Student Advisory Coun W ednesday , M arch 18, 2020 Focus Groups - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Student Advisory Coun

W ednesday , M arch 18, 2020

Focus Groups

• Student Safety

○ Mental Health, Student Security

• Student Success

○ Special Education, SEL, Culture Awareness, Teacher Shortage

• Equity

○ Lower Income, Resources

Student Safety Group Members

Faith Drescher (Hinsdale Central High School, Junior) Josh Hargrove (Hinsdale South High School, Senior) Andres Rivera (Maine South High School, Senior) Emma Gatz (Metea Valley High School, Senior) Z’Sanique Sanders (East St. Louis Senior High School, Junior) Leo Krueger (Vandalia Community High School, Sophomore) Nate Youman (Stillman Valley High School, Junior)

“In any moment of decision… the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

• Theodore Roosevelt

Focus Group: Student Safety

Student Suggestions

• ALICE Training

○ Certification for all K-12 schools to better prepare for active shooter situations ○ How would Illinois cover this? Blended Learning!

• Informing Entire School Community

○ Students are often left out of the conversation about important safety measures ■ Parents get ComEd sent home, but students aren’t addressed

“School districts are doing a complete disservice to their students, staff and their families if they are not prepared for a violent intruder. In my opinion, ALICE Training is the absolute best solution for that problem”

• Kurtis Buckley

School Resource Officer

To ensure the safety and sense of security in school, certain procedures and methods can be used:

• Ex-Police officers as security; sufficient training
• Schools IDs be used to identify yourself when entering school

grounds during certain hours

• Cameras are placed in key entry points and hallways
• Alice Training be implemented in all schools and must be

consistent and relevant during the school year (Occurring as often as fire drills)

Student Safety Solutions

Student Success Focus Group

Chloe Goodman (Red Bud High School, Junior) Carter Shockey (Freeport High School, Senior) Theo Johnson (Urbana High School, Junior) Mikayla Jackson (Sangamon Valley High School, Senior) Anna Foster (PORTA High School, Junior) Vasu Chalasani (Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Senior) Dylan Hu (Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Senior) Nicole Tong (Naperville North High School, Senior)

Student Success Student Success

“Every student can learn, just not on the same day or in the same way.”

• George Evans

Special Education & SEL:

Though we’ve been unable to send out surveys so far, we have conducted some in- person interviews about special education and the implementation of IEP accommodations, as well as about the usefulness of homeroom classes in middle school.

Special Education Interviews

Takeaways from our special education interviews include:

• Most students are aware of the

accommodations in their IEPs.

• School buildings are often not

accessible enough for people with physical handicaps.

• Students with IEPs, as well as
• ther students, are far too stressed

about schoolwork.

Homeroom Class Interviews

• Homeroom or advisory classes are a helpful and reassuring part of students’ days, and

should not be cancelled to make way for more academic time.

• These classes only help when students form lasting personal relationships with other

students in these classes.

• Teachers can help students form relationships in a variety of ways, such as playing

games and holding discussions of personal or political events. Different activities help different students. Responses to our questions varied, but generally:

Social Emotional Learning

• the process through which children and adults

understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions

• Implemented at many high schools around

Illinois already as programs that require teachers to set aside 7 days a year

• Examples: Watching and discussing TED talks
• n happiness, leading activities such as writing

monthly goals and decorating them on the walls, throwing foam dodgeballs at each other while sharing ways to relieve stress, etc.

Accountability

• The 5Essentials survey needs a more comprehensive focus

○ Students should be asked in depth about parts of their school day other than their first period class. ○ Students should have an opportunity, such as a contact box at the end of the survey, to contact ISBE with additional information.

• School visits need to be more frequent in
• rder to ensure equity, safety, and student

success across Illinois.

Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning

Our Definition

This is the practice of teaching students that their culture is something that they should embrace and be proud of. Culturally responsive learners make an effort to obtain as much knowledge as they can about their students’ culture, but once they have a basic understanding, they never stop learning about the cultural vibrance of their classroom, school, or district.

Difference Makers

• District and School

Administrators

• Teachers
• School Counselors
• Cafeteria Workers
• Bus Drivers

Driving Forces

• Students from minority backgrounds are not

being represented in the school environment

• Cultures are being pushed to the side instead
• f being showcased
• There is a lack of connection in the

classroom ○ Teachers and Students ○ Students and Material

Desired Outcomes

• Deeper connections will be

cultivated

• Students will feel more included
• Racial identities will be

strengthened

• Staff will empathize with students

more

Levi Siebers (Liberty High School, Senior) Domenica Ferdinardo (Ridgewood High School, Senior) Abbigail Thurman (Rochester High School, Senior) Tri Ho (Taft High School, Senior) Amir Sykes (Manuel Academy, Junior) Tucker Poshard (Carbondale Community, Junior)

Equity Focus Group Members:

EQUITY EQUITY

“Equality is giving everyone a sho “Equality is giving everyone a shoe Equity is giving everyone a shoe Equity is giving everyone a shoe that fits.” that fits.”

