USD116 BOE Update: Dec. 7, 2021

from Superintendent Dr. Ivory-Tatum

Study Topics

10.1 Dual Language Program Review and Evaluation

We will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Spanish Dual Language Program. The program started in the 2012/13 school year at DPW and Leal Elementary. When the program was designed, the idea was to grow the program a grade each year. The first students in the kindergarten program are now in 10th grade.

Currently 664 USD students participate in the Spanish DL program K-10. (Almost 20 percent of our student population.)

Some of the current successes

DL Programming exists at all levels (K-10)
Promotes sociocultural competence and inclusivity
Benefits our Latinx students and newcomers by helping them feel welcomed and part of the school community.
Strong dedicated teachers, support staff and specialists.

Some of the current challenges

Staffing
Class sizes/balancing between buildings
Split resources and supports across all levels, especially at elementary
Workload due to curriculum development and linguistic modifications
Parent engagement
Having multiple buildings and strands does not allow the program to reach its full potential compared to having a dedicated dual language building.

LOOKING AHEAD

Internal Program Evaluation with a District-wide committee of stakeholders. It would include:

Focus Groups with DL parents, teachers and students
Survey data collection - all DL parents currently in the program, at all levels
Interviews: optional one-on-one interviews with DL staff
Community Partners that have been involved and vested in DL programming

A Spanish DL Program Evaluation Committee, interest survey will be sent out widely for people who are interested in joining.

DL District Administrative Committee Recruitment:

Representation would include:

DL Teachers
DL Parents
DL Students
DL Leadership
Central Office Directors
DL Liaisons
Non DL Faculty and Staff from program sites

Committee Work & Evaluation

Expanding our recruitment and retention efforts across the globe

Creative problem solving to retain our current DL teaching staff

Reviewing different programmatic models in order to determine what is best for our District

Whole school vs. Strand Model
Grade level centers: PK-2, 3-5, etc.
K-6 or K-7 Model

Reviewing Current Language Allocation Plan

Reimagining curriculum delivery or thematic approaches

Intentionally supporting “newcomers” at every level

Creation of a comprehensive Professional Development Strand specifically for DL

Financial impact of different programmatic models

DL District Committee and Evaluation Timeline

Recruitment and introduction of the scope of the committee’s work will take place prior to December 17
Committee will begin to meet twice a month starting in January
Committee will return to the BOE in April with recommendations - Why April?

Recruitment fair season, time of year when new positions are posted, retirements are typically finalized
Budgeting needs are finalized
Need ample time to communicate with families
Work with First Student on transportation needs

DL District Committee Meeting Dates

Jan. 4
Jan. 27
Feb. 10
Feb. 24
March 9
March 24

All meetings will be held in person from 4-6 p.m. Meeting locations TBD.

View the full presentation

Watch the presentation

10.2 Housing Authority of Champaign County (HACC) Agreement

The executive director of the the Champaign County Housing Authority of Champaign County gave an update on the work of the HACC and talked about a data sharing agreement between the HACC and USD #116.

The purpose of the data sharing agreement is to document the terms under which the Urbana School District is authorized to release education data and HACC is authorized to release housing data for the purpose of improving the educational and behavioral outcomes of students. The data covered by the agreement includes attendance records, on-time enrollment, school discipline, standardized test scores, academic progress, graduation/dropout shared by the Urbana School District and household income, hard to house families, family composition, and disabilities shared by HACC. Each family would need to opt in in order for their information to be shared.

The Board will vote on the agreement during the December 14 BOE meeting.

HACC Presentation

View the full agreement

Watch the presentation