District Accountability Committee

FSCP is a "must-have" for schools, rather than a "nice-to-have." It is not a goal, but a strategy. One that schools are often told in policy that they must do, with little guidance on the how. The Office of Family, School, and Community Partnerships at CDE has used the foundational research of Joyce Epstein (2019) to create the FSCP Trail Map for Colorado Schools. This trail map includes four steps for implementing sustainable and systemic family, school, and community partnerships: Form a Team, Follow a Framework, Write and Implement a Plan, and Evaluate the Outcomes. By following these four steps with fidelity, schools will be on the path of impactful partnerships and students, families, schools, and communities will reap the many rewards that come from this essential strategy.

To increase the connection between SAC and DAC in each geographical area of the district, the DAC has created an Area DAC Rep, who is a parent or community member in your area and holds a position on the DAC. The Area DAC reps will reach out to their SACs and join their meetings, learn about their schools, and provide the opportunity to get to know each other. Area reps want to strengthen the connection and become a resource to their SACs. They will help to amplify the SAC voice to the DAC.

In this newsletter, we ask SACs to have a discussion on ‘ACADEMIC REPORTS’ and send their feedback to their respective reps, listed below, by area:

West Area Rep:

Courtney

runnergyrl@msn.com

Northeast Area Reps:

Velvet

vstepanek@msn.com

Marion

clawson.marion@gmail.com

Southeast Area Rep:

Alyssa

opuswebb@gmail.com

Central Area Rep:

Amanda

duncan710@gmail.com

Please complete the Parent-Teacher Conferences Survey, by clicking here or using the QR code.

SchooLinks is the official college and career readiness platform for District 11 students. Schoolinks is replacing Naviance for Individual Career and Academic Plans (ICAPs). It helps students and their families create an individualized roadmap to serve each student's unique skills, interests, and goals for the future. Ask at your school what is happening for student and family access. See: https://www.d11.org/schoolinks

How many students are on a READ plan at your school?

Here is great information for families about the READ Act and how they can support their child in reading. See: http://cde.state.co.us/communications/20170710readactfactsheet

🍎 Unified Improvement Planning (UIP) was developed to streamline state and federal improvement planning requirements, as well as create a single plan that meaningfully engages stakeholders.

🍎Colorado schools and districts can improve student learning and system effectiveness by engaging in a cycle of continuous improvement to manage their performance.

🍎SACs should be getting updates on their school improvement plans regularly. To see the school plan posted on the Colorado Department of Education website visit:

https://www.cde.state.co.us/schoolview/frameworks/welcome#uip/

Enter your school and choose the Unified Improvement Plan link.

The fall Panorama survey data is available for schools. Parents have access to their students results in PowerSchool.

What: The survey is an instrument that elevates student voice on teaching and learning, relationships, and belonging.

Scope: This 20-30 minute electronic survey will be administered with grades 3-12 and with their designated teacher in grades K-12.

Purpose: As the district implements more health and wellness supports voted on in the 2017 Mill Levy Override, they are in need of a more comprehensive instrument to measure social and emotional competencies in order to improve academic outcomes, identify strengths, and best support students.

How survey data will be used: Schools use this data to identify school-wide needs in developing their Plan for school improvement (School Improvement Plan). The survey measures competencies that impact academic achievement, behavior, and attendance. The data from this survey provides fall to spring and year to year growth comparisons.

The budget subcommittee was provided with a fundamental presentation on Student-Based Budgeting. We were very enthusiastic to learn more about this pivotal program that D11 is undertaking. We are looking forward to sharing more about Student-Based Budgeting with the DAC and the SAC community as this will be an important and ongoing charge of the DAC Budget Subcommittee. We were also informed about the District Audit and provided general feedback to the School Board (BOE)on their budget priorities for the 2025/2026 school year. The subcommittee also reviewed and voted on and suppurated recommendations concerning Mid-Year Budget Requests which will be presented to the Board of Education for a final determination. The largest amount requested was for Curriculum and Instruction for new K-12 literacy curricular programs due to the current Wonders, contract expiring at the end of the year and continuing to fund the Dyslexia program. Funding for Peak Experience in the Arts and Sciences through programs like band/choir festivals, philharmonic performances, Kids on Bikes, Challenger Learning center, Starbase program and international travel with world language program where also requested. Finally additional funding for CTE programs like Ascent (college courses), TREP (Teacher Recruitment and Education preparation), and professional training and certification in things like dental assistant, private pilot, Apartment lease professional, and D11 intern program where requested. We are looking forward to the new year and providing feedback and recommendations to the BOE on budget priorities. If you are interested and would like more detail about our agendas and meetings, this can be found at: . https://www.d11.org/administration/dac/home/dac-meeting-handouts-notes/budget-subcommittee.

Parent Survey coming January 14-February 7

Student/Staff Survey February 25-March 14

Belief statements:

❖ Parents are an integral part of the educational team

❖ Parents understand what is expected of their child based on state standards

❖ Parents should sign up for a PowerSchool Parent Portal account to have the most up-to-date and relevant information at their fingertips to access at their point of need

❖ Parents should be well informed

❖ Know who to contact at the school if they need further questions or support.

✍🏻 CMAS, STAR, PSAT/SAT, Quarterly or Semester Academic Marks, Attendance, Timely Behavior Incident Reporting.

✍🏻 Reports are shared with parent guide explanations in writing or in person, shared at conferences, MTSS, or IEP/504 meetings.

