Review Agenda Item

Meeting Date:

5/6/2016 - 6:00 AM

Category:

Other Documents

Type:

Info

Subject:

International Academy

ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:

Objective 1.1 Educational Excellence

ACPS will regularly assess and respond to the needs, interests, and abilities of individual students.

Objective 1.3 Disproportionality

ACPS will focus on increasing representation of minority students in talented and gifted programs and in Honors and Advanced Placement courses; decreasing suspension rates of minority students, particularly males; and preventing over-identification of racial/ethnic minorities for remedial or special education services. ACPS will also focus on eliminating gender and racial/ethnic disparities among students enrolling in science, technology, engineering, math, and literature classes and in advanced classes such as honors and Advanced Placement.

Objective 1.4 Educational Equity

ACPS will provide each student with opportunities to be challenged and supported.

Objective 1.2 Achievement Gaps

ACPS will target academic achievement gaps and increase positive educational outcomes across race/ ethnicity, income, disability, and language subgroups.

Policy:

IGBF - Limited English Proficient Students

Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable)

File Attachment:

160506_International_Academy_Memo_v1.pdf

160506_International_Academy_Brief_v1.pdf

160506_International_Academy_Brief_ppt_v1.pdf

Agenda Item Summary:

The International Academy provides services to over 600 English Language Learner (ELL) students at T.C. Williams High School and approximately 200 ELL students at Francis C. Hammond Middle School. The attached School Board Brief provides a program overview, program activities, data findings, and recommendations for the program. Data show that most notably the program has produced significant positive instructional changes in the classroom. Continued support for and implementation of this program will ensure immigrant students receive the support and services they need to excel in the classroom.

Background:

During the 2010-2011 school year, the English Language Learner Office conducted an internal review of the status of the division's programs and services for students identified as English Language Learners. Given their findings (details provided in the attached brief), staff expressed a strong commitment and sense of urgency to making adjustments to both programming and instructional delivery for ELL students. A major focus of our research was the International Network for Public Schools (INPS).

ACPS and INPS formally entered into partnership in the spring of 2012. A one-month leadership internship was followed by full implementation of the model with two teams of teachers and two cohorts of students on a 9th grade course sequence in the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year.

The INPS model is known for its innovative and unique approach to working with immigrant populations. All INPS schools adhere to the five principles of the Internationals Network Approach:

1. Heterogeneity and collaboration
2. Experiential learning
3. Language and content integration
4. Localized autonomy and responsibility
5. One learning model for all

Given the positive impact of the INPS model for immigrant students at T.C. Williams, the ELL Office collaboratively worked with the administration at Francis C. Hammond Middle School to plan and implement the International Academy model.

Recommendation:

The Superintendent recommends continued support of the International Academy model of services.

Approvals:

Recommended By:
Signed By:
	Dr. Terri H. Mozingo - Chief Academic Officer

Signed By:
	Alvin Crawley - Superintendent