Parent Delegate & Alternate Meeting October 26, 2016
“Perceptions & Expectations: How They Impact the Equitable Learning Environment.”
What’s In a Name? 1. Does your name have a special meaning or significance to you? What is it? 2. What is the origin of your name? 3. What does your name mean to you? 4. Do you have any nicknames? What do they mean to you?
Agenda • Introductions • MSAAC Overview • LCPS Current State • Goals • Next Steps
Your MSAAC Team! Ms. Jill Turgeon, Loudoun County School Board Member, Blue Ridge District Ms. Cynthia Ambrose, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Mr. James Dallas, Director of Teaching & Learning Mr. Wendall Fisher, Supervisor, Office of Outreach Dr. Ryan Tyler, Research Supervisor, Department of Instruction
We Are… Sanctioned committee of the Loudoun County School Board Parent driven organization Comprised of LCPS parents, teachers, administrators, and students Specifically designed to advocate & address the academic needs of ALL LCPS students with a specific focus on the concerns and needs of minority students Encouraging the development of school cultures where every minority student is afforded the opportunity to achieve his or her full potential, feels welcome and is recognized as an integral member of the student body
LCPS Profile: 2015/2016 School Year • LCPS enrollment has grown from 60,369 students in 2009-2010 to 77,939 students in 2015-2016; a 29% increase. • The percentage of students who are racial/ethnic minorities has increased from 35% to 48% in the past seven years. • The majority of licensed employees are white (88%)
The Achievement Gap… The achievement gap in education refers to the disparity in academic performance between groups of students. Evidenced in grades, standardized test scores, course selection, dropout rates, and college completion rates. (Education Week: July 7, 2011) Often used to describe: troubling performance gaps between African-American and Hispanic students and their non-Hispanic, white peers; economic, gender, English-language proficiency & learning disabilities are other areas of disparities that contribute to the gap data
Our Goals… Provide a forum for safe and respectable communication between parents, teachers, and administrators in cultivating an equitable educational experience for all students that will positively impact achievement gaps Partner with parents & educators to collectively understand and appreciate the importance of nurturing a climate of sensitivity in an academic/social environment that is increasing in diversity Assist the academic team to recognize, honor and teach to our differences Increase school participation & accountability by ensuring each LCPS school appoints an active delegate, teacher, and administrator to represent their student body needs
Next Steps • Focus on LCPS strategic vision • Build cultural and social responsiveness • Create presence (outreach) • Seek community inputs
LCPS Strategic Vision Dr. Williams will share at the October 26 th MSAAC General Membership • meeting the strategic vision for LCPS and update us on changes since last year. • Dr. Tyler will share related student data and how to find it so we can become more familiar with the challenges being faced by our schools. • We will have guided cluster and large group discussion focused on the 4 key improvement areas • Delegates and Alternates will be asked to go back to their schools and provide support as far as the development and implementation of school improvement plans while also ensuring that the school’s needs are adequately addressed • Delegates will be asked to share updates (more details to come)
Cultural and Social Responsiveness • Are we working on our own self awareness as far as biases, prejudices and stereotypes? • Are we proactively challenging the curriculum, policies and processes in our schools specifically those that impact delivery of services to students from diverse backgrounds? • Are we asking the difficult questions: Where are the best teachers assigned? Which students get to take advanced courses? Where and for what purposes are resources allocated? We must critically examine the educational system's relationship to its diverse constituents, etc. • Are we teaching our children to be culturally and socially aware and able to advocate for themselves?
Presence • Need 5 Delegates and/or Alternates to represent MSAAC at community events, e.g. PEP, Academic Symposium, etc. • Duties for primary representative would rotate. • Delegate or Alternate from the school hosting the event would also be requested to attend the event. • Need to form a small group of parents willing to attend the school board meetings, rotational opportunity – Take notes and present to the MSAAC EB; occasionally to the MSAAC General Members
Your Inputs: Cluster Brainstorm 1. In your cluster, what student needs are not being met today (name top 3)? Explain your selection. 2. Based on responses from other clusters, can you share a practice or program that another school could benefit from?
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