9th Grade House Proposal



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Letter of Intent

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter states our intention to create a Ninth Grade House at Franklin High School for the incoming freshman. The focus of this house will be: to acclimate the students to their new environment; help the students begin to discover who they are, their interests, talents, strengths, and weaknesses; nurture academic success; help the students to make a wise and discerning choice of which Small Learning Community (SLC) to enroll in; and to explore the college and career options beyond Franklin.

We will welcome, acclimate, and nurture the students with classes such as Life Skills and Advisories. We will provide the necessary coursework to promote our students to the Tenth Grade. Classes provided will suit the A-G requirements, and provide opportunities for challenge at all levels. Through an analysis of data provided from sources such as CST scores, grades, teacher input, and through programs such as Student Success Teams, Tutoring, Saturday School, etc. every effort will be made to ensure academic improvement and success. Planned activities and programs will also help build a sense of ownership and familiarity within the Franklin Community.

The Design Team has created a detailed proposal for your review. Thank you for your consideration.

Design Team Members: Patrick Dore, Lead Teacher C Track

Chuck Donaggho, Teacher A Track

Richard Redman, Teacher B Track

Rory Seidman, Teacher B Track

Jeri Cochran, Teacher B Track

Stephane Joyet, Teacher C Track

Katherine Harrison, Administrator

Sample Student Schedule:

|English 9A |English 9B |

|Algebra 1A/ Geometry A |Algebra 1B/ Geometry B |

|Biology A/ Intercoordinated Sci 1A |Biology B/ Intercoordinated Sci 1B |

|Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1A/ Spanish 1A |Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1B/ Spanish 1B |

|Life Skills for the 21st Century |Health |

|Advanced PE |Advanced PE |

|Advisory |Advisory |

The advisory will meet once a week and will be an opportunity for students to interact with their teacher on issues including: study habits, high school success, and their future SLC choices.

Below is the organizational chart for the Panther 9 Ninth grade academy. It is intended to demonstrate a collaborative effort involving all of the teachers. The liaisons and committees will interact with other SLCs, community, and handle special projects.

9th Grade House Partnering Organizations

Gear Up

Other SLC’s

Link Crew: Upper Class Mentors

One LA

Occidental College

The Ninth Grade House Proposal: Seven Attributes

Mission Statement:

Franklin High School’s Ninth Grade House provides a foundation and academic direction for incoming freshmen through a collaborative program involving students, parents, and staff reflected in rigor, depth, respect, consistency and engagement along with accountability for all participants.

I. Unifying Vision & Identity

We are dedicated to the belief all students can succeed. It is up to us as the members of the ninth grade house to provide the instructional rigor and supports to make this possible. We will do so by addressing the needs of the whole child through aligned instruction, advisories, the Life Skills curriculum and supports.

The Ninth grade house will prepare incoming Ninth graders to make an informed decision on their educational goals by selecting a SLC during their first year (the selection occurs during December for tracks A & B and Track C will select in January/February to allow time for the respective SLC’s to develop their matrices). Student interests and abilities will be determined and fostered through the use of career cruising, interest inventories and SLC visits as well as planned instruction within the Ninth grade curriculum.

Students will satisfy their Ninth grade A-G requirements and promote to the 10th grade.

In order to support the above, staff will assess the students’ general level of need and provide intervention where necessary. Staff will be proficient in all applicable intervention areas including special education, Saturday School and special Intersession opportunities.

Student Success Teams, comprised of teachers, counselors and other staff can be applied effectively at this level as means to assess and assist students as student needs become evident.

Ninth Grade House will create a “Franklin” identity based on school wide expected learning results, the Panther identity and access to spirit building events before students transfer to future SLC’s. Ninth Grade House will set the tone for school-wide expectations. The Franklin Expected School wide Learning Results (ESLRs) will be taught as a means to build character and support the students’ educational goals.

Ninth grade activities will foster a common school identity, as Franklin Panthers. In addition, Ninth grade house will hold house-wide activities such as contests and festivals to increase a spirit of school-wide identity.

