Teachers design plans to improve test scores

Strategy targets low-scoring students

Parish schools are counting on new learning methods to improve student’s test scores in 2007.”When learning increases, test scores will improve,” Rachel Allemand, executive director of curriculum and instruction said. “70 percent of the students in St. Charles Parish schools score at the basic or above level on testing, and 30 percent of the students are at the approaching basic level.”

Allemand hopes that giving the approaching basic students individualized attention will help them learn. First through, eighth grade teachers have been assigned the task of creating individual plans or prescriptions.

“We’ve given teachers until the first nine weeks of school to identify and come up with a plan for the students that scored below basic,” she said.

Allemand says the approach is similar to an individual education plan that is designed for special needs students.

“We’re using a model similar to the IEP to come up with a specific need and target area for these children to help identify their areas of weakness and a plan to provide them with the support they need to improve,” she said.”We’re building in more tracking and accountability.”

Many schools are offering additional tutoring and homework help for kids.

“Principals are on board and have different programs readily available for students,” Allemand said.

Each school has to come up with a strategy to make improvements in schools all across the parish each year.

Parental support, Allemand said, is the key to a child’s success.

“I encourage parents to read with their children,” she said. “If your child is in elementary, middle, or high school, reading to them or with them is essential.”

Allemand suggests that parents who have children in high school read the same novel and discuss it as a shared reading activity.

“I think students should read the newspaper, and if they get stuck on a word, parents can help them identify it or get them familiar with using the dictionary,” Allemand said.

The mission of St. Charles Parish Public Schools is to provide high quality educational opportunities to enable its students to become responsible, productive citizens and enthusiastic life-long learners.

“We ensure that our children work within the parish’s mission,” Allemand said.” Some of the principals are adding a community component where leaders of the community lend their support to our students, and I think it’s a wonderful idea.