San Diego City Schools
Institute For Learning

BLUEPRINT FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
Prevention, Intervention, and Retention Strategies 
2000-2001

Through the Blueprint for Student Success, approved by the Board of Education in March 2000, the district will provide enhanced instruction to prevent students from falling behind; support and intervention to help students who do fall behind; and programs to accelerate the learning of students who are significantly behind and must be retained. The strategies that will begin in 2000-01 are listed below.

Prevention Programs

In 2000-01, all schools will have the following programs to prevent students from falling behind:

  • Literacy and mathematics frameworks to ensure that all students receive high quality instruction and content that will enable them to meet state and district standards.
  • Enhanced materials for Grade 1 classrooms, and special training for Grades K and 1 teachers.
  • Two-period literacy classes for students entering middle school at Grade 6 or junior high at Grade 7. Teacher coaches for literacy at every school.
  • Parent education programs with ongoing classes to help parents help their children.

Intervention Programs

In 2000-01, students who are below grade level in reading and/or mathematics will be expected to participate in challenging support and intervention programs that will help them improve their skills and catch up to grade level. These programs include:

  • Two-period literacy classes with reduced class size for students entering middle school at Grade 6 or junior high at Grade 7; and two-period literacy classes with regular class size for students continuing in middle school at Grade 7 or continuing in junior high at Grade 8.
  • Two- or three-period literacy classes with reduced class size for students in Grade 9; two-period literacy classes with regular class size for students in Grade 10.
  • One- or two-period mathematics classes with reduced class size for students entering middle school at Grade 6 or junior high school at Grade 7, and for students in Grade 9.
  • Before- or after-school reading classes for students in Grades 3, 6 or 7 (entry to middle-level), and 8. Summer school or intersession literacy and mathematics classes for students in Grades 1, 2, 3, 5 or 6 (end of elementary school), 8, and 9.

Retention/Acceleration Programs

Effective at the end of the 2000-01 school year:

  • Grade 1 students who are significantly below grade level in reading based on district tests will be retained and placed in an intensive, accelerated program for the following school year.
  • Grade 6 (middle school) or Grade 7 (junior high school) students who are significantly below grade level in reading and mathematics based on district tests will be retained and placed in an intensive, accelerated program for the following school year.
  • Grade 9 students who are significantly below grade level in reading and mathematics based on district tests will be placed in an intensive, accelerated program for the following school year.
  • Students may be retained at any grade level if they perform significantly below grade level on district tests and have not participated in the available support and intervention opportunities.