An essential part of setting the direction and implementing our Strategic Plan is comprehensively assessing our core functions and departments and making the necessary improvements to improve student outcomes. Over the past two years, we have taken a good long look at several areas, and I want to provide an update on where things currently stand.

What's Happening Now?

• Our District Multi-Tiered Systems and Supports (MTSS) Committee worked over the summer to develop procedures for buildings to implement the following school-based MTSS teams this year: School Leadership Teams (SLT), Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), Supplemental Support Teams (SST), and Intensive Support Teams (IST).
• Building teams are attending a series of training sessions from the Minnesota Department of Education regarding MTSS implementation this school year. This has included a self-evaluation, the SEMI-SLT, to identify targeted focus areas at each site.
• District MTSS Team members are each assigned to a building to attend training and assist in the MTSS team building process by site. These team members then bring information and questions back to the full district team for discussion, problem-solving, and decision-making to ensure a unified approach districtwide. The District Team also uses this feedback to develop a FAQ as a resource for school sites.
• As part of our system for identifying students needing intervention through our MTSS processes, we are implementing an Early Warning System to identify at-risk students for early intervention.

During the 22-23 school year, the K-12 system engaged in a Math Program Review. This review informed areas for professional learning, alignment, development, and design. Below is an update on how the K-4 and 5-12 staff will operationalize some of the findings this school year. K-4 focuses primarily on assessment strategies, classroom environment, and enhancing state standards, while 5-12 aims to improve data-driven instruction, vocabulary alignment, and curriculum planning.

What's Happening Now?

K-4 Math:

• K-4 Collaboration Meetings will focus on the following areas:
• Future Planning: Audit focused planning for academic years '23-'24 and '24-'25.
• Assessments: Confirmation of pre and post-unit assessments for future data analysis in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).
• Basic Math Facts: Discuss their role in lessons and small groups.
• MN Standards: Plans to enhance lesson rigor and improve assessment questions for '24-'25.
• Grading: Procedures in Infinite Campus (IC)
• Classroom Environment: Creating math-centric spaces in classrooms and hallways.

• Small group instruction will be the focus for the 24-25 school year

5-12 Math:

• The 5-12 Math Departments will focus their collaboration efforts on:
• Data Analysis: November meeting to examine data, including benchmark data, for instructional planning
• Vocabulary: Aligning academic and informal math vocabulary across grade levels
• Curriculum Alignment: Synchronizing standards and benchmarks with unit plans

Last school year, the K-12 system engaged in a Gifted and Talented Program Review. This program review informed areas for the identification process, communication, professional learning, instructional alignment, and service delivery. Below is an update on how the District will operationalize some of the findings this school year.

What's Happening Now?

• Early Entrance and Grade Advancement: Processes have been updated.
• Gifted Services Definition: A revised definition for Gifted Services for Talent Development has been established in collaboration with multiple teams.
• Program Objectives: The program aims to develop students who are successful communicators, resilient, academically challenged, responsible, and community contributors.
• Service Delivery: A tiered model focuses on critical thinking, reading, math, and creativity while supporting students' well-being.
• Family Partnership: The goal is to offer a meaningful educational experience in collaboration with families.
• Identification Process: Grade 6 will not have CogAT testing this year. Grades 2 and 4 will continue testing, and multiple measures like teacher recommendations and screenings are under review.

Beginning this year, we have slowly implemented the EWS. Using artificial intelligence (AI), the EWS employs advanced data analytics to evaluate the relationship between factors like attendance, behavior, academic performance, and stability at home and school to forecast the probability of graduation so we can intervene more rapidly to support student learning outcomes.

What's Happening Now?

• Information Services integrated EWS in our Infinite Campus Student Information System in the late winter or early spring of 2023.
• Information Services staff began EWS training, starting with district administration in the spring/summer of 2023, to familiarize administrators with the GRAD Score (Graduation-Related Analytic Data) and related domains.
• Summer 2023 – EWS implementation expanded to include instructional leaders and school counseling staff.
• August 2023 – Infinite Campus EWS and MTSS Data Walls in Viewpoint Data Warehouse rolled out to school-based MTSS teams to support students' instructional needs.
• Fall 2023 – Training continues at schools and within teams throughout the District to build capacity and better understand, implement, and utilize the EWS data and analytics.
• Winter 2023 – Information Services will continue to work with building leadership to train and prepare stakeholders on using EWS appropriately and integrate graduation-related analytical data into what will become standard work within the District.
• Advantages of using EWS AI and Machine Learning technologies:
• The machine-learned statistical model has better predictive power than heuristics published in dropout prevention literature.
• The EWS system can detect changes in educational data faster than staff members can and update GRAD scores accordingly for earlier identification and intervention.

