No. 59          Institute For Learning

At-risk students are those who are below or significantly below grade level based on the district designated assessments and performance cut-points (see Attachment 3). At-risk students in Grades 1-6 should be identified within the first ten weeks of enrollment (twenty weeks for Kindergarten), and begin receiving appropriate support and intervention at the school site. The Learning Contract should be developed, during a teacher-student parent/guardian conference, within about four weeks following the end of the first grading period (except for Kindergarten). At the end of the year, a Teacher Decision to Promote or Retain form will be completed for each at-risk student; these forms will be distributed in the spring. Attachment 4 outlines the general time line for identifying students at risk, developing the Learning Contract, monitoring student progress, communicating with parents/ guardians, and making the promotion/retention decision. An optional teacher/counselor follow-up log has also been developed (see Attachment 5).

The Learning Contracts will be available on NCR and will be translated into Cambodian, Hmong, Lao, Spanish, and Vietnamese. We are trying to find translators for Somali and Tagalog. A supply of Learning Contracts in English will be distributed to all schools in mid-November, based on estimated numbers of at-risk students. Principals should complete and return the order form (Attachment 1) to request Learning Contracts (and parent/teacher support materials) in languages other than English. All versions of the Learning Contract will be available in the future, at no cost to the site, through the stock catalog. The follow-up log sheets (pads of 25) can also be ordered through the stock catalog at no cost to the site.

The Parent Involvement and Support Office has developed Learning Contract support materials for teachers, counselors, and parents. These materials include tips for conducting effective Learning Contract conferences, and parent handouts on supporting literacy and numeracy at home. A copy of the support materials packet is attached (Attachment 6). A supply of materials in English/Spanish will be sent directly to schools in mid-November, based on estimated numbers of at-risk students. Additional copies may be duplicated on site as needed. Blackline masters in other languages may be ordered by completing the appropriate section of the order form (Attachment 1). These and other materials for parents and teachers can be downloaded from the Parent Involvement and Support Office website at www.sandi.net/pare; click on the Learning Contract and/or Parent Handout links.

Revised administrative procedures delineating the promotion/retention and placement/articulation process, as defined by the Blueprint For Student Success, are currently being finalized and should be ready for distribution in early November.