Minutes
Quincy School Committee
Teaching & Learning Subcommittee Meeting
Monday, October 27, 2014
A meeting of the Teaching & Learning Subcommittee was held on Monday, October 27, 2014 at 5:00
pm at the Coddington Building. Present were Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Mrs. Anne Mahoney, Mr. David
McCarthy, and Ms. Barbara Isola, Chair. Also attending were Superintendent DeCristofaro, Deputy
Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Mrs. Mary Fredrickson, Ms. Beth Hallett, Mrs. Maura Papile, Mrs. Erin
Perkins, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr. Keith Segalla, Mr. Robert Shaw, Mr. Lawrence Taglieri, Ms. Judy Todd;
and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
Ms. Isola called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. Mr. Shaw presented the North Quincy High School
Improvement Plan. In reviewing last year's goals, North Quincy did not meet the MCAS Average
Percent Correct for ELA or Math. In ELA, there was a downward trend on the Reading anchor, but
improvement for ELL and students with disability subgroups. Trends were similar for Math. Students
whose first language is not English showed a 22% improvement in Science, were stable in English, and
made gains for Math.
For 2014-2015, the focus is on increased teacher collaboration, a building-wide review of Grade 9
reading, extended usage of data analysis, and alignment with district goals. This year, there is a
significant change to school culture with new schedule structure that equalizes class time, provides
daily common prep time for teachers, more opportunity for students to take the classes they desire,
and more time spent on academics. Increased vertical and horizontal collaboration will support
success in freshman year and a building-wide team will identify gaps in reading instruction.
Goals for 2014-2015 are that North Quincy High School students will demonstrate an increased ability
to (1) read and comprehend literary and informational texts independently and efficiently, as
measured by a 2 point increase on the Average Percent Correct on the Reading Anchor Standard on
the Spring 2015 ELA MCAS (from a base of 73% in 2014) and demonstrated by related departments
achieving their aligned departmental goals and (2) persevere and use abstract reasoning to solve
complex problems as well as construct a detailed argument with precise and accurate mathematical
language, as measured by a 2 point increase on the Average Percent Correct on each of the Open
Response and Short Answer portions of the Spring 2015 Math MCAS (from a base of 66% on the Open
Responses and 62% on the Short Answers in 2014) and demonstrated by related departments
achieving their aligned departmental goals. (3) All Learning Center students will demonstrate
progress in their performance of the skills, knowledge, and concepts outlined in the current state
frameworks, as measured by 100% of students achieving scores of progressing, emerging, or
awareness on the ELA, Math, and Science alternate assessments. (4) ELL students will demonstrate a proficiency level appropriate ability to listen and speak academic English while developing
perseverance for sustained listening and speaking at the WIDA-appropriate discourse level. This will
be measured by 70% of students with a 2014 ACCESS score realizing 0.5% improvement on the
Speaking portion of the 2015 ACCESS. (5) The school will continue to provide educational activities
and opportunities that enhance development of lifelong wellness practices. This will be evident by
the school’s wellness team and guidance department achieving their aligned improvement goals, as
shown by successful completion of action steps, detailed agendas, and notes from regular meetings,
related professional development, and consistent reflection of ongoing goal assessment.
Ms. Isola asked about the schedule change and how this would improve staff collaboration; common
planning time is built into the new schedule. Ms. Isola questioned whether the goal should be higher
to make up the lost ground. Mr. Shaw said the staff was concerned that it was more than a short
term issue to be addressed and that the long-term goal is to be back at the level of the 2013 MCAS
and beyond.
Mr. Taglieri said that in looking at the state data, it is clear that this past year’s MCAS test was a
challenge in many school districts. Ms. Hallett noted that this is the first year of testing the full
Common Core standards. Mr. Shaw said that the focus on the supporting the current Grade 9
students should show results when they are tested in Grade 10.
Ms. Isola asked for the facilities items to be charted for the Facilities & Security Subcommittee to
follow up with. Ms. Isola asked that someone from the community be added to the School Council.
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to approve the North Quincy High School Improvement Plan. Mrs.
Mahoney seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Mr. Taglieri presented the Quincy High School Improvement Plan, speaking of the staff collaboration
and Professional Learning Community cross-discipline teams. Staff collaboration combines to
prepare students for college and careers and guidance staff assists with outreach and interventions.