What Will Happen?

Austin Public Schools plans to work again with the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) from the University of Minnesota to conduct a comprehensive program review of English Language Services in early 2024 with the implementation of findings next school year.

It is an exciting time in the Austin Public Schools, and much to be thankful for. From my family to yours, have a wonderful Thanksgiving. The Austin Packer Bulletin will return on December 1.

Sincerely,

Dr. Joey Page, Superintendent

Austin Public Schools students showed modest gains in ACT scores compared to last year. Additionally, student scores are approaching pre-pandemic levels.

Why it matters:

According to ACT.org, "the ACT college readiness assessment is a… tool that assesses students' academic readiness for college." In other words, student score growth correlates to college students' higher probability of success.

Going deeper:

The average ACT score for all students in Austin taking the test in 2023 was 18.5, the same as in 2020, immediately pre-COVID. The average score for those in the top 10% of all scores was 28.7; in the top 20%, it was 26.3, within 0.2 of the pre-COVID results from 2020. The average scores dipped in 2021 and 2022, representing a small but meaningful gain over the last two years. In all, 138 out of the 259 students taking the test in 2023 earned a composite score of at least 18.

Additionally, for 2023 graduates:

• Those taking more than three years of mathematics courses scored 2.5 points higher than those who did not, a trend that is mirrored at the state level.
• Those taking Biology and Chemistry in combination with Physics scored 3.7 points higher than those who did not, an increase larger than that of the state average.

In short, the more advanced courses a student takes, the higher their ACT scores tend to be.

Superintendent Page stated, "The upward trend in our students' performance is encouraging, especially given the obstacles faced in recent years. We recognize our work is far from finished, and our commitment to the District's strategic priorities is unwavering, as they're crucial in equipping every student to make a difference in the world. With initiatives like the Packer Profile, we're optimistic about nurturing even more significant accomplishments, showcasing our students' broad and rich learning experiences in the Austin Public Schools."

APS is excited to see the effect of the District's new Packer Profile initiative on ACT scores in the coming years. This multi-year initiative will require Austin graduates to demonstrate their learning via a portfolio showcasing the knowledge and standards they have met throughout their high school careers.

The bottom line:

Austin Public Schools is committed to helping students find success. The modest growth seen in this year's ACT is encouraging and will hopefully continue in an upward trajectory with our strategic plan and the implementation of the Packer Profile. More information is available here.

This week, Ellis Middle School art teacher Lars Johnson was named the 2024 Austin Teacher of the Year.

Lars, who has worked at Ellis for the last seven years, was surprised with the award in his classroom by a group of family, district administrators, and well-wishers.

According to Austin Teacher of the Year committee chair Dave Brown, Lars was one of 26 nominees considered for the award. "It's always hard to select just one of our nominees to be Teacher of the Year," said Brown, "but when the committee met to go over the nominees, we were all just blown away by Lars."

"This is pretty humbling," said Johnson. "Austin has so many amazing teachers that it truly is an honor to be recognized."

Now that Lars has received Austin's Teacher of the Year award, he will be in the running to be Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Nominees for the state award must go through a portfolio process and be selected to move forward. Over the more than 20-year life of the program, Austin has had two nominees make it to the semifinalist stage, and one make it to the final ten.

To learn more about Austin Public Schools, please visit http://www.austin.k12.mn.us.

Congratulations to Anna Anderson, Section 1A Girls Diving Coach of the Year. "It is an honor to receive this award," said Anderson. "My divers are the ones that deserve the most credit since they were the ones that put in the hard work every practice and listened to the feedback I gave them." Two members of the AHS Girls Diving Team are competing in the state tournament this week. Good luck!

And another congratulations goes out to Volleyball Coach Jeremy Struck on being named Co-Section 1AAA Volleyball Coach of the Year. Coach Struck is "absolutely thrilled to receive this award, as it serves as a recognition of all the hard work [the] our coaching staff and players have put in to better the volleyball program here in Austin."

Sumner Elementary will unveil a new playground and soccer zone this upcoming summer thanks to a grant and district funds. The Sumner Stars will soon enjoy a modern space tailored for fun, creativity, and growth. This is more than just a playground; it's a commitment to enhancing the school's spirit and community bonds.