What Is Equity? What Is Equity?

• Purpose

Purpose : Ensuring quality education for all students, guaranteeing a quality and equal

• pportunity in education for all students in the education system.
• Includes ensuring the no matter the personal or social circumstances like gender,

ethnic origin, family background, or relationships are factors in a student receiving an equal opportunity at education

• Broad subjects like mathematics, science, reading and writing are being offered

to students

• Opportunity gap, Achievement gap, Learning gap

What does this mean? What does this mean?

Promoting equity to administrators is important because it will help set norms in the cla that will have a domino effect on students. Promoting inclusion and openness will help sense of reliability to students. Respectfulness is key to creating a sense of openness a inclusion.

Schools have changed:

• Equity is opportunity: with gaps
• Schools between cities
• Rural vs city gaps
• Geographic gaps
• Gender gaps
• Teacher aids between schools
• Schools who have low aids at schools
• Perkins 5:
• 5 million dollars is being given to districts in order to expand things like aids and

student resources as well as CTE programs.

Equity is Opportunity Equity is Opportunity

Equity in Education

Our Works

• What Teachers Have Done and Next Steps

What Teachers Have Done and Next Steps

• Competency

Competency

• Based Education

Based Education : a form of education that allows teachers to provide individual support for every student. Once a student shows mastery in one competency, they move onto the next one.

Ways Teachers Can Create More Equitable Learning Opportunities for Students

• Interdisciplinary Lessons
• Community Service Projects
• Incorporate Social and Emotional Learning
• Emphasize the Importance of Growth
• Move to Student-Centered Instruction
• Use Technology
• Value Student Voices
• Be flexible and creative

Census

Census Outreach

As schools districts in Illinois have begun cancelling events to protect against the spread of COVID-19, census

• utreach has become more
• difficult. However, SAC

members are still helping their districts ensure that everyone is counted.

This March, all households across the country will be invited to respond to the 2020 US Census. Between March 12 and 20, you will receive in the mail an invitation from the US Census Bureau to respond to the Census online. If you miss that invitation, that’s okay: another one will be sent out between March 16 and 24, and postcards will be sent after that if you still haven’t responded. Urbana School District 116 encourages you to respond to the Census, and wants you to know that:

1.

The information you provide on the Census will be kept private. No government agency will be able to access your personal information because of your responses to the Census.

2.

By responding to the 2020 Census, you ensure that Urbana schools, and other public programs like healthcare and food stamps, receive as much federal funding as possible for the next ten years. For every person (including young children) who isn’t counted in 2020, schools and other public services lose money.

3.

You can fill out the Census online during UHS’s Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, March 12 from 4:00 - 7:30 p.m., and Friday, March 13 from 8:00 - 11:30 a.m. There will not be a question about US citizenship on the 2020 Census. If you have questions, please visit illinoiscensus2020.com, or contact theodore.johnson@urbanasd116.org or phoebe.gerstenecker@urbanasd116.org for more information.

Those who decide not to fill out the Census sometimes believe that:

• They will be asked about their

citizenship status.

• Government agencies, like ICE or the

local police, will be able to access their information.

• Completing the census will not be

helpful for them in any way. None of these things are true.

2020 Census 2020 Census

National Census Day: April 1, 2020

What is the census?

Every 10 years the population in every state is counted. This affects funding for factors such as insurance, education, affordable housing, employment programs, as well as the number of state representatives. This year, 2020 is especially important as we are at risk of losing a second congressional seat. What things are at stake?

• Health care (Medicaid/Medicare, Children’s Health Insurance

Program (CHIP), and many more)

• Employment programs for people with disabilities
• Housing (low income housing, loans, etc.)
• Low Income Programs (SNAP, free lunch program)
• Education (affects school funding and free lunch programs)

When & How do I participate? The census will be able to be filled out beginning in March 2020 by phone, mail, or

• nline.

Results and confidentiality All results are confidential and cannot be used against you. *For more information visit http://ilcountmein2020.org/ *

Census data is used to allocate federal funds for services including health care, housing, and schools. Many people are unaware that the census is so impactful, which is why it’s so important to raise awareness.

There are two ways in which it is easier to fill out the 2020 Census than in previous years:

• The census can now be

completed online, as well as on paper or by phone.

• The census can now be

completed in any of 14 languages.

Questions? Comments?