Updated Focus Group Proposal - Demographics Corrected and CRCT Scores Added

This is an updated Magnet Proposal to reflect corrected demographics and the requested CRCT Scores from 2011 and 2012 by classroom.  In addition, a 6th point which was removed prior to the focus group has been added back to the proposal because it was requested during the focus group sessions.  The 6th point is in regard to prioritizing funding for science and French.

This proposal is still a DRAFT.  The School Council has not yet met to discuss changes to the proposal in response to the focus groups.  That meeting will occur on Tuesday, November 13th at 5 PM in the Evansdale Media Center. True changes to the proposal in response to the focus groups and email feedback will not be added to the proposal until after the November 13th meeting.  The updates will be available AFTER November 13th.

A summary of the focus group feedback will be available within the next few days. The focus group feedback will be available here and on the PTA and Evansdale websites.  

Focus Group Evansdale Magnet Proposal

Current Data

The table below details the demographics for the Evansdale population as a whole, the demographics for the subpopulation of Evansdale which comprises the Magnet program, and the subpopulation for the general Evansdale classes. The data in this table demonstrate that the demographics of the Magnet program are not an accurate reflection of the Evansdale community, and the Magnet is less diverse than the general school community.

	Evansdale (Magnet and Non-Magnet) (659 students)	Magnet (149 students)	Non-Magnet (510 students)
Asian/Pacific Islander	55 (8%)	15 (10%)	40 (8%)
Black	164 (25%)	35 (23%)	129 (25%)
Hispanic	201 (31%)	< 10 (<7%)*	191 (38%)*
White	216 (33%)	91 (61%)	125 (25%)
Multi-racial	18 (3%)	< 10 (<7%)*	< 10 (<2%)*
American Indian/Alaskan	< 10 (<2%)*	< 10 (<7%)*	< 10 (<2%)*
Student with Disabilities	33 (5%)	< 10 (<7%)*	23 (5%)*
Economically Disadvantaged	326 (50%)	25 (17%)	301 (59%)*
English Language Learners	139 (21%)	< 10 (<7%)*	129 (25%)*

* If a group contains less than 10 individuals, the exact number cannot be given due to risks to privacy.  In these cases, non-Magnet numbers were generated by subtracting 10, the maximum possible number in the group.  Therefore, demographics with an “*” are approximate.

CRCT Scores for 2011 and 2012

Scores on the test can range from a low of 650 to a high of 900.  A score of 800 or below is below the standard set for the test.  A score of 800-849 meets the standard set for the test.  A score of 850 or above exceeds the standard set for the test.  Scores are presented as the class mean ± the standard deviation.  The mean is the average score for the entire class which is generated by adding each individual score together and then dividing by the number of students in the class.  The standard deviation represents the amount of variation in test scores within a class.

Third Grade

	CRCT 2011 Mean Class Score ± Standard Deviation
Class	Students	Reading	English	Math	Science	Social Studies
3rd Magnet	23	874 ± 25	860 ± 23	876 ± 45	877 ± 32	858 ± 31
3-1	21	863 ± 38	847 ± 32	870 ± 50	852 ± 44	842 ± 32
3-2	20	864 ± 31	848 ± 25	852 ± 39	866 ± 43	850 ± 28
3-3	21	855 ± 34	848 ± 38	835 ± 52	852 ± 41	836 ± 26
	CRCT 2012 Mean Class Score ± Standard Deviation
Class	Students	Reading	English	Math	Science	Social Studies
3rd Magnet	22	870 ± 40	852 ± 30	867 ± 40	862 ± 43	844 ± 25
3-1	18	820 ± 28	810 ± 27	794 ± 33	806 ± 39	801 ± 26
3-2	19	850 ± 36	838 ± 25	838 ± 54	846 ± 58	832 ± 38
3-3	19	852 ± 38	840 ± 27	844 ± 34	849 ± 41	841 ± 27
3-4	21	851 ± 38	837 ± 22	832 ± 37	843 ± 38	830 ± 28