Housing the Ninth graders within one building with contiguous space provides an identity for incoming students. Ninth grade students will develop a sense of community by being with their own grade level through activities, competitions, web pages, sports activities and housing proximity.

Specifically identified Ninth grade teachers will assist Ninth grade students by creating assessments and sharing data with other Ninth grade teachers to effectively target individual student needs. In addition, these Ninth grade teachers will design units and activities across the curriculum to enhance student learning. We have begun this process during our professional development time Tuesdays as curriculum mapping and will continue it into next year.

Theory and our own experience have shown that maintaining classes in close proximity will foster unity, identity and security to the Ninth graders. A more personalized education will be achieved through our Advisory Program and Teachers will mediate with high-risk students to help them across the curriculums.

The ninth house budget includes moneys for professional development and materials to assist in the house vision. These materials include agenda planners for all students and educational materials for teachers, such as supplementary reading and video equipment. An Ad Hoc budget committee consisting of teachers, administrator and parents will annually reassess the budget and its alignment to the SLC’s goals. Recommendations from this group will go to the members of the house at large for approval.

II. Rigorous Standards-based Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

The Ninth Grade House will introduce students to rigorous high school level study. Common focuses or the “Big Ideas” will be integrated in all classes using Understanding by Design strategies and concepts. Classes will be academically rigorous, yet accommodate the needs of Ninth graders through the use of scaffolding and intervention to attain student grade level standards. The Ninth Grade House’s purpose is to create a school wide culture of rigor and success before students enter individual SLCs in the tenth grade. To achieve this goal we have begun a yearlong process to map the curriculum, identify common goals, create integrated interdisciplinary units, create SLC wide culminating projects and ensure rigorous instruction throughout the SLC.

Ninth grade students will be prepared for high stakes tests such as CAHSEE and CST. The Ninth grade teachers in the core areas of English and Math, will specialize in providing students with the knowledge needed to succeed in the Ninth and tenth grade high-stakes testing. All Ninth grade teachers are aware of the importance and skills needed for the high-stakes tests and are designing their curriculum accordingly.

Common disciplinary standards will be consistently practiced throughout the Ninth Grade House. This will include, but is not limited to, raising hands when speaking in class, respecting the teacher as well as other students, talking when appropriate and using appropriate language, and bringing the necessary materials to school. Teachers will communicate with each other often regarding student discipline, as well with the dean, to create a safe and respectful learning environment.

Scores from middle schools will be used to guide instruction. This is in addition to periodic assessments and other assessments conducted throughout the year.

Teachers will be trained in specific academic intervention instruction (i.e. Language!) and to assess specialize student needs.

Teachers will familiarize students with school technology and research techniques such as Digital Library, word processing, Internet resources, Accelerated Reader, etc.

Teachers will create and share rubrics for each subject to standardize student achievement and promote Ninth grade House wide projects developed as a result of the curriculum mapping. Students will be given clear academic objectives to complete the Ninth grade. Teachers will work closely with counselors and students to make sure that all students are aware of and complete their academic requirements and objectives.

Ninth grade house teachers are meeting and will continue to meet weekly to focus on student instruction as well as issues related to the house. These meeting include discussions and analysis of relevant data, such as district performance assessments, as well as curricular mapping and discussions of Ninth grade house activities. Professional development time is also used by the Ninth grade house to develop and discuss rigorous standards-based curriculum. Student data is analyzed and lesson plans are developed and modified.

III. Equity and Access

All incoming Ninth grade students at Franklin High School will enter the Ninth house with the exception of those entering the Magnet School and the American Studies Academy. The selection is made by students prior to enrollment with the input of parents. Once the students are in the Ninth Grade House, the curriculum is currently fixed. We will be planning to add some variety to the elective offerings primarily in the fine and performing arts. The house will work with the Magnet and American Studies to provide programs to all students. Teachers will collaborate on lessons across disciplines in order to support student understanding of important concepts or the “Big Idea” through essay writing, historic or artistic achievements, mathematics, scientific achievements, etc.

