Minutes
Teaching and Learning Subcommittee Meeting
Monday, March 12, 2012
A meeting of the Teaching and Learning Subcommittee was held on Monday, March 12, 2012 at
4:30 pm in the 2
nd Floor Conference Room at the NAGE Building. Present were Ms. Barbara
Isola, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, and Mrs. Emily Lebo, Chair. Also attending were Superintendent
DeCristofaro, Assistant Superintendent Colleen Roberts, Mr. Kevin Mulvey, Mr. Keith Segalla;
Mrs. Kathy Bowes, President, Citywide Parents’ Council; Ms. Allison Cox, President, Quincy
Educators’ Association; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
The meeting was called to order at 4:35 pm by Mrs. Lebo.
The first item on the agenda was the Professional Development Quarterly Report presented by Mrs.
Roberts for the period of December 2011-February 2012. Category Trainings: this is the last year these
are being offered by QPS as ELL requirements being reconfigured by DESE and training will change as
well. Mrs. Lebo asked if we know whether teachers who have completed Category trainings will be
grandfathered? The Department of Justice had ruled that Category training was not adequate. Mrs.
Roberts said this is still unknown; upcoming trainings will target teachers who have completed two of
three categories.
Other Professional Development focused on Common Core Standards deconstruction and rollout, Title
I-funded Literacy and Research for Better Teaching-focused trainings. Free Professional Development
was provided for Go Math! for 98% of Grades K-2 teachers system-wide by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
National Institute for School Leadership (NISL) was an 18-month course for Title I Principals and
Assistant Principals, finishing in June.
Mrs. Lebo inquired about a parent meeting for elementary school Math curriculum that had been
previously discussed. Mrs. Roberts suggested that the beginning of next school year would be a good
time; QPS will be rolling out Grade 3 Go Math! and it makes sense to do all grades at the same time. A
citywide event is planned and DSAC may send a speaker. Ms. Isola suggested publicizing the Math
Night at the elementary schools’ Open Houses in September; Dr. DeCristofaro suggested taping the
presentation and posting it to the QPS website. The next Quarterly Professional Development Report
will be given at the June 11, 2012 meeting and will include information about summer courses being
offered.
The next item on the agenda was MCAS Reporting Timelines/NCLB Implications. Mrs. Roberts reported
that Principals were mandated to go to a meeting or Webinar on MCAS and MEPA (last year test being
given). Reporting Results timelines for Spring 2012 tests:
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MEPA test given the first week in March; scores available to schools on June 7
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MCAS preliminary test scores and ELA Long Compositions will be available to schools in midJune. Districts can access preliminary results on August 6. Final official school and district
results available September 18; results can then be shared with School Committee and public.
Dr. DeCristofaro said that these dates will inform the schedule for School Improvement Plans and
Academic Program Improvement Plans and other items the Teaching and Learning Subcommittee will
review next fall. At the June 11 Teaching and Learning Subcommittee meeting, a proposed timeline and
draft Assessment Calendar can be shared. Mrs. Roberts stated that based on these dates, the School
Improvement Plans will probably be ready for review in early November, as they were this year. When
testing moves to being online in the next couple of years, results will be available almost instantly. Mrs.
Lebo and Ms. Isola both commented on how the availability of data impacts School Committee’s ability
to budget properly and each school’s ability to have the whole school year to implement changes.
The NCLB Requirements in place for 2001-2011 had a goal of 100% proficiency by 2014 and ranks for
AYP status. It required Title I budget reserve for school choice and professional development.
Massachusetts filed for waiver because close to 90% of districts were not making AYP. Under the terms
of the waiver, schools must move the proficiency gap of low-income students closer to results for all
students. A Progress and Performance Index (PPI) will be generated for each school and each subgroup
within each school. By 2016-17, the proficiency gap should be reduced by half; it requires greater
progress for students who are the farthest behind. Mrs. Lebo noted that the waiver also reflected that
the MCAS test was among the most challenging, where other states’ tests were not to the same
standards. Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs) are going to take the place of AYP. Determinations
based on 4 years of data. New DART tools from DESE will include ELL, School Level, and Staffing. (DART
is based on SIMS data.)
The third item on the agenda, New Educator Evaluation will be reviewed in Executive Session at the end
of the public meeting.