✍🏻 The College Board sends score information directly to parents or students as part of the registration process for the SAT/PSAT.

1) What academic reports are you getting?

2) How are you accessing them?

3) What is working well in reports/communication?

4)What improvements could be made?

5)Are you registered for the parent portal?

6)What ideas do you have to help encourage parent portal sign-up for other parents?

Each school has a plan for projects that are coming. Ask your principal to share the projects and needs for your school at your SAC meeting. The district capital team is willing to come talk your SAC if your community has additional questions.

Are you interested in seeing information about your school. See the report here:

https://www.d11.org/administration/schools/capacity

👪 Schools can access information on their school website, under "About Us -> Student Demographics and Achievement. 👪

Every month we intend to provide a reasonable flow of SAC agenda topics that meet the broad responsibilities of School District 11 SACs. This is just a reference tool, and individual SACs should tailor their agendas appropriate to their school needs and emphasis. The following are some of the topics recommended for the December and/or January SAC meetings:

• Review/discuss safe learning environment (safety, discipline, attendance, student/staff, etc.) Your principal has current discipline and attendance statistics, broken down by poverty and ethnicity subcategories, for the entire school in summary format which should be shared periodically with the SAC to discuss trends. What is the chronic absenteeism rate for your school and how is it being mitigated?

• Review results of available performance monitoring data, e.g., STAR District Benchmark and Middle of the Year (MOY) DIBELS data and compare to “One Plan”/USIP goals. How is your school doing on students meeting academic growth targets in ELA and math?

• Review/discuss school budget alignment with “One Plan”/USIP goals and identify school funding shortfalls, e.g.:
• Instructional resources to meet multiple learning environments and close COVID related learning gaps.
• Technology resources needed for student learning/testing.
• Training needed.

Note: Budget/funding recommendations must be submitted to DAC by Feb 1, 2025, to be considered for the school year 25-26 budget.

• Review available progress monitoring data results and compare against “One Plan”/USIP goals.

· 📆 District Benchmark (STAR) Winter ELA and math tests (grades 2-11, 2nd optional) will be December 2- December 13, 2024

· 📆 READ Act: DIBELS 8 Middle of Year (MOY) testing for K-3 will be December 2-December 20, 2024.

· 📆 The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), will be given to all 2nd grade students January 13-February 7, 2024. This test is used in identifying gifted and talented students for special instruction support.

· 📆 ACCESS, the state test for English Language Learner (ELL) students (all eligible K-12 grade students), will be given January 13– February 14, 2025.

· 📆 Any budget/funding recommendations for 23-24 must be submitted to DAC by February 1, 2025.

> Ask about attendance and behavior regularly at your SAC meeting.

>Talk about how many behaviors are cell phone related.

>Understand how students are marked absent and/or tardy.

The Choice Enrollment Window OPENS DECEMBER 15

The second SAC Training happened on December 5, 2024: Recording and handouts are available: https://www.d11.org/administration/dac/home/dac-meeting-handouts-notes/sac-training-hand-outs

The 2024-25 SAC Handbook is available. The handbook has been revamped and includes more information to help your SAC. Let us know what you think.

You can access the handbook at: https://www.d11.org/administration/dac/home/sac-handbook-cde-dac-handbook

We can’t wait to welcome you to the D11 Middle School community!

Dec 10, 2024

North Preview Night

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

612 E. Yampa St

Dec 16, 2024

Holmes Open House

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

2455 Mesa Road

Dec 17, 2024

West Campus Open House

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

25 N. 20th St.

Jan 15, 2025

Sabin Open House

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

3605 N. Carefree Circle

Jan 23, 2025

Galileo Open House

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

1600 N. Union Blvd

Jan 29, 2025

Mann Open House

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

1001 E. Van Buren St

Feb 5, 2025

Swigert Open House

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

4220 E. Pikes Peak Ave

Feb 6, 2025

Russell Open House

5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

3825 Montebello Dr W.

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve officially broken ground on a brand new playground off Coleridge Avenue! Big shoutout to our amazing partners Friends of the Children - Colorado Springs for making this possible. This playground will be a fantastic place for our community to play, learn, and grow together. It will also be an inclusive space welcoming to students with physical disabilities. Huge thanks to Friends of the Children for making this dream a reality. An inclusive space for all! Stay tuned in coming weeks for more updates. (taken from the D11 facebook page)

Third graders at George Washington Carver Elementary were gifted with Scholastic Children's Dictionaries. A big thank you goes out to the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs.

What a magical experience at the Festival of Lights! This incredible community is what makes D11 so very special.

Shout out to everyone who helped decorate the bus and walked (or rode) with us! Such as (to name a few):

BreakOut Volunteers from Colorado College

Mitchell High School Cheerleaders

Coronado High School Robotics Team #cougarsgonewired

Edison Elementary School Bike Club and Kids on Bikes

John Adams Elementary School Families

Ms. Black Colorado, Ms. Stansell, Kindergarten Teacher at Adams ES and her family

Our awesome mascots from the Athletics & Activities teams at Palmer, Mitchell, and Coronado

Board of Education President Parth Melpakam and Director Julie Ott

Superintendent Mike Gaal

All of our teachers, family members, neighbors, friends, and colleagues

with a special recognition to the D11 Engagement Team for their hard work and coordination, to bring us back to the greatest holiday event in Downtown Colorado Springs!

(from post on D11 fb page)

Click the image for Student Resources