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Holding students accountable for their educational growth has been the greatest positive effect on achievement. The school staff has trained students to understand their individual data. We’ve empowered students to self assess and peer assess, explore multiple solutions to identified needs, and put into action these answers.

What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?

The single most important factor is hiring people who have a passion for educating young minds. This is on display each day at Saint Clair Evans Academy. Our entire school staff is dedicated to providing all students a pathway to success through education. Each teacher provides a positive approach, constant encouragement, attention to detail, knowledge of curriculum and daily reminders to students that they are “smart children who can succeed.” Our motto to the students is “make good choices and great things can happen”.

Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement.

Holding students accountable for their educational growth has been the greatest positive effect on achievement. The school staff has trained students to understand their individual data. We’ve empowered students to self assess and peer assess, explore multiple solutions to identified needs, and put into action these answers. Teachers facilitate these activities through conferencing, formal and informal observations, small group discussions, and grade level meetings with students. The goal is to actively engage students in educational decisions that benefit themselves. This led to student ownership of their success or failure. As student commitment improved, student achievement flourished.

Explain how Title I funds have supported your improvement efforts.

Title I funds have paid for additional teachers and staff to meet the needs of our students. Supplemental Educational Services provide after school tutoring opportunities for all students. Additional materials in reading, writing, math, and science have been purchased to enhance our programs. Title I Parent Involvement funds provide parents and community members with meaningful training on standard based instruction. We try to equip our parents with necessary tools to help their children at home. It also allows for resources for the Parent Center in the library. Supplemental Academic Instruction money is used to staff our Saturday School program during the winter months. This additional instruction gives remediation opportunities for our students prior to state assessments in the spring.

Identify the professional development activities you use to improve the teaching portion of the teaching and learning process.

Within the Professional Learning Communities at Saint Clair Evans, the Continuous Learning Cycle has proved invaluable. This activity is school-centered and focuses on self directed inquiry around specific instructional needs. Grade level training selects a course of study and craft lessons as a learning community. During weekly inquiry sessions, teachers and coaches discuss data, student work, instructional strategies, and classroom implementation. Lessons are designed and taught in lab classrooms. Participating teachers teach a lesson, debrief following the lesson, and refine the lesson based upon student work. These activities increased the instructional rigor in the classroom as well as promoting higher student expectations.

Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.

Data is evaluated from multiple viewpoints to drive daily instruction. State assessment data from the previous year provides a framework for overall instructional needs of the school. Periodic District assessments monitor school improvement from fall—winter—spring. School level assessments focus on grade level concerns as well as individual classrooms. Instructional focus calendars are developed based upon these scores. Classroom data drills down to the individual student. Modifications, enrichment, or remediation needs are identified for each student. Lessons and activities are developed to ensure ongoing progress based upon each student’s abilities.

• Category 2

  Selected in 2012

• Grades: pre k - 5
  School Setting: urban
  Town Population: 1,345,596
  Student Enrollment: 520
  Student Demographics:
  

  Black/African American: 99%
  White/Caucasian: 1%
  Hispanic: 0%
  Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
  Asian: 0%
  Native American: 0%
  Other: 0%
  

  Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:20
  % Reduced Lunch: 98%
  % ELL Learners: 0%
  Founded: 1952
• PRINCIPAL:
  Shana Adams
• CONTACT:
  5443 Moncrief Rd
  Jacksonville, FL 32209
  904-924-3035
  AdamsS2@duvalschools.org