The next item on the agenda was the Common Core and Curriculum Updates Mrs. Roberts spoke about
the research being done on supplementary materials for the remainder of this year and next school year
to assist with the transition to the new Common Core State Standards. The elementary schools would
like to look at new materials: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Reading program Journeys may be piloted at
Lincoln-Hancock and Squantum for 2012-2013. HMH representatives will be visiting with teachers at
these schools to discuss the possible pilot and a cost estimate for the pilot will be prepared. A new
Reading program would be a multi-year transition for Quincy Public Schools due to the expense. Mrs.
Roberts like to purchase Grade 3 Go Math! for all elementary schools for the 2012-2013 school year; she
has money in this year’s budget to fund purchase. The plan would be to do overview, training, and
introduce technology over the summer.
The middle and high school teachers are being more cautious and will be looking at supplemental
materials, especially for Math. The publisher(s) have created Common Core supplementary workbooks
for Grades 4 through High School for Math.
Ms. Isola asked if cost estimates could be available for the March 26, 2012 Budget and Finance
Subcommittee meeting. Mrs. Roberts agreed, and also stated that we did not purchase manipulatives
for Grades 1 and 2 and she would like to purchase those if possible. Kindergarten manipulatives were
purchased last fall along with the new textbooks.
The last item on the agenda was Timeline Considerations:
SIPs and PIPs Review should begin in late October/early November (SIPs and Academic PIPs)
Principals need to have Assessment Day 1 completed in mid-October and time to reflect and develop
goals based on MCAS data. Because of the availability of MCAS data, the non-Academic Support PIPs
would be first. Dr. DeCristofaro will look at all PIPs and SIPs, align to Subcommittees and propose a
timeline for June 11 Teaching and Learning Subcommittee meeting.
The snapshot overview format worked well for this past year’s presentations; Mrs. Lebo suggested that
data should be in the same format for all schools. Ms. Isola mentioned that goals continued from the
previous year should be indicated and steps changed highlighted. Mrs. Lebo requested an overview of
what DESE requires in a SIP; also metioned that she likes to see a balance of data-driven and school
culture goals in SIPs.
Perkins Core Indicators Mr. Keith Segalla to review at the April 2, 2012 meeting
Alternative Programs (GOALS, Evening High School, Teen Mothers Numbers) Information contained in
the District Improvement Plan’s Annual System Profile and Progress Report. Mrs. Roberts to review at
the May 14, 2012 meeting.
Educational Technology Mr. Keith Segalla to review at the April 2, 2012 meeting so School Committee
has information for budget process (software and hardware, professional development) .
SAT Data, AP Enrollment/Data, Graduation Drop-Out Information Information contained in the District
Improvement Plan’s Annual System Profile and Progress Report. Mrs. Roberts to review at the May 14,
2012 meeting.
Graduation Follow-Up Mrs. Roberts suggested that the Naviance system could help us track this data;
Mr. Keith Segalla will follow up as to whether the Alternative Programs have access. Mrs. Lebo
requested a presentation on Naviance by Paula McGeady , Helena Skinner, and Maura Papile at the
May 14, 2012 subcommittee meeting.
Gifted and Talented Information Mrs. Roberts to review at the May 14, 2012 meeting. Ms. Isola
suggested that this be an agenda item for a future School Committee Meeting.
English Language Learners Update as part of Common Core and Assessment updates; Ms. Beth Hallett
will be invited to the May 14, 2012 meeting.
Mrs. Lebo suggested adding Common Core and Assessment Updates from DESE as Old Business on each
Agenda. Proposed agenda items for the remaining meetings are as follows:
April 2
May 14
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Review of System Profile and Progress Report
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Alternative Program Goals
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Naviance (Paula McGeady, Helena Skinner, Maura Papile)
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Screening Process for ELC and APC
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Common Core and Assessment Updates from DESE
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ELL Program Update (Beth Hallett)
June 11
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Professional Development Quarterly Report (including information on Summer courses being
offered)
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Draft Assessment Calendar
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Draft Timeline for SIP and PIP (Academic and Academic Support) development; alignment to
Subcommittees
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Outline of what Principals will present at SIP review, standard items to be covered
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Common Core and Assessment Updates from DESE
The public portion of the meeting was adjourned at 5:55 pm on a roll call vote. The Subcommittee went
into Executive Session and did not return to the regular meeting.