RTI/MTSS Implementation at the Secondary Level John A. Holmes High School’s Ongoing Journey

1. RTI/MTSS Implementation at the Secondary LevelJohn A. Holmes High School’s Ongoing Journey Dr. Todd J. Korbusieski – Asst. Principal Mrs. Karen Molloy – Guidance Dept. Chairperson Mrs. Elizabeth Huff – 9, 11 Guidance Counselor

2. Secondary RTI Challenges • Elementary/Middle RTI model is not a good “fit” for high schools • Lack of appropriate universal screening • Subject specific coursework required for graduation • Up to 8 different teachers a year • Shorter time frame on 4x4 schedule (90 days instead of 180)

3. Our Goal for RTI/MTSS at Holmes • In order to improve learning and achievement, we must provide instruction at the appropriate instructional level for each student • The focus is on improving school wide instruction through a variety of curricular, behavioral and logistical interventions • Providing students with the supports needed to be successful in a rigorous high school program

4. Shifting Gears (In Other Words…) • …focusing on interventions to help rather than on what is wrong with the student • …focusing on solutions rather than the problem • …focusing on addressing the needs of ALL students having difficulty, not just those with labels • …focusing on ALL educators being responsible for ALL students

5. How is This Different? • Changes the individual teacher’s focus especially in the secondary setting • Eliminates the “wait to fail”mentality so we can try and catch as many as we can before they fail • Early and ongoing interventions to prevent failure • More efficient use of resources • Increased communication between the school, students and parents

6. 3 Pronged Approach to Universal School Change • Academic • Behavioral • Logistical

7. Academic Changes Common Core/Essential Standards Training PLCs 1:1 Technology Initiative Collaboration Days Shared Pacing Guides Collaborative Benchmark Testing EC Curriculum Assistance Classes

8. CC/ES Staff Development • Received intensive dept. by dept. curriculum training • Paid summer hours to collaborate on common course pacing guides • Collaboration days during the school year for common planning • Benchmark test analysis meetings with school administration at individual student level

9. Professional Learning Teams • Cross curricular groups of 6 – 8 professionals • Meet weekly for 45 minutes • 1:1 technology initiative, iPad use and applications for the classroom • TPACK • Technology differentiation • Real World problem and project based lessons

10. Academic Pyramid

11. Behavioral Changes • Educators Handbook • Positive Behavior Interventions and Support • Increased choices for students

12. Behavior Pyramid

13. Educators Handbook • Standardizes and streamlines discipline referral process • All staff has access to the system • Increases response time to discipline issues • Allows for appropriate discipline consequence to be assigned • Generates user friendly reports for discipline data

14. Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) • School-wide approach to behavior • Individual teachers reward positive behaviors in their classrooms • School wide celebrations for students with “clean” discipline records each 9 weeks including prize drawings • Administration utilizes this with teachers also • Matrix aligned with 1:1 iPad initiative

16. PBIS continued • Named a Green Ribbon School for the 2012-13 school year • Named a Model School for the 2013-14 school year • Goal is to continue to accentuate the positive in our students and correct the negative as needed

17. Logistical Changes • Ace Time • APEX Credit Recovery • RTI Committee • Guidance Checksheets • Collaboration with COA and NCVPS • Summer School

18. Ace Time • Dedicated daily time for remediation and acceleration activities • Opportunity for APEX credit recovery • Mandatory tutorings – 1 per student each 9 weeks, below a 77 in any class • Access to computer labs and media center • Open teacher classrooms – Band, Agriculture, Cabinetmaking, Art

19. Ace Time cont. • Lunch • Intramurals – basketball, flag football, lacrosse, strength training • Team Practices • Guidance Services – community presentations • Club Meetings • Department Meetings for Faculty • Detention Hall

20. REGULAR BELL SCHEDULE 7:30 Teachers at Duty Stations 7:40 Warning Bell 7:45 - 9:14 1st Period 9:18 - 10:47 2nd Period 10:51 -12:20 3rd Period 12:20 – 1:26 Ace Time 12:20 – 12:54 Lunch A 12:24 Tardy bell 12:54 Switch Bell 12:54 - 1:26 Lunch B 12:59 Tardy Bell 1:30 Warning Bell for 4thPeriod 1:31 - 3:00 4th Period 3:00 Dismissal (Students are reminded that unless they are engaged in a school activity such as sports, clubs, extra help, etc. they are to leave campus at 3 PM)

23. APEX Credit Recovery • Rigorous curriculum aligned to Common Core/Essential Standards • Average course length is 135 hours • Leveled courses from remedial to AP • Have 61 students enrolled in over 120 courses • Multipurpose – Alternative Center, Credit Recovery, regular classroom use by teachers

24. Summer School Summer school has been revamped to meet the changing needs of our students. Summer school was mainly for seniors who still needed to complete English IV and the graduation project. Other students needing an English credit could apply if there was room. Served up to 20 students with 1 full time teacher. It met for 17 straight days from 8 AM to 1:30 PM.

25. Summer School • The new model serves any student with the need for academic credit recovery. • Mix of face to face and online instruction (APEX) • It meets 2x a week (Tuesday and Thursday) from 8 AM to 12:30 PM for a period of 6 weeks. Students are expected to work whenever they want on their off days. • 4 part time teachers in the Core subject areas • 49 students with the potential to recover 98 credits • Small classes means more individualized instruction

26. COA and NCVPS • Collaboration with College of the Albemarle and North Carolina Virtual Public School • Able to offer a large number of on-line and face to face courses • Academic and vocational certification courses offered • Students can earn a full year or more of college credit before graduation from high school

27. RTI Committee • Provide monitoring for student grades, behavior and attendance • Increases communication between the school, students and parents • Dedicated weekly meetings • Student referrals generated in house and by instructional staff • Referral forms

28. RTI Forms Parent Information Form • https://docs.google.com/a/ecps.k12.nc.us/document/d/1TMWd5jcPg0ySYIrAQmYOVIN5_7aJxMwDFlcBRLVk3nc/edit Student Referral Form • https://docs.google.com/a/ecps.k12.nc.us/document/d/1Wgj8cNJh91F-ZB3bKVETDat7jVZnC1zHJGMXT6MGcBA/edit

29. RTI Committee Members • School Administration • Guidance Counselors • Instructional Technology Facilitator • EC teacher • Regular Ed teacher • Behavior Specialist • School Nurse • School System Psychologist

30. RTI Committee in Action • Put in picture here • Running record of meetings is kept and shared with members using Google Docs • Students are brought to meetings so they can be part of the “cure” • Interventions are discussed and implemented • Each staff member is assigned a student to track and to contact parents

31. New This Year • Formalize RTI referral process, provide training on forms to all staff • Have RTI days to involve parents in discussions about their children • Rotate RTI meeting times to include more teachers • Use Google Docs spreadsheets to track student interventions and progress • Increase homeroom time with students • Adding STEM curriculum to CTE offerings

32. eMail Addresses • Todd J. Korbusieski – tkorbusieski@ecps.k12.nc.us • Karen Molloy – kmolloy@ecps.k12.nc.us • Elizabeth Huff – ehuff@ecps.k12.nc.us