Fourth Grade

	CRCT 2011 Mean Class Score ± Standard Deviation
Class	f Students	Reading	English	Math	Science	Social Studies
4th Magnet	25	847 ± 24	846 ± 35	862 ± 50	868 ± 40	848 ± 26
4-1	22	843 ± 32	843 ± 40	847 ± 56	857 ± 50	850 ± 40
4-2	23	854 ± 31	855 ± 47	868 ± 46	873 ± 53	849 ± 41
4-3	23	858 ± 34	855 ± 39	842 ± 39	860 ± 42	860 ± 38
	CRCT 2012 Mean Class Score ± Standard Deviation
Class	Students	Reading	English	Math	Science	Social Studies
4th Magnet	25	868 ± 25	856 ± 22	860 ± 29	883 ± 40	849 ± 24
4-1	23	852 ± 38	840 ± 33	828 ± 45	847 ± 42	843 ± 36
4-2	23	847 ± 38	829 ± 34	810 ± 33	840 ± 48	833 ± 35
4-3	23	858 ± 33	843 ± 36	847 ± 45	869 ± 46	825 ± 29

Fifth Grade

	CRCT 2011 Mean Class Score ± Standard Deviation
Class	Students	Reading	English	Math	Science	Social Studies
5th Magnet	24	849 ± 16	849 ± 22	843 ± 29	849 ± 37	841 ± 26
5-1	30	841 ± 29	834 ± 25	831 ± 39	831 ± 35	824 ± 29
5-2	30	847 ± 29	849 ± 25	844 ± 38	851 ± 43	835 ± 29
	CRCT 2012 Mean Class Score ± Standard Deviation
Class	Students	Reading	English	Math	Science	Social Studies
5th Magnet	25	840 ± 25	845 ± 19	866 ± 37	867 ± 43	848 ± 25
5-1	30	842 ± 26	840 ± 27	844 ± 36	852 ± 52	832 ± 32
5-2	28	843 ± 27	844 ± 29	848 ± 44	865 ± 62	834 ± 32
5-3	30	842 ± 30	845 ± 25	859 ± 50	861 ± 65	838 ± 35

Agenda

• Review of Evansdale’s current demographics
• Review of Evansdale’s Mission/Vision/Values

• Review of focus group’s Vision/Guiding Questions
• Review of the history of the Magnet program
• Review of the current Magnet program/Magnet funding

• Review the proposal
• Solicit warm and cold feedback on the proposal
• Collect any additional ideas

Evansdale Elementary Vision

Our vision is to develop and utilize teaching strategies that motivate and prepare all students to reach their academic potential, become contributing members of society, and become lifelong learners. 

Evansdale Elementary Mission

The mission of Evansdale Elementary School is to maintain a safe learning environment where human diversity is honored, and individual capabilities are promoted through a comprehensive program built on high expectations for student performance.

Evansdale Elementary Values

Each individual has unique capabilities to learn All people have a right to learn in a safe and orderly environment Honoring human diversity while recognizing commonality promotes respect Higher individual expectations yield increased performance Providing timely, respectful communication honors the needs of the Evansdale School Community

• PTA and community involvement enriches and supports education of all students

Focus Group Vision

In order to achieve “Victory in Every Classroom,” we propose a revision of Evansdale’s Magnet program. The goal of this revision is to maximize student achievement for all students at Evansdale Elementary.

Focus Group Guiding Questions

• How do we ensure that all students at Evansdale are provided the best learning opportunity?
• How do we adapt our Magnet program to benefit all Evansdale students?

History of Magnet

            In the early 1990’s, Evansdale’s student population was very low, and the Evansdale community was concerned it might be forced to close. There were approximately 280 children and 60-70 of that number came from other school districts. During this time, the DeKalb County School System (DCSS) was transitioning to the middle school model which would move two grades (6^th and 7^th) to Henderson Middle, further decreasing the student body. The parents and administrators recognized this lull in the Evansdale population as an opportunity to enrich the cultural and academic environment at Evansdale and to support the DCSS efforts to achieve a unified school system by creating a Minority to Majority program at Evansdale. The Evansdale community designed a unique and innovative program that ultimately led to the recognition of Evansdale Elementary as a School of Excellence. 

