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Fall2011

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Dr. Stephen West Named

Executive Director of Educational

ServicesWe are pleased to

announce that Dr. Stephen West has joined Eden Prairie Schools as the new Executive Director of Educational Services.

“I look forward to being a part of the excellence that defines Eden Prairie Schools,” said West. “We want Eden Prairie Schools to be a place everyone wants to be, and to make sure we provide the best educational opportunities for our kids— both now and in life after high school. I look forward to collaborating with staff on their initiatives to help ensure that every child reaches their full potential.”

Dr. West began his career as an educator—first as a social studies teacher, progressing to a dean of students, moving to an assistant principal position and finally working as a principal in Richfield before joining the Eden Prairie Schools.

Dr. Stephen West

AROUND THE DISTRICT

Congratulations Class of 2011!We, as a community, have much to be proud of as we look back on the graduating class of 2011. Look at these amazing numbers:

•More than 250 seniors graduated with honors. These students had grade point averages (GPAs) of 3.5 or above and had six or more advanced placement (AP) and/or college-level credits.

•More than 100 seniors graduated with GPA’s between 3.9 and 4.0, and

•More than 130 students graduated with GPAs between 3.75-3.89.

Congratulations to Eden Prairie High School’s National Merit Semi-Finalists

Andrew Pollino

BrianReinken

Alexander Reinking

Daniel Spaeth

Erik Swan

Mengxi Yang

AlecIverson

Joanne Jiang

John Kelley

He Li

EmilyMattison

EvanOlawsky

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AROUND THE DISTRICT

Staff Receive Summer Professional Development in STEM, Literacy

Academic achievement and the success of all students is front and center in Eden Prairie Schools’ professional development program. Over the summer, many teachers took the opportunity to learn important instructional strategies in the areas of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), Literacy, and Responsive Classrooms and Developmental Designs (approaches to education that emphasizes social, emotional, and academic growth).

“Professional development is vital to the success of our schools,” said Dr. Stephen West, Executive Director of Educational Services. “We know that nothing is more important to achievement than a quality teacher in the front of each classroom. So, professional development lays that important groundwork for excellence, sharpening skills and helping our teachers to stay at the top of their game.”

Using research from the Learning Forward/National Staff Development, Eden Prairie Schools developed a set of guiding principles to achieve high quality professional learning and continuous improvement of teacher effectiveness. These principles will provide a common language for practice and a common understanding for effective professional development.

Guiding Principles of Professional LearningEden Prairie Schools Professional Learning:

• Maintainsthefocusofprofessionallearningonstudentlearningand operatesonthebeliefthatallstudentscanandwilllearn.• Respectsandnurturesthediverseintellectual,reflectiveandleadership capacityofeachindividualintheEdenPrairieschools.• Includesmultiple,diverseperspectivestostrengthentheorganizationandimprovedecision-making.• Isplanned,implementedandevaluatedcollaboratively.• Isembedded,ongoing,andsustainableatthedistrictandsitelevels,and differentiatedwhereappropriate.• Utilizesbestavailableresearchanddata.

ASBO Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010

Eden Prairie Schools is proud to announce it has once again received the Association of School Business Officials International’s (ASBO) Certificate of Excellence (COE) in Financial Reporting award. The COE award is conferred to school systems that have met or exceeded the stringent standards of the COE criteria. The district was recognized for its high-quality Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ending 2010. The COE award confirms the school business office’s commitment to financial accountability and transparency. ASBO, founded in 1910 is a professional association of more than 5,000 members that provides programs and services to promote the highest standards of school business management practices, professional growth, and the effective use of educational resources. Eden Prairie Schools received this award in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.

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ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

District Testing Plan Available Online

The 2011-12 Testing Plan is available online at www.edenpr.org. You’ll find all state and district assessments anticipated for the 2011-2012 school year along with information on who takes the tests, when they are administered, how the results are

used, and the objectives of the assessment program. Click on “Academics” and then “Testing.”

Eden Prairie Schools Students Continue to Outpace State MCA Scores2011 MCA II Reading Results Show Continued

Progress Across All Student Categories

Eden Prairie students continue to outpace their state peers in reading. Recently released results show every grade level outperforming the state on the Reading MCAs.

Historical Performance Continues to Improve on MCA II Reading

This year’s results continue the positive trend of increasing proficiency levels by all grades.

“The results reinforce the district’s efforts to close the achievement gap across subgroups,” said Dr. Stephen West, Executive Director of Educational Services. “We are encouraged by these results but realize there’s more work to be done. The district will continue to seek sustained learning improvement over time until all achievement gaps have been erased.”

