principal, Instructional Specialist, Budget Specialist, Executive Director, Title 1 Director, Director of Special Education & specialists, School Board Members(2), YMCA, Scott Co. Kids, Head Start, AEA 9, Teacher and Para • Team met on 3 different occasions(October 7 th , 2014, January 13 th , 2015 and February 6 th , 2015)
VISION 22 The vision of the Davenport Community School District’s Early Learning Center is to educate all students, while specializing in at-risk services. Guided by high expectations, and the knowledge that all children learn at different levels and speeds, Early Learning staff will provide students with a broad range of educational opportunities that will help each student learn to the best of his/her abilities. We strive to develop literacy skills as well as provide experiences that enrich each child’s social, emotional, physical, cognitive, intellectual, and creative abilities. We believe partnerships are an integral part of the educational process. Thereby, we promote partnership between our schools, families and community members to allow a multi-dimensional approach to the structure of our school so those students can enter Kindergarten with the skills necessary to promote lifelong learning. GOAL: To provide additional preschool access to 4 year olds focusing on the most at- risk, especially children of poverty in the Davenport Community to assure Kindergarten readiness.
Kindergarten Readiness/Early Childhood Recommendations 23 2015-2016 School Year Explore partnerships for daycare services Begin screening new students focusing first on students at- risk (poverty) Enroll students based on Priority List Full Day and Half Day Programming available o Conversion of 2 hour 4 year old programs to Half Day programs Notification to parents of Birth – 2 year old students of elimination of program for 2016-17 school year Repurpose one 2 year old program with no roster for FY16 o Realign staff (no lay offs anticipated)
Recommendations cont . 24 2016-2017 School Year 4 year old AM/PM programs - Partner collaboration for daycare services Transportation provided to/from RFP selected daycare provider o Priority list focusing on at-risk students (poverty) o Priority is 4 year old AM/PM programs moving into Title I Elementary Buildings Add preschool rooms to all Title I schools first when doing long range planning o 4 year old programs in ALL Elementary Buildings o Enrollment process based on priority list items 1-5 1. 3-5yr old ECSE students o 2. At-Risk 4yr olds o 3. 4yr olds o 4. At-Risk 3yr olds o 5. 3yr olds o Students must be 3 or 4 by September 15 th , 2016 Eliminate Birth – 2 year old programs
Reasons for Recommendations 25 Increase access to areas of need To utilize financial resources responsibly
What is left for the Committees? Continue to work with District, Community and School Board on what steps are being taken to carry out the three identified priority issues. Continue the open dialogue and 26 communication with the Community and School Board. Continue to study and discuss the other poverty issues identified that impact education.
What is still left for our School Board? 27 To study and discuss the impacts of poverty related to education in our district.( See Poverty – Be The Difference! Dr. Donna Beegle) Navigator Training (Dr. Donna Beegle -March 10 th ) Review our School Board Policies that impact Poverty issues Take School Board actions that reduce poverty issues in our schools.
Going Deeper 28 What are YOUR Questions? Thoughts?
29 What We Do about Poverty Matters Thank you! March 2 nd , 2015 School Board Presentation
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