Aspen has been a good addition to the school, a communication tool for parents and teachers, and
guidance.
For 2013-2014, the MCAS goals were not achieved and like NQHS, the staff is committed to analyzing
the data and refocusing the action steps of the goals in order to regain any ground lost on the
achievement between last year and this year. Alignment of new textbooks in Math is complete,
much work was done last year on Educator Evaluation and DDMs. Wellness action steps included
positive-decision making, peer leadership groups, quarterly assemblies, and keeping in touch with
families. Mr. Taglieri thanked School Committee for the Health Interventionist position.
In 2013-2014, 87% scored proficient or advanced on the Grade 10 MCAS for ELA and 71% scored
proficient or advanced on the Grade 10 Math MCAS. 81 Quincy High School students will be
recognized for receiving the Adams Scholarship for MCAS achievement. Mr. Taglieri noted that
Quincy High School’s class size is excellent this year, 80% of classes are at 23 students or fewer.
Mr. McCarthy asked about class size for Physical Education; right now, all classes are at a comfortable
level. That will continue to be monitored through the remaining quarters. Mr. McCarthy asked about
the student parking on the Coddington Street, it has been resurfaced and signage will be added.
Quincy High School’s goals for 2014-2015 are to have students demonstrate an increased ability to (1)
read and comprehend literary and informational texts independently and efficiently, as measured by
a 2% increase on the Reading Anchor Standard on the Spring 2015 ELA MCAS (from a base of 72% in
2014) and demonstrated by related departments achieving their aligned improvement goals and (2)
persevere and use abstract reasoning to solve complex problems as well as construct a detailed
argument with precise and accurate mathematical language, as measured by a 2% increase on each
of the Open Response and Short Answer portion of the 2015 Mathematics MCAS (from a base of 59%
and 51%, respectively) as well as the continued implementation and re-alignment of mid-year and
final assessments. (3) Quincy High School will continue to provide educational activities and
opportunities that enhance development of lifelong wellness practices. This will be evident by
departments achieving their aligned Individual Improvement Goal, as shown by successful completion
of Action Steps, detailed agendas and notes from Council meetings, related professional development
and consistent reflection of ongoing goal assessments.
Mrs. Hubley said that both High School Improvement Plans are excellent, very well done.
Mrs. Mahoney asked about the issue about the gymnasium lockers, and Mr. Taglieri explained that
this is a design issue, there is a part that easily bends.
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to approve the North Quincy High School Improvement Plan. Mrs.
Mahoney seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Mr. Keith Segalla presented the Career and Technical Education Program Improvement Plan, noting
that the Coordinated Program Review is just completed, over 40 documents were submitted in
September for Career & Technical Education, Special Education, English Language Learners, and Civil
Rights. 20 students were identified for a student record review, there was an OSHA review, 30
interviews with 160 participants, and classroom and shop observations were completed. During the
exit interview, positive insight was shared by the Coordinated Program Review team, citing the innovative programs, active program Advisory committtee, strong School~Community Partnership,
and data reports. The final Coordinated Program Review report is due in 60-90 days.
The Career & Technical Education Goals for 2014-2015 are that students will (1) demonstrate
Speaking and Listening proficiency by showing an ability to read, comprehend, and present, using
informational texts, manuals, or periodicals. This will be evidenced by performance on an end of
course assessment using the Shares Knowledge Effectively and Works Independently Rubric. In
addition, students will demonstrate listening skills using recall techniques with an average grade of
80% for all students and (2) the CVTE staff will implement full the new Vocational Technical Education
Frameworks standards in their technical majors. The Career & Technical Education Advisory Team
will (1) design and develop a report for presentation to the School Committee in May 2015 and (2)
enlist an Advisory Board member to present a relevant lesson or a visitation to their workplace of
post-secondary institution for students in each CTE major.
Ms. Isola noted that the Quincy High School Culinary students assisted with the QCAP Best Chefs
event and the students made the program proud, the professional chefs were complimentary. The
winning chef used one of the students as a sous chef, and the student really performed under
pressure. Mr. McCarthy asked about enrollment numbers for CTE programs. Mr. Segalla said
numbers are healthy and nothing is oversubscribed.
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to approve the Career & Technical Education Program Improvement
Plan. Mrs. Mahoney seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Ms. Hallett presented the English Language Learner Program Improvement Plan, noting that the
Coordinated Program Review was also recently completed for this program. Hundreds of documents
submitted, 25 student records reviewed, eight schools visited, and two separate teams interviewed
22 people. In the exit interview, the team was extremely pleased with the program.