2011 MCA III Math Results will Serve as Baseline for Future Achievement Scores

Eden Prairie students’ MCA III Math scores also remain higher than state averages.

The 2011 MCA III math results reflect the first opportunity to assess Minnesota students on the state’s new, rigorous math standards. The 2011 scores will become Eden Prairie’s baseline for comparison in future years.

“It’s natural to want to compare scores from the previous year,” Dr. West said. “But we can’t offer a valid comparison between two different sets of standards and two different assessment tools.”

The state’s new rigorous standards are embedded in Eden Prairie’s curriculum. The district:•expectssteadyimprovementinproficiencyscoresintheyearsahead,•believesthechangeingradeconfigurationwillprovidenewcollaborativeopportunitiesbetweenteacherstopositivelyimpactscoresinthefuture,and•willusetheseMCAandothercommonmathassessmentresultsasabasisforplanninginstructionalimprovementsateveryschool.

Eden Prairie Subgroups Significantly Outperform State Subgroups

The focus on eliminating racially predictable gaps continues to produce positive results for racial subgroups. Eden Prairie’s subgroup proficiency levels are significantly higher than the state’s.

2011 Reading MCA II Subgroup Comparison to State

Subgroups MN Reading Avg EPS Reading Avg Difference

American Indian 54% 62% +8%

Asian 65% 91% +26%

Hispanic 53% 72% +19%

Black 52% 65% +13%

White 81% 91% +10%

2011 Math MCA III Subgroup Comparison to State

Subgroups MN Math Avg EPS Math Avg Difference

American Indian

30% 52% +22%

Asian 53% 81% +28%

Hispanic 31% 46% +15%

Black 28% 36% +9%

White 64% 75% +12%

“We continue our commitment to eliminating the achievement gap,” Dr. West said. “Our staff uses these data, as well as results of other assessments in math and reading, to identify areas that need renewed focus in our classrooms. The scores show a positive change in achievement that reflects the hard work of our staff. We believe we will see that change continue in the years ahead.”

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Results Policy R 3: Global CitizenshipAll students will develop and model the important attributes that citizens and residents of the United States must have to contribute to and

participate in an effective and productive local, national, and global community.

Progress Overview:Results Policy R 3: Global Citizenship was monitored on March 22, 2011. The School Board approved the report. Below is an

excerpt from the executive summary of the monitoring report.

New Proficiency Indicators:• The current Minnesota Science standards were adopted May 2010.• The new Minnesota K-12 Social Studies Standards were released in draft form on February 25, 2011 and the final version is

scheduled for publication in October 2011.• Pursuant to a decision at the February 22, 2011 Board Workshop, grades will be used to monitor the proficiency indicators.

Next steps include:• The Research, Evaluation and Assessment team will work with science teachers to identify which courses and units of study will be

used in monitoring part of this policy.• This group will also identify the alignment between the current social studies standards and the new standards and determine

which courses and units of study will be used in monitoring certain parts of this policy.

New Participation Indicators:• Proficiency indicators will be complemented by participation indicators using data on student participation in activities and

programs aligned to the policy goals.

Next steps include: • A technology solution is being developed for collecting participation data.

Eden Prairie School Board members ensure accountability in the school district by reviewing monitoring reports throughout the year. The reports provide information related to the Board’s operational expectations and student academic results. Information in these monitoring reports also includes student achievement goals for meeting academic standards, results of local assessment data as well as other test data, and survey results. To view the most up-to-date monitoring reports, log onto www.edenpr.org and click on “Who We Are” then “School Board.”

District Website Gets a New Look this FallThis fall, Eden Prairie Schools will launch a newly-designed district website.

The new website will allow for a handful of rotating feature stories as well as a regular profile of an outstanding student, staff, parent, or community member who’s making a difference in the lives of our students. Four new school websites also will go live this fall and will include consistent navigation and a more updated look.

• FeatureStories

• DailyNewsFeed

• EventsCalendar

• StudentSpotlight

• OnlinePublications

• DidYouKnow?TipsandFacts

Coming Soon to www.edenpr.org

PROGRESS TOWARD RESULTS POLICIES

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Progress Overview:

Results Policy R2.2-Math was monitored in December 2010. The Board approved the monitoring report with its stated exceptions to English Learners in Math Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) in grades 6, 7, and 8, and the following subgroups of 4th grade students in Common Assessment: Black, Special Ed (SPED), English Learners (EL), and Free/Reduced Priced Lunch (FRP). Below is an excerpt from the executive summary.

