Innovation school presentations

initial presentation on innovation schools: this is not the plan tonight, just an introduction
There will be a hearing once School Committee gets the plan
Sorry, just got online...posting as I go...


Lincoln Street:
"moral and ethical obligation to all of our students..to take their rightful place in our 21st century global society"
initially planned to work with Burncoat Prep; now have gone on alone
worked collegial and well
staff voted 22-1 in favor
"it is not my plan; it is our plan"
early literacy and content literacy
LEP and Sped subgroups
collaborative planning, data analysis, high quality professional development
daily literacy block, writing block
families will understand the school's expectations and become partners
community partnerships
supplement Common Core standards

Worcester East Middle
"over 10 years ago, WEMS had a health academy in the school"
part of the Pipeline
"as funding became tighter...eventual dissolution of the program"
cohesive program of studies
1/3 of WEMS students: an academy within the school
partial conversion
two major changes: requesting to add Gr. 6 for 2013-14 year;
applied learning laboratory block: what they have learned to projects

• scientific method and experimentation
• informational research, writing, & presentation
• data analysis and stats
• engineering design & tech

Public presentations at the end of each quarter
 "Why can't we put these things together so that the kids realize that these things are the same?"
we've lost our separate tech departments; address in a more focused way
Positive classroom: Developmental design
middle school: students changing rapidly; this will provide the support that they need to make it through middle school successfully


Worcester Tech:
$90 m facility, infrastructure that is state of the art
"create a STEM innovation plan"
reminder: STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
statewide STEM plan, 2010
goal to have 100% of students college and career ready
83% of WPS grads need remediation when they get to college
curricular autonomy: align Common Core with Ch. 74 standards
 "a crosswalk for all of our programs in science, technology, engineering, and math"
asking for budget autonomy
wanting to do ENTIRE school as a STEM academy: "didn't want to isolate, choose some and not others"
school schedule autonomy: 30 buses...offer virtual school
Northeastern courses online
staffing autonomy: on academic side (so as not to pull from bid list)
professional development: externships during the summers

About a month to get the plans to School Committee
Plans completed first week of April
Then hearings
Then vote