           

            The Evansdale Magnet plan dictated that Evansdale would add one class per grade level per year offering a Math/Science program with a foreign language component to students both within the district and outside of the district. Each Magnet class was composed of 10 children from the Evansdale district (resident) and 10 children from the other DCSS districts (non-resident), both chosen by a lottery system.  Non-residents had to be of minority status in order to apply for the lottery.  The Magnet program had distinct benefits for children within the Magnet classes and the Evansdale student body in general. When the program was created, great efforts were made to ensure that there were no differences between the education and opportunities offered to the students within and outside of the Magnet program. DCSS funded the augmented curriculum for the Magnet classes and the Evansdale PTA funded the necessary provisions to provide the same curriculum to the general student body. For example, the original Magnet program used a separate math program than the rest of the school. However, the PTA used its funds to buy this program for the non-Magnet students as well.   In addition, creating the Magnet program eventually allowed Evansdale to be moved to the “top of the list” when new textbooks and technology were disbursed within DCSS.  French was chosen as the language to offer as it would set the school apart from Kittredge Magnet School for High Achievers which offered German while matching the offerings at Snapfinger Elementary, the most similar program to Evansdale.  Over the past two decades, budget cuts and changes in enrollment at Evansdale have shifted the structure and function of the Evansdale Magnet program.

Current Magnet Program

• Evansdale currently has one magnet homeroom per grade level (except PreK).
• Magnet homerooms are formed through a lottery system run through DeKalb County called DeKalb School Choice Lottery (50% resident, 50% non-resident).
• DCSD is now a unified school district and therefore integration is no longer a goal of the Magnet program at Evansdale or anywhere in DCSD.
• Students must maintain a “B” average to stay in the Magnet program.
• All Magnet homerooms receive French once a day for 30 minutes.
• Non-Magnet homerooms receive French once a week starting in second grade for 30 minutes.
• Every homeroom has science lab once a week for 45 minutes.

Current Magnet Funding

• Until recently, Evansdale received four staffing allotments beyond the school’s general education staffing allotment to help fund the Magnet program. General education staffing allotments are determined by the total number of students enrolled in the school (both resident and non-resident students).
• When budget cuts prior to 2010 reduced the number of additional personnel to two individuals, all children continued to receive science instruction.  Magnet students received daily French, and non-Magnet students received French enrichment once a week. 
• Increased enrollment following redistricting in 2010 made it impossible for one French teacher to provide adequate instruction to the entire school. Therefore, French enrichment for non-Magnet students in grades K-1 was discontinued.
• DCSD budget cuts in summer 2012 removed all funding for the Evansdale Magnet program, with the exception of transportation for non-resident students.
• Maintaining the Magnet program at its current structure requires paying for a full-time science lab teacher and a full-time French teacher.
• Evansdale funded both positions this year by reallocating dollars the county originally earmarked for Evansdale to hire a part-time school counselor and an Early Intervention Program (EIP) teacher.
• The principal requested funds from the Evansdale Education Foundation to pay for an EIP teacher so that this service would not be lost from the school.
• The budget for next year is unknown, but further budget cuts are anticipated given the current DCSD deficit.

In light of our guiding questions, we propose the following changes to the Evansdale Magnet program in order to ensure the best academic experience for every child at Evansdale Elementary:

Current Magnet Program	Proposed Magnet Program
One magnet homeroom per grade level (except PreK).	Dissolve the magnet homerooms and distribute resident and non-resident Magnet students among all homerooms.
Every K-5 homeroom has science lab once a week for 45 minutes.	No Change
All Magnet homerooms receive French once a day for 30 minutes. Non-Magnet homerooms receive French once a week starting in second grade for 30 minutes.	Offer French twice a week for all students in grades 1-5.
Magnet homerooms (one per grade) are comprised of 50% resident and 50% non-resident students. (For example, Kindergarten currently contains 13 resident and 13 non-resident students.)	Each grade will contain a minimum of 10 non-resident students.  All current students will remain enrolled.  (For example, all 13 non-resident students in Kindergarten in 2012 will have a seat in first grade.)
Students must maintain a “B” average to stay in the Magnet program.	Provide tutoring and remediation services at Evansdale if any student’s performance is below B average or a student tests below grade level.
Magnet (French and Science Lab) currently funded within regular FTE (Full Time Equivalent) allotment.	Evansdale will prioritize science lab funding. French will be cut if FTE funds are not available.