Please join us for this community learning event on February 1, 2024. More than just "nice to get to if we can," psychological safety strategies are vital to every school environment and emergency operations plan. Presenters Todd A. Savage, Ph.D., NCSP, and Scott A. Woitaszewski, Ph.D., NCSP, will share their expertise and research findings on school safety.

While safety planning has focused primarily on the physical aspects of school buildings (i.e., keeping threats away or outside of the building), many traumatic incidents are completed by those that are already in or were in our school buildings in the recent past (e.g., current or former students). As such, a positive school climate, relationship building, and connectedness efforts in schools are critical for preventing many types of crises as well as supporting recovery from traumatic incidents when they do occur. This event will emphasize strategies and resources for schools to build psychologically safe and secure environments with intentionality.

All community members are invited.

Location: Knowlton Auditorium

Time: 5:00-6:00 p.m.

The Hormel Foundation Austin Assurance Scholarship (THFAAS) is a scholarship (free money) that students can use while earning a full-time or part-time education at Riverland Community College. This scholarship covers tuition (65 credits) and fees and includes a stipend for needed books and class materials. The scholarship amount varies for each student, but it will cover 100% of tuition and fees not fulfilled by federal or state grants. THFAAS has a potential savings of over $12,000 for college education costs!

Check out the promotional video here, and more information is available here!

The Packer Dome is an enclosed area that covers the turf of Art Hass Stadium at the Wescott Sports Complex. Built-in amenities include a walking/running track, batting cages, and an artificial turf field. Please visit the informational page about the 2023-2024 Packer Dome season.

The ELSIG provides ongoing recommendations to MDE on improving standards, instruction and assessment for the state's English Learners (ELs). School Board member Don Leathers, K-4 Curriculum, and EL Coordinator Sheila Berger are part of this year's statewide workgroup. Learn more here.

Big congrats to Mower County CEO alum Luis Hernandez! He is back in Austin with his new venture, Vida Barber Lounge. His journey from CEO student to entrepreneur is a masterclass in networking within Austin's business circles.

Learn more about Mower County CEO: Click Here

Learn more about the Packer Profile: Click Here

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact CEO Facilitator and Packer Profile Coordinator Emily Hovland.

Check out this awesome opportunity from the YMCA at ACRC!

• 6 tips for a healthy holiday makeover
• Following a cholesterol-lowering diet during the holidays
• Do you need more dietary fiber or less?

In this week's Alumni Spotlight, we catch up with alumna Becky Helfritz.

Are you an alumnus of Austin Public Schools? If so, we'd love to hear from you! We're excited to hear about your accomplishments and are eager to share your successes and advice with our current students, families, and the Austin community.

All you need to do is take a minute to answer a few quick questions at https://www.austin.k12.mn.us/alumni-spotlight.

Thanks, and we look forward to hearing all your wonderful stories!

At Austin Public Schools, our mission is to inspire, empower, and accelerate every one of our learners, and we know that the only way for us to reach this goal is through the efforts of all our incredibly hard-working staff.

In this week’s Staff Spotlight, we’re highlighting Austin High School special education teacher Emily Wilcox.

"Emily is a hard working teacher with a dedication like no other as a Special Education Teacher. She gets her students and they are usually always smiling every time she works with them."

Congratulations!

If you’d like to nominate an outstanding Austin Public Schools staff member for our weekly Staff Spotlight, please take a moment to fill out the form at https://www.austin.k12.mn.us/district-resources/staff-spotlight. It only takes a minute and can truly make someone’s day. Thanks!

• 9 Tips for Using AI for Learning (and Fun!)
• What Happens When Young People Actually Read "Disturbing" Books
• Adjustments benefit the students at I.J. and Ellis
• Graduating seniors from 120 Minnesota high schools admitted to college before applying

• Austin student named to MDE Computer Science Working Group

APS offers a wide range of student activities, including competitive athletics, intramurals, academic clubs, fine arts, and performing arts. View schedules and learn more here.

Please Note:

We are currently between the fall and winter sports seasons.

Austin Public Schools is committed to creating an inclusive environment that values the diversity of its employees and does not discriminate against any employee or candidate based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, age, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, familial status or membership or activity in a local commission. The school district strongly encourages anyone interested to apply to join our teams. Reasonable accommodations to access job openings or to apply for a job are available. Click here to learn more.

You can review previous issues here.