[BHS etree] ADMIN: School Redesign Proposal Recommendation

[bhs at idiom.com]

From Etree: This posting has 3 attachments.  The 
"Option 2.doc" attachment is printed below.  If 
you have problems opening the other 2 
attachments, reply to the etree.


M E M O R A N D U M

TO:  Berkeley High School Governance Council
FROM:  Jim Slemp, Principal
SUBJECT:  Recommendations for Berkeley High School Redesign - Option 2


I want to first of all thank all of you in our 
community who have expressed your valued opinions 
regarding our School Redesign Proposals.  These 
are important issues and I appreciate the varied 
and thoughtful input and your concerns for 
Berkeley High School.  This level of commitment 
is rare and I do not take it for granted.  I 
especially appreciate the care for all of our 
students that has been expressed in most of the 
comments.  I know that our community understands 
that we must work for the success of all of our 
students. 

Based on five input forums, attending Berkeley 
High School Team meetings, discussions at the 
Board of Director's meeting and many written 
email comments, I am convinced that it is wise to 
revise our proposals to reflect this input.  I am 
also concerned about financial implications 
resulting from cuts in State spending.  This 
memorandum lays out an alternative proposal. 
This alternative proposal would be step one as we 
look toward our future.  Additional program 
changes may be proposed after we experience these 
changes and evaluate their effectiveness.  As 
with the original proposal, this option is based 
on the following School Governance Council and 
School Board approved documents:

BHS Small Schools' Guiding Principles
Berkeley High School WASC School Wide Action Plan
Berkeley High School WASC Midterm Visiting Committee Report
Berkeley High School Smaller Learning Community Grant
City Wide 2020 Action Plan

The overarching goal of all of these documents is 
to reduce and ultimately eliminate the 
achievement gap among our students in an 
increasingly rigorous academic curriculum.
The school has given regular reports to the BUSD 
Board of Directors and School Governance Council 
regarding our progress in these efforts.  The 
school believes that as a result of our successes 
that we are currently ready to make the systemic 
change identified in this plan to achieve our 
goals.  With this purpose in mind, I make the 
following recommendations:


RECOMMENDATION #1

Goal:  Increased personalization and student support


 Each student will have a choice of seven Small 
Learning Communities following our current school 
assignment plan:

-Academic Choice - 900 - 1100 students.  The 
Academic Choice Advisory Council will create a 
plan for a house or core system for Academic 
Choice to break down into smaller groups within 
Academic Choice  This plan will be approved by 
the School Governance Council.
-Arts and Humanities Academy - 240 students
-Communication, Arts and Sciences Academy - 240 students
-Community Partnership Academy - 240 students
-Berkeley International High School - 900 - 1100 
students.  Currently in a core/house system. 
This would continue throughout all grades.
-School of Social Justice and Ecology - 240 students
-A new small school  - to open Fall, 2010.  A 
design team will be formed in February, 2009 to 
begin this process. 

In all Small Learning Communities, the curriculum 
areas of English, History, Science and Math will 
be included as a part of the Small Learning 
Community team as of Fall, 2009.  Math and 
Science teachers will be assigned to Small 
Learning Communities following our usual teacher 
assignment model.

Students will have access to classes outside of 
their Small Learning Community through an 
expanded passport system.  School Governance 
Council will develop this plan by March, 2009. 

The World Language, ELL, PE, Fine and Performing 
Arts, Special  Education and African American 
Studies Departments will serve all Small Learning 
Communities utilizing this passport system. 

Additional small schools may be added as capacity permits.


 The school will implement an advisory program 
following the attached Berkeley High School 
Advisory Program Proposal - Option 2.  The 
advisory program will be implemented in Fall, 
2009.  Two years of specific curriculum will be 
written by April, 2009 with two additional years 
of curriculum in general outline form for the 
third and fourth year curriculums.  The year 
three and four curriculums will be written by 
October, 2010 following the evaluation of the 
first year of implementation.


 As a result of the advisory program, the school 
will implement a modified student schedule using 
one of the attached models.


RECOMMENDATION #2

Goal:  To implement a professional development 
program that will focus on instructional 
improvement to meet achievement and equity goals 
set by each Small Learning Community and 
Department, implementation of advisory and the 
best use of classroom time.  The plan will 
provide time for long term, sustainable 
professional development.


 The design of the professional development plan 
will follow the specific plans outlined in the 
Berkeley High School Smaller Learning Community 
Grant.  This plan began implementation in Fall, 
2008.  An evaluation of the first year's progress 
will be completed in May, 2009.  The results of 
this evaluation will be used to develop any 
modifications in the current plan.


 Professional development for the remainder of 
this current school year will focus on 
implementation of advisory and the most effective 
use of classroom instructional time. 


 Beginning Fall, 2009 there will be a late start 
day 4 times a month.  These late start times will 
be used in the following manner:

-One late start day a month for curriculum area coordination and planning.
-Two late start days a month for Small Learning 
Community professional development.  This will 
initially focus on advisory implementation and 
teaching in an alternating block schedule. 
-One late start day a month for individual 
teacher collaboration time based on teacher's 
goals.
-All of this professional development will be 
coordinated by the Professional Development 
Coordinator. 


 A teacher will continue to be released .2 in 
the Science and Math curriculum areas to 
coordinate Science and Math curriculum school 
wide. 


 Students will be given the opportunity to 
provide feedback to their teachers and advisors 
on teacher performance and use of class time. 
These teacher evaluations will not be used by 
administrators in the teacher evaluation process, 
but will be only for teacher reflection.  A team 
of teachers will work with Student Leadership to 
develop this plan by June, 2009.  The plan will 
be implemented Fall, 2009.


RECOMMENDATION #3

Goal:  The Berkeley High School Graduation 
Requirements will be changed to meet University 
of California and California State University 
Entrance Requirements.  This will be implemented 
for the Class of 2013.  Current Berkeley High 
School Graduation Requirements that are in 
addition to those of the UC/CSU Requirements will 
remain.  Credits in advisory will be added to the 
graduation requirements.


RECOMMENDATION #4

Goal:  Create an accountable evaluation program 
to evaluate the progress of these plans and 
assess the effect on improving student 
achievement and eliminating the achievement gap. 


 Berkeley High School will hire an outside 
evaluator to plan and complete this evaluation. 
This evaluation will also be used to meet the 
requirements of the Smaller Learning Community 
Grant.


 In addition to other required District and 
Federal data, each Small Learning Community and 
department will set one or two equity and 
learning goals that will also be a part of this 
evaluation process. 


 The evaluator will report all data and analysis 
to the Berkeley High School Governance Council 
and the BUSD Board of Directors. 


 This data will be used in modifying our Smaller 
Learning Community Grant and the WASC Action Plan 
as necessary. 


 Additional information regarding this 
evaluation plan is described in the Smaller 
Learning Community Grant. 











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