• Grade 4 Common Assessment results do not show reasonable progress with some subgroups. This data reflects two years of results. Adjustments were made to the assessment tool from 2009-2010 to more accurately reflect math standards and curriculum. Results in grade four may be indicative of this change and may not adequately reflect progress of students.

• Grade 6 Common Assessment results show that all subgroups, but one, grew at double-digit, gap-closing rates. The gains experienced by our Black, SPED and FRP students were especially significant. The gap between Whites and Blacks decreased by 32 percentage points.

• With MCAs, there is generally consistent growth in grades 4 and 11 and inconsistent growth in grades 6 and 8. • High School Common Assessments reflect consistent positive performance overall.• Grade 11 MCA overall proficiency rates continue to improve. Hispanic students, in particular, show significant

improvement with a 46% increase, overall, since 2008.• In 7 of 12 cells, of the MCAs for grades 6, 7, and 8 and Common Assessments for grades 5-6, Blacks and Hispanics

outpace the largest, most successful subgroup (white students), with gap-closing rates. • Central Middle School and High School have improvements in participation rates for enriched and advanced classes

for almost all subgroups. Participation of Hispanic students improved by 19% and 11% at EPHS. • AYP Status in Math is also improving: from 5 cells not making AYP in 2008, to only 1 cell not making AYP in

2009, to all cells making achievement AYP in 2010.

Results Policy R 2.2: MathAll students will stretch to achieve academic excellence without racial predictability and graduate prepared for post-secondary options.

Students will apply the knowledge or skills acquired from math to ensure a broad range of post-secondary opportunities and career choices.

Capacity Building: Transformation Process• The Ideas and Possibilities Task Force is studying Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM) principles

and researching effective math practices district-wide to replicate these as we move to K-6 sites. Secondary Adminis-tration will ensure the alignment of these principles and practices at the secondary sites through the 7-12 alignment process.

• Adoption of a new secondary assessment tool, PLATO, will provide data and instructional tools to better meet the needs of learners.

• Align assessments with math curriculum and standards for grade four.• Adoption of a new data analysis tool to track and report on cohorts of students.

K-6 Math Focus• Increase at all sites in the amount of time devoted to math instruction.• Continue Targeted Services interventions through extended day programming at every elementary site.

EL Parent Involvement Efforts• Continuing the efforts of the Parent Engagement Team• Continue College 101 for Somali and Latino Families• Increase attention to timely communication of assessment results with EL parents

Professional Development• Continue intentional language instruction through Sheltered Instruction (SIOP) training for general education

and ESL teachers. This training focuses on the use of targeted instructional strategies in math vocabulary to make content instruction comprehensible for EL.

• Continue Math Academy professional development training and follow-up opportunities.EL Instructional Support• Licensed teaching staff has been assigned to CMS and the HS to support math instruction for English Learners. • Exploring student participation rates in enriched math K-6 to develop strategies to increase participation in enriched

courses at CMS and the HS.

PROGRESS TOWARD RESULTS POLICIES

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Results Policy R 2.3: ArtAll students will stretch to achieve academic excellence without racial predictability and graduate prepared for post-secondary options.

Students will explore, understand and value the arts.

Capacity Building:

• In the last Arts monitoring report, a commitment was made to create a technology solution to better manage, monitor, and report student progress. The Sequel Reporting System (SRS) has been developed for this purpose and is now functional. This tool provides the capacity to use grades in monitoring reports. SRS reports will provide data for future results monitoring reports.

• Possible barriers such as language, transportation, recruiting window, scheduling and/or rental fees to instrumental music participation will be explored and addressed. In the new K-6 model, there will be one main band and orchestra teacher per school, which will lend itself to building sustained relationships with students and families. We trust that these improved relationships will lead to increased interest and participation by students in the instrumental music program.

• Music scheduling conflicts for EL students at CMS will be explored and addressed.• The Teaching and Learning department will convene the Arts teachers in our district (k-12) to reflect on the data and the

achievement and participation gaps noted in this report. Action steps will be determined for addressing these gaps.

Progress Overview:Results Policy 2.4-Art was monitored on April 26, 2011. (This report was monitoring our educational program for the 2009-10 school year.) The School Board accepted the monitoring report. Below is an excerpt from the executive summary.