Pacing plans and common established learning goals including texts are being developed and utilized.

Standards-based lessons will be developed and utilized in each discipline.

All teachers will utilize consistent teaching strategies and terminology. These include but are not limited to Understanding by Design, Jane Schaffer strategies, etc.

Different levels of English and math are provided in the forms of ESL, Algebra readiness, and Language! to name a few.

Common rubrics will be used across disciplines and throughout the Ninth Grade House to help ensure all students are provided the same quality curriculum and assessment. Development of students toward Advanced Placement courses will be created and pursued.

Departments and tracks meet regularly to analyze assessment data, such as that provided by the district periodic assessments in order to monitor and improve instruction, identify vocabulary and concept issues, and develop teaching strategies. Teaching and curriculum will be modified accordingly.

Departments and tracks will meet throughout the course of the year to analyze outcome data such as the periodic assessments, CST scores, grades, retention rates, and attendance to monitor 9th Grade House course of action; as well as identify and target any areas for improvement.

Resource teachers and literacy coaches will collaborate with teachers.

The “Gear-up” Program will provide additional support for students and teachers in these efforts.

Ninth Grade House Teachers will be involved in specific Ninth grade interventions through various means: after-school tutoring, Saturday school, the Gear Up Program, calling home, and home visits to name a few.

Equity and access is easily attained by RSP and intervention teachers as their identified group are all in one area. The Special Education and ESL programs are fully integrated into the Ninth Grade House and all services are provided there.

Common consequences for the Ninth Grade House and posters with Ninth Grade House expectations will be utilized throughout Ninth grade classrooms and building.

Students are encouraged to, and assisted in, participating in advanced and honors classes through the inclusion of more advanced classes, such as geometry and honors English. We are also offering courses during intersession intended to prepare incoming 9th graders for the rigors of high school mathematics courses. These classes help students to “ramp up” to advanced placement and honors classes in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades.

IV. Personalization

Advisories will be implemented to provide personalization. An Advisory is a time set aside once a week for each staff member to provide time and instruction to a specified small group of students. All Ninth graders will be assigned an Advisor. The goal of the advisories is to enhance personalization of each student’s educational experience at Franklin. Advisories are a supplement for all students and a means of preventing students from becoming or remaining at risk. Advisories will be used to address a number of topics including but not limited to:

• identifying interests, talents and related personal educational goals

• study skills

• citizenship concerns

• team building

• post secondary objectives ie. college and career choices

• mentoring

Housing all three tracks of the Ninth graders within one building with contiguous space provides an identity for incoming students. Ninth grade students will develop a sense of community by being with their own grade level through activities, competitions, web pages, sports activities and housing proximity.

Additional mentoring by out of classroom personnel and upperclassmen will be used to help at-risk students in addition to advisory programs.

Ninth grade teachers will visit middle schools at least once in the spring to familiarize students and parents with high school options and to help ease transition.

Ninth grade counselors and Advisors will assist students in developing a four year plan and identifying the SLC which will best assist in the students' personal development. All Ninth grade teachers will provide guidance and information to help Ninth grade students choose their new SLC. Ninth graders will be exposed to the different SLC’s through mini-lessons on the SLCs, information pamphlets presentations and class trips. Options will be communicated to students in regards to switching tracks to join future SLC’s. All SLC decisions will be made with parental input/acknowledgement.

Information will be sent home for Ninth grade families. Communication avenues such as websites, Spanish language supports, and multiple formal and informal meetings will be developed and utilized. Parents will be invited in to observe classes during a special week long Back to School program and participate at the regularly scheduled schoolwide parent events and special Ninth grade only events in conjunction with these events and throughout the year.

The parents and students will meet and be provided with access to the Ninth Grade Administrator, counselors and teachers via Orientation, Back to School, messages home, website and phone access.

