The State Board of Education formally notified Moore County on October 3 that four schools; Aberdeen Elementary School, Elise Middle School, Robbins Elementary School, and Southern Middle School as low-performing schools based on their school performance grades.
All four schools received a school performance grade of a D. Three of these schools have been low performing schools since 2015, with the exception of Elise Middle School which became a low performing grade for the first time this year.
The Moore County Board of Education Monday presented a plan for school improvement that consists of several innovations and stages:
School teams are supported with clear school improvement planning frameworks that include:
• Comprehensive Needs Assessment.
• Utilization of NCStar as an online facilitation tool.
• Twice a year process checks.
• Laser like focus on instructional frameworks, professional learning communities and student health, safety, and welfare.
The district has also implemented plans of support from Central Services:
• Professional Learning to ensure effective school improvement systems and processes.
• Academics and Student Support Services team members in schools supporting the needs of each school.
• Tiered support plans for each Low Performing School and schools that have not met growth for two or more years.
• District Level Coach.
In addition, district coaches will work collaboratively with the schools’ principals to complete the following:
● The Coach will meet with administrators monthly to discuss and monitor the Tiered Support Plan and overall work and progress.
● The Coach and administrators will perform instructional walks with a focus to be determined by the administrative team and school improvement plan.
● In an effort to provide support and suggestions, coaching comments within NCStar will be facilitated by the district assigned coach.
● The Coach will attend twice-yearly process checks to aid in school improvement efforts.
● The Coach will attend to professional development needs of the administrator and will seek to find resources as requested by the administrator.
● The Coach will lead the District Improvement Facilitation Team discussion and follow-up.
Moving forward the district is focusing on the following strategies:
• Deep implementation of professional learning communities, instructional frameworks, and continuous improvement systems and processes.
• Focused intensive support through Tiered Support Plans.
• District level coaching through the school improvement process.
• Potential realignment of current resources.
• Review of opportunities for additional resources and flexibility.
• Continued advocacy for additional local resources to lower class size and push-in instruction supports.
According to Moore County School Board of Education Chair Helena Wallin-Miller, this is going to be a multi-year process to improve these schools.
Article by Local News/Government Reporter Chris Prentice.
Contact him at [email protected] or (910) 639-9303