Arts instruction in Eden Prairie Schools:• Grades K through 4 students received 45 minutes of music and art instruction every 4th day.• At Oak Point, all students received general music instruction. Students may also choose to participate in band or orchestra.• At Central Middle School (CMS) students choose to participate in either band, orchestra, choir or general music. Not all

CMS students participate in music.• All high school arts courses are divided into the fine and applied arts. All high school students are required to take two

credits in fine or applied arts. There is no common arts experience at the high school. Areas of strength:• In sixth grade, 94% of proficient students also participated in band or orchestra.• In sixth grade, proficient Hispanic, Asian, and English Learner (EL) students all participated in band or orchestra.• Fifty-three percent of all fifth and sixth grade students participate in band or orchestra.• The lowest achievement gaps in Art are seen at the elementary and middle school levels.• All students performed well in Art in grade 8.Areas of development:• It appears that there could be barriers to instrumental music participation at grades five and six.• The data shows significant achievement gaps for English Learners in music in grades four and six.• The low number of English Learners participation in music courses at CMS is due to scheduling conflicts.• Achievement gaps in both the fine and applied arts at the high school are clearly evident in our Black, Hispanic, American

Indian, Special Education, English Learners, and Free and Reduced-Priced Lunch subgroups.

Here’s your opportunity to give input into the Eden Prairie Schools’ curriculum. The Eden Prairie Schools Curriculum Advisory Council (CAC) provides review and comment on district-wide educational standards, curriculum, and program evaluations.

If you’re interested in participating on the CAC, please contact the Department of Teaching and Learning at (952) 975-7000. You may apply at any time. Positions are filled as there are openings.

If more people apply than openings available, selection of committee members will ensure that the membership reflects site representation and the diversity of the district.

Current CAC Members (terms expire in 2012): Bonita Jepson, Kellie Krick Oborn, Julie Osborn, Sarah Sheehan, Alexa Smith, Darrin Stuhr, Dr. Padmini Udupa, Janet Pladson (Director of Teaching and Learning--Elementary), and Jeff Aamot (Director of Teaching and Learning--Secondary).

Curriculum Advisory Council

PROGRESS TOWARD RESULTS POLICIES

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During our recent School Board meeting, we discussed Eden Prairie School priorities with our Administration. We have many exciting initiatives underway: Central Middle School and High School student achievement, participation and behavioral growth, Pre-K program enhancements, K-6 Transformation, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) implementation, equity work and community outreach, to name a few.

As our Administration implements these initiatives, the Board evaluates the success of these initiatives by focusing on student achievement results. Recently, we enhanced the “Academic Achievement R2” report to focus attention in reading and overall academic growth for students as follows:

•Reading Readiness and Proficiency --Students are prepared to start 1st grade

•Academic Growth annually for students in Math, Reading, Writing, Science, Social Studies, World Languages

•Accelerated Academic Growth annually for top and bottom quartile students in Math and Reading

•Close the Racially Predictable Achievement Gap--100% student proficiency by 2014 in Math, Reading and Science

In addition to our evaluative work, the Board initiates outreach opportunities with our community through our Connections Committee, of which I am a member. Over the past school year, we have hosted nine Stakeholder Connection Sessions with our Board and we greatly appreciate the constructive conversations and ideas that many community members have provided. Each of your unique perspectives adds value to our decisions and ultimately to the educational offerings for our students.

We also hosted two Connection Sessions to gather stakeholder input for our “Life Skills” policy and to provide information and idea sharing regarding the “STEM” program implementation. Both of these sessions were well attended with our interested and educated stakeholders helping to inform our policies and decisions.

As a Board, we are excited about the many educational initiatives that are underway in Eden Prairie. We are working hard to evaluate the success of these initiatives on an ongoing basis (as we evaluate our Results Monitoring Reports throughout the year) and we value the ongoing connection with our many caring, involved, thoughtful community members and stakeholders. Thank you for wanting the best education for all of our students.

Suzanne KutinaSchool Board Member

Postal CustomerEden Prairie, MN

Non-profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 253

Eden Prairie, MNReport on Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Achievement

I.S.D. 272 www.edenpr.org

School Board:Carol Bomben, John Estall, Ranee Jacobus, Suzanne Kutina, Chuck Mueller, Holly Parker, and Kim Ross

Administration:Janet Pladson, Ph.D., Interim Superintendent

Stephen West, Ph.D.,Executive Director of Educational Services

Patricia Magnuson, Executive Director of Business Services

Thomas May,Executive Director of Human Resources

Karen Filla,Director of Student Support Services

Translation Available:Warbixin muhiim ah. Wac Abdullahi Hassan in laguu turjubaano 952-975-7069.

Especialista en Comunicaciones Heriberto Vargas llame al 952-975-7068 para Traducciones Importantes.

THROUGH THE BOARD LENS