A separate set of Ninth grade counselors will focus on personal needs of Ninth graders. Counselors and teachers will communicate with parents though phone calls, meetings, and online resources to let them know about student progress and needs.

Instructional initiatives will include the development of communal lessons and strategies as well as methods to incorporate student culture and real world experiences, diverse learning styles, based on summative data from the eighth grade year and formative data throughout the Ninth grade year.

Unique extended learning opportunities in Saturday School, Intersession and after school will be developed and addressed to specific students based on data and individual needs.

Options will include both remedial and enrichment opportunities. The ninth grade house will offer other learning opportunities that extend beyond the regular day, such as after school tutoring (specifically for ninth graders), and clubs.

Ninth grade house staff can easily and frequently access important data for each student (i.e. grades, behavioral data, etc.) through access to online ISIS system as well as meeting with 9th grade counselors.

V. Accountability and Distributed Leadership

The Ninth Grade House lead teachers will be elected by the members of the SLC and will be responsible for relaying decisions to the administration and staff. There will be one or two Track Coordinators per track who all report to the lead teacher, and one lead teacher for the entire Ninth Grade house.

PDT’s will be used to discuss concerns and issues and implement strategies.

Teachers will have lunch meetings and common planning time to discuss issues and concerns; specifically time will be used for discussions about individual student needs, lesson planning, Ninth grade house activities, intervention strategies, SLC preparation, etc.

Representatives of each SLC, including students and teachers, will visit Ninth Grade House to spark interest among students.

Student data will be analyzed to guide instruction and placement. Assessment data will be gathered from middle school to place students in appropriate classes. Assessment will be used throughout the students’ Ninth grade year and student interest to play a role in SLC placement.

Comprehensive testing and classroom visits will be established to ensure that core curriculum and competencies are being taught. Ninth grade teachers will visit each other using an anonymous checklist to monitor implementation of Ninth Grade House and school wide initiatives. The Ninth grade teachers’ role is one of support, communication, and sharing of ideas.

Advisory team building will be used to reinforce core curriculum and competencies. Students will be rewarded for demonstrating the Franklin Expected Schoolwide Learning Results (ESLRs) during Advisory contests and activities. These rewards can take the form of academic points or concrete rewards depending on the situation.

Peer Accountability groups of teachers will support and ensure proper implementation of teaching strategies on a voluntary, supportive basis. Teachers will meet on a regular basis with peers they feel comfortable with to discuss strategies, techniques and concerns. They will also visit and monitor each other’s classes and offer constructive feedback on lessons, bulletin boards, class discipline, etc. Again, this is a voluntary program.

VI. Collaboration / Parent and Community Engagement

Interfacing with parents begins before the students start at Franklin when teachers visit the feeder schools to discuss the various options at Franklin (Magnet, Social Studies SLC, and the 9th grade House) and at Franklin the 9th grade house will regularly make presentations to the Parent Center about pertinent topics.

Teachers and counselors will use a variety of methods such as home calls or visits to establish communication with families.

Parents will have online access to grades and student information and support in understanding how to make the most of the information.

A web page for Ninth grade teachers and the Ninth Grade House will be developed that shows which classes are needed for students to be on track for graduation and explains the SLC process in various languages.

The 9th Grade House will work closely with such community members as Occidental College, and Highland Park business leaders. However, at this time, 9th Grade House is still targeting which business leaders and departments within the College. Gear Up will assist in this effort during our initial year and is actively involved in the development and implementation of the Life skills and Advisory curriculums.

Community and business leaders will visit and collaborate to enhance student interest in the community and future SLC’s. Gear Up will assist in this effort during our initial year.

Teachers will visit middle schools to familiarize students with high school in order to ease transition. Gear Up will bring the upcoming Ninth grade students to the high school to visit.

Parents will be encouraged to attend the annual orientation event as well as periodic open-house activities such as an open house all day, where parents may come in and watch the 9th grade teachers teach that day.