The ELL program offers high-quality English Language Development instruction, allowing students the
opportunity to acquire essential interpersonal skills and academic language to become viable
members of their schools and community. With School Committee support, additional elementary
positions were added to accommodate the growing ELL population. In this third year with new WIDA
standards, all teachers are trained through workshops offered three to four times
annually. Curriculum alignment is continuing for all grade and fluency levels. Family involvement is
encouraged at all levels.
In reflecting on last year's goals, the goal was for 80% of students to show an increase in ACCESS
proficiency scores for Writing at the elementary level and Speaking at the middle and high school levels. 1,276 students were ACCESS tested and 833 took the test both years. At the elementary level,
70% of students achieved the goal; 54% at the secondary level. The biggest jumps are at the lowest
fluency levels; as students approach full proficiency, gains are smaller.
For this year, the goal has been adjusted. For lower fluency students, the goal will continue to be
focused on the Writing domain, while the secondary students will focus on Reading. Key curriculum
alignment was completed during the school year, as was creation of District-Determined
Measures. Curriculum alignment continued throughout the summer and through this school year.
2014 MCAS results for ELL students were shared. For ELA, there were improvement in Grades 3, 5, 6,
7 and all grades except 8 are higher than the state for percentage passing. For Math, Grades 3, 5, 8,
and 10 improved the percentage passing and QPS students outperformed the state at all grades for
percentage pass, significantly at Grades 8 and 10. For Science, gains in the percentage passing were
seen in all grades for QPS ELL students and QPS students outperformed the state at all grades.
For Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAO), the program exceeded district targets for
Progress and Attainment, but not Cumulative Progress and Performance. Considerable progress has
been made moving from the 2012 PPI of 55 to the 2013 PPI of 63.
Goals for 2014-2015, the ELL Elementary/Middle School team will (1) focus specifically on improving
students’ writing about increasingly complex texts. For ELLs at Fluencies 1, 2, and 3, this will be
measured by 80% increasing their individual Writing scores on the 2015 ACCESS for ELLs assessment
by 0.5%. For ELLs at Fluencies 4 and 5, this will be measured by an increase of 2% for Average
Percent Correct on the Writing Anchor Standard for the 2015 MCAS Assessment; and (2) continue to
collaborate with each other to finalize the building, revision, and implementation of full ELL
Curriculum Maps for all English Language Proficiency Levels in Grades K-5 and Grades 6-8 with a
specific focus on an ELL Newcomers Curriculum. Maps will fully align English Language Development
curricula to all aspects of the WIDA framework and the 2011 Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks
for ELA/Literacy.
The ELL Middle/High School team will (1) focus specifically on improving students’ comprehension
and writing about increasingly complex texts. For ELLs at Fluencies 1, 2, and 3, this will be measured
by 80% increasing their individual Reading scores on the 2015 ACCESS for ELLs assessment by 0.5%.
For ELLs at Fluencies 4 and 5, this will be measured by an increase of 2% for Average Percent Correct
on the Writing Anchor Standard for the 2015 MCAS Assessment; and (2) continue to collaborate with
each other to finalize the building, revision, and implementation of full ELL Curriculum Alignment for
all English Language Proficiency Levels in Grades 6-8 and 9-12 with a specific focus on a Secondary
Curriculum to parallel the core Keystone Curriculum. English Language Development curricula will align to all aspects of the WIDA framework and the 2011 Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for
ELA/Literacy.
The ELL Team goals for 2014-2015 are (1) 100% of ELL Team members will complete the RETELL SEI
Administrator Endorsement and share best practices for supporting and evaluating teachers of ELLs.
492 teachers and 35 administrators will receive SEI endorsement by the end of this cohort year; and
(2) the ELL Team will put into place at all schools new system-wide procedures and protocols
regarding reclassification of ELLs and monitoring of FLEP and “Opt-Out” students in compliance to
state and federal standards for English Learner Education.
Ms. Isola said the volume of testing and management for ELL students is incredible, but the results
are showing.
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to approve the English Language Learner Program Improvement Plan.
Mrs. Mahoney seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to adjourn the Teaching & Learning Subcommittee meeting at 6:00 pm.
Mrs. Mahoney seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.