Wyandotte Schools Institute New Initiatives to Increase Student Achievement

A number of new initiatives aimed at increasing student achievement have been implemented this school year throughout Wyandotte Public Schools.

Superintendent Carla Harting outlined them on the day that the Michigan Department of Education released its fall 2012 Michigan Educational Assessment Program test scores.

The results show that Wyandotte students fared better this year compared to last in several subject areas, but still lagged behind the state average in most areas. (For a deeper analysis of Wyandotte's scores, head to .)

Here's a look at the new initiatives for the 2012-13 school year:

• NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association)

Students from kindergarten through eighth-grade now take interim assessments three times a year in reading, math, and language in order to make instructional decisions based on student’s instructional levels.

• Skills Pointer

Students who are targeted based on certain NWEA scores will receive supplemental instruction using a computer program called Skills Pointer.

• Curriculum Development Plan

The district now has a plan in place to create and align curriculum in all content areas and at all grade levels. The district's science and social studies curriculum is set to be reviewed and modified.

• Curriculum Leaders

These teacher-leaders are helping Sarah Thaler, the district's instruction and assessment coordinator, to implement the curriculum development plan.

• Professional Learning Communities

Teachers at elementary schools are involved in collaborative sharing based on current best-practices and data analysis.