The teachers of the Ninth Grade House wish to think of ourselves as teaching the parents to be in HS as well. To this end we will create genuine opportunities for parents to engage with us and their students beyond the traditional school structures already in place.

The Ninth grade house works closely in collaboration with the other SLC’s school wide to prepare students for the collaborative nature of their future SLC’s.

The Ninth grade house is evaluated regularly. This has taken place, and will continue to take place. The success of the SLC is determined by student performance, including high-stakes test scores, grades, attendance, and behavior. The evaluation process includes parents, and other stake holders in the SLC.

The Ninth grade house is included in the SLC building council. This body holds regularly scheduled meetings with published minutes. Meetings are open to the public and are often attended by stakeholders in the SLC.

VII. Professional Development

Teachers will have staff development on issues relating to ninth graders. These include discipline and academic issues such as learning new methods, strategies and techniques for teaching ninth graders. Lead teachers in the Ninth Grade House will lead staff development with input from other teachers and administrators.

For the past year, Ninth Grade House teachers have met weekly to discuss and create plans to address the issues of the SLC. We will continue to use these meetings as well as scheduled bank time to pursue the evaluation of our work and to plan the implementation of plans to address needs. Currently we are planning the yearlong theme, Identity, and the mester lessons and activities to address our theme. Through this curricular mapping, we plan to develop connections across the curriculum and culminating projects intended to address the theme and reflect a coherent approach to all content areas.

The Ninth Grade house has been working all year to develop a community of practice with mutual goals and a supportive atmosphere. Our weekly meetings are open to all and are intended to allow a public and free-flowing discourse among the members. Our Professional Development times are organized to solicit input from all members on areas of concern and in the planning of solutions. As a result, we are successful in creating a strong group dynamic through the use of IAF Industrial Areas Foundation community organizing model. In the future we intend to provide extended periods of time to pursue these goals through off campus retreats, careful use of Professional Development time, small group interaction around selected areas of interest and one-to-one conversation. The house administrator has received IAF training and it is our plan to send other members as time, money and interest allow.

The Ninth Grade House will use the same school wide initiatives as the other SLCs. As the gateway to Franklin High School, the house feels it is our responsibility to acculturate the students to high school and Franklin. We will teach the Expected School wide Learning Results, use Understanding by Design as our curricular organizational structure, and work towards improving rigor throughout the curriculum as indicated by our Accreditation Action Plan. In order to accomplish these goals, the house will attend the school wide Instructional Professional Development which will allow us to learn as a whole group. In addition, time will be spent developing curricular maps and culminating projects.

Once a month during bank time, the House will evaluate the new yearlong plan, results of periodic assessments, outcomes from the end of the culminating projects and other student achievement indicators including but not limited to attendance data, mester grades and perception data from teachers, deans and administration. As new needs arise, corrections will be made. The curricular maps will be evaluated and revised annually.

The Gear Up program will be supporting the Ninth Grade House during the initial year. They will assist in the training of all staff in the use of strategies to improve personalization. 9th Grade House teachers will be trained for the use of advisories and work as a team to develop and improve the advisory program.

The Professional Development will encourage the interaction of house members with partner institutions especially: Occidental College, OneLA-IAF, and GearUp. All sessions are open to the public including students as appropriate.

A process to communicate the readiness of students to enter other SLC’s will be developed.

Our plan for distributed leadership encourages the development of teacher leaders. Everyone is encouraged to take the lead on some aspect of the work including: liason to the other SLCs, special projects and leading professional development. Currently four projects, 9th Grade Orientation, 9th Grade House Teachers Retreat, and the 9th Grade House Proposal, are being managed by someone other than the lead teacher or the administrator.

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Los Angeles Unified School District

Benjamin Franklin High School

820 N. Avenue 54, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Telephone: (323) 550-2000 Fax: (323) 258-5940

Roy Romer

Superintendent of Schools

Luis Lopez

Principal

SLC Liaisons

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Committees

Track

Coordinators

Administration

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Lead Teacher

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