UPS Focus Program to Help Students Meet New Standards: What is Union Public Schools’ New Focus Program for the 2007-2008 Year?

By David Schulte, Tulsa World, Okla.

Apr. 18–Starting in the 2007-2008 academic year, Union Public Schools will place low-achieving seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders in a new program so they can receive additional instruction time in math and English.

The program, called Focus, is designed to help students meet more stringent high school graduation requirements that go into effect in 2012, said Charlie Bushyhead, executive director for secondary education at Union.

A key component of the program is that low-achieving students will have a modified block schedule that gives them 86 minutes of instruction per class period, as opposed to a typical 55-minute class period for most middle school students.

“What we are looking at is identifying those students who we feel … need some academic support, specifically in the areas of math and English,” Bushyhead said. “One of the things that we need to do is increase the amount of time that they are in math and English.”

The district decided the Focus program, which targets students struggling in core subjects, was needed because of a state law called Achieving Classroom Excellence, which was passed in June 2006, Kirt Hartzler, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, said in a press release.

School

officials consider the ACE law to be one of the most significant laws in the state’s history.

Beginning in 2012, students will be required to pass four of seven end-of-the-year tests. Two of the exams, Algebra I and English II, are required. The other two exams may be chosen from five options: English III, Algebra II, geometry, biology and U.S. history.

Currently, students in Oklahoma are not required to pass the end-of-the-year tests, but that will change in 2012. Next year’s seventh-graders will be the first class that has to pass four exams, in addition to passing required course work, said Bushyhead.

If students do not pass the four tests, they cannot graduate from high school, even if they meet other requirements.

“Students will have the opportunity to take each test three times a year,” Bushyhead said. “Should they fail a test all three times, they could take it again in the following year.”

One reason Union created the Focus program for low-achieving students is that in recent years, the state average on some of the exams has been significantly low, he said.

In 2006, only 34 percent of Oklahoma students passed the Algebra I exam. Students scored higher in the other required test, English II, with 65 percent passing the exam, according to information provided by the district.

Although Union’s students have scored better than the state average on the exams, school officials want to provide additional help to low-achieving students.

Union’s Focus program will have a maximum of 150 students each from seventh, eighth, and ninth grades, Bushyhead said.

In addition to having 86-minute class periods for English and math, students will have 86-minute class periods in science and social studies.

“Basically, the modified (block) schedule will offer extended periods of time in a student’s core classes in order to address their specific learning needs,” Hartzler said. “The students that are selected for the Focus program, however, will lose one elective (class). There is just no way to increase a student’s academic time in their core without giving up time in other areas.”

Spending more time in the classroom without interruption should improve students’ grades in core subjects such as English and math, said Tim Neller, principal at Union’s Eighth Grade Center, 6501 S. Garnett Road in Broken Arrow.

All classes in the Focus program will have a maximum of 25 students, compared to some classes at Union that have as many as 30 students, Bushyhead said.

Smaller classes in the Focus program are designed to strengthen relationships between students and teachers, in addition to helping students succeed, he said.

“Some of the students who have a difficult time in school are not connected — they do not have the support,” Bushyhead said. “They don’t have those relationships with successful and positive adults.”

The Focus program will also have a life-skills component that is designed to develop positive behavior traits and improve students’ self-esteem, Neller said.

Union will continue to offer tutoring and after-school programs designed to help struggling students, Bushyhead said.

The district is in the process of identifying students for the program, and officials will meet with parents whose children will be in the program during the summer, he said.

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What is Union Public Schools’ new Focus program for the 2007-2008 year?

*The program targets low-achieving seventh-, eighth-, and ninth-grade students.

*A focus on math and literacy.

— A 54.5 percent increase in instruction time for math and English during the course of the year.

— Science and social studies will include a literacy focus.

*Classes will be taught by the district’s most effective teachers.

*Maximum class size of 25 students.

–A four-class, block schedule will be used each day.

Source: Information provided by Union Public Schools.

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Copyright (c) 2007, Tulsa World, Okla.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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