Wyandotte Public School Officials Create Plan to Improve Academic Achievement

Last month, the Michigan Department of Education released the Michigan School Accountability Scorecards, a color-coded system designed to hold all of the state’s schools accountable under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

While the majority of Wyandotte Public Schools received an average rating on the new scorecards, some did not.

Madison School received an orange ranking, and The Lincoln Center received a red ranking.

Garfield Elementary School was named a "focus" school, which means it has the largest achievement gaps in the district. Achievement gaps are the difference between the average scale score for the top 30 percent of students and the bottom 30 percent of students, according to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE).

In response to the low grades received by three Wyandotte schools, Superintendent Carla Harting said the district continues to investigate ways to improve and provide success for students.

• Targeted summer enrichment program for students who are close to proficiency levels on standardized tests.
• Implementation of the Discovery Science Techbook at the elementary level to supplement hands-on lessons and provide informational text to support inquiry learning.
• Focused analysis of the elementary social studies curriculum to streamline and prioritize lessons.
• Consistent lesson planning and pacing for elementary ELA and math curriculum.
• Continued use of NWEA assessments in grades K-5 in math and reading in order for teachers to make instructional decisions for students.  Added a science assessment for grades 3-5 to help assess curricular strengths and weaknesses.
• Expanded the EXPLORE-PLAN-ACT testing continuum to the middle school to give students more opportunities to experience an ACT-type assessment.
• Concentration on formative assessment strategies throughout the school year.
• Implementation of reading and math intervention programs in the middle school and high schools for targeted students in each content area.
• Creation of the Pathways to College and Careers elective course in the high school to give direct instruction on ACT prep and skills to help students become ready for college and careers.
• Creation of a STEM elective in the middle school to give students an opportunity to develop more skills in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math.
• Variety of professional development offerings in the summer to help build the skills and aptitudes of teachers.
• Planned implementation of district-wide instructional rounds in order to develop best practices in instruction.