SUPERINTENDENT'S PAGE

School Department's End of Year Report (pdf)

Data Driven Planning  |  Professional Development  |  Personalized Literacy Plans   GLE's and Annual Testing for Students in Grades 3-8
 High School Regulations Facilities  |  Student Enrollment 2008-2009

Welcome to the:
    Tiverton School Department

The Tiverton School Department has a total school population of 1958 students who are supported by a professional staff of 184 teachers and 70 non-certified support staff. The district is comprised of three elementary schools grades K-4, one middle school grades 5-8, and one high school grades 9-12. All five of the school department's schools have hosted successful SALT (School Accountability for Learning and Teaching) visits and our high school is currently accredited by the N.E.A.S.C. (New England Association of Schools and Colleges

The Tiverton School Department is committed to standards-based instruction and performance in a K-12 continuum. High expectations for student performance are supported by a rigorous curriculum that is aligned to both state and national standards. Administrators are continually striving to build and improve our learning community by increasing student, parent and community involvement participation in support of our efforts to support high standards for both our faculty and students. Our goal is to provide every student the opportunity to excel and meet high standards in each of their classes at every grad level

All five schools within the district were recognized by the RI Department of Education for high student achievement on the New England Common Assessment Program.   Each of the districts’ five schools met their Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) goal which has been established under the No Child Left Behind Act.  I am very pleased and grateful for all the support the Tiverton School Department has received from teachers, parents, support personnel and community members in providing a quality education based on high standards for every child in grades K-12.  This year, the Tiverton School Department will continue to improve its level of communication between schools and parents.   With improved communication our students will continue to experience success both in and outside of school.  I ask that every parent convey to their children that a positive attitude towards school is critical to the success they will be able to obtain later in life.

Construction on a 3.75 million dollar renovation project for the high school was completed in the summer of 2006. The project included two biology labs, two chemistry labs and four additional science classrooms were renovated “as new”. A new guidance suite was built and a new football field and track with lighting was constructed. The construction of three new elementary schools began in the summer of 2006. The “new” Ranger School was completed in August 2007 with Fort Barton and Pocasset elementary schools being completed in February 2009. Each elementary school consists of 12 classrooms, a media center, cafeteria and gymnasium.
I hope that everyone takes the opportunity to view our website in its entirety. You will find valuable information about each of the five schools and hopefully you will gain an understanding as to why every employee is so proud of the Tiverton School System.
 

Data Driven Planning:

     The Tiverton School Department on an annual basis develops plans for school improvement based on the abundance of information which the Tiverton School Department has acquired from all five schools. 

     Students in grades 3-8 and 11 are required to take the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) assessments which measure student achievement in Reading, Writing and Math. These assessments are given during the month of October of each school year.  Students in grades 4, 8 and 11 are given a Science assessment in the spring of each year.  Last year, was the first year students took the Science assessment.

     The Tiverton School Department also reviews data derived from the results of School Accountability for Learning and Teaching (SALT) Surveys, which show the progress the district is making with academic achievement and school improvement initiatives.  We also obtain information from SALT reports from our middle and elementary schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Report for the high school.  This data shows the strengths and weaknesses in each school and makes specific recommendations for improvement that must be reflected in our district strategic plan and each individual school improvement plan which is submitted to the RI Department of Education (R.I.D.E.) for review and approval.  Action plans to address the areas identified as in need of improvement are required, and must be evident in our yearly application to receive state and federal funding.

     Using the specific data we have on our schools to design our strategic plan is important to helping teachers, families, and members of the community, understand where these initiatives are coming from, and how they will increase student achievement and the overall performance of our schools.

Professional Development:

     The Tiverton School Department opportunities that address the school department’s needs, as identified through data we have received from the plays an integral role in district planning.  Continuous teacher training and support is also necessary to address many of the mandates connected to the No Child Left Behind Act and the RIDE High School Regulations. 

Personalized Literacy Plans

     Literacy instruction has been greatly impacted by the requirement for school districts to provide reading support to all students reading below grade level proficiency.  The following action steps have been developed to address these requirements:

• Provide School-wide professional development in literacy strategies to strengthen reading and writing in all content areas.

• Provide Targeted Literacy Instruction to students reading 1-2 years below grade level proficiency.

• Provide Intensive Literacy Instruction for students reading more than 2 years below grade level proficiency.

     Personal Literacy Plans are completed electronically and are connected to a new student information system database that has been implemented through grant funding to align with state requirements for management of student data. Student progress in reading is reviewed quarterly and schools must report the number of students receiving support through Personal Literacy Plans to RIDE on an annual basis.

Grade Level Expectations and Annual Testing for Students in Grades 3-8.

     Initiatives to increase student achievement have taken place in mathematics and science, as well as literacy.  Extensive training and curriculum work has taken place to align instruction with the grade level expectations recently developed by Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont (NECAP), and the requirements for annual state testing.  Teachers at all levels have received materials and have worked at the school and local level to plan for necessary changes in instruction to assist students in achieving these high standards.  Testing in grades 3-8 began in the fall 2006 and results have become part of the No Child Left Behind school ranking system.  As previously stated, last year was the first year students in grades 4, 8 and 11 were tested in Science.

High School Regulations

     Action plans in additional areas have been developed to assure compliance with the RI Board of Regents High School Reform Initiative that was enacted in 2004; the school department has provided several professional development opportunities for the high school faculty.  Guidance, health teachers, and nurses have been developing a K-12 integrated health program and a comprehensive guidance plan.  Advisor/Advisee models have been examined by middle school and high school staff in order to meet the requirement for more personalized learning environments.  These models are scheduled to be implemented during the 2008-09 school year.

     Several initiatives are in place to address the new state requirements for graduation by proficiency.  Graduating seniors are required to complete a Senior Project and successfully pass end of year exams.  Teachers were required to increase the rigor of these end-of-course exams.  All exams have been revised to align with high school grade span expectations for learning and incorporate a performance-based component that requires students to apply their learning to a specific task or project. Teachers at the high school are continuing to work with digital portfolios which will meet the technology component of the high school regulations.  These digital portfolios will also support students in completing their Senior Project requirement.   This year the high school submitted an update to the Commissioner of Education outlining the high school’s progress in meeting the R. I. Board of Regent’s High School graduation requirements.  The report was submitted in October 2008 to the Commissioner of Education for his evaluation and approval.

Facilities:

     Construction on a 3.75 million dollar renovation project for the high school was completed in the summer of 2006. 
The project included two biology labs, two chemistry labs and four additional science classrooms were renovated “as new” a new guidance suite was built and a new football field and track with lighting was constructed.

     Construction of a new Ranger School elementary school which is located on North Brayton Road was completed in August 2007.  The new school consists of 11 classrooms, media center, cafeteria and gymnasium.   Renovations to Ft. Barton and Pocasset Elementary School are scheduled to be completed in December 2008.  Students and faculty are scheduled to move into the two schools on January 5, 2009.

Table 1

Student Enrollment 2008-09

(As of 10-1-08)