September 21, 2020
Dear Parent/Guardian:
I hope the school year has started successfully for all of you. As a parent/guardian of a student in St. Pauls Middle School, I am writing this letter to let you know that St. Pauls Middle School, has been designated as a Targeted Support & Improvement Additional Targeted Support (TSI-AT) school by the North Carolina State Board of Education. As defined in G.S.
115C-105.37: “The State Board of Education shall design and implement a procedure to identify low-performing schools on an annual basis. Low-performing schools are those that receive a school performance grade of D or F and a school growth score of “met expected growth” or “not met expected growth” as defined by G.S. 115C-83.15.” As stated in ESSA section 1111(d)(2), North Carolina had to identify school for targeted support and improvement. TSI-AT schools in North Carolina are those that have a subgroup that is under-performing. The intent of this opportunity is to improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps, increase equity, and improve the quality of instruction.
School Performance Grades are calculated for all schools as required by the North Carolina Every Student Succeeds Act State Plan and North Carolina General Statute 115-C 83.15. A-F letter grades are assigned to all public schools in the state.
School Performance Grades are assigned using a weighted model of 80% achievement and 20% growth. Schools with a grade span that does not go beyond 8th grade (grades 3-8, referred to as Elementary/Middle) use a defined set of indicators for the letter grades. Schools with a grade span starting at 9th grade (grades 9-13, referred to as High School) use another set of indicators. Schools with grades in both grade spans use the indicators from each combined to create one letter grade. These grades are used to identify schools in need of Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) as required by ESSA. Also, as required by state law, School Performance Grades and a school’s growth status determines whether a school is low-performing or a district is low-performing. Lists of CSI schools and low-performing schools and districts will be posted on the Accountability Services website after approval by the State Board of Education in October.
Elementary/Middle Indicators
| Reading/Mathematics Assessments English Learner Progress Science Assessments | 80% |
| EVAAS School Growth (Reading, Mathematics and Science) | 20% |
As a low-performing/TSI-AT school, St. Pauls Middle School is required to develop a comprehensive plan that specifically addresses how the school will improve student achievement, school performance grade, and school growth score. The comprehensive plan will also include how our district will support us and monitor the progress of our school. The comprehensive plan will address the following areas:
- Classroom Management
- Standard-aligned Instruction
- Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
- Instructional Leadership
- Recruitment & Retention of Effective Teachers
- Support for Grade-to-Grade Transitions
- Implementation of a Tiered Instructional System
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Student Support Services
- Family and Community Engagement
- Make sure that both you and your student are aware of academic expectations set for your student this school year. A list of learning objectives in student-friendly language is available from your student’s teachers(s).
- Call Dr. Paul Locklear at 910-865-4070 if you have any questions or concerns about your student or to set up an appointment to meet with a school staff member who will be working with your student.
- Make sure that your student is prepared and attends school each day.
- Monitor your student’s work.
- Monitor the progress your student is making and attend meetings with your student’s teacher(s).
- Keep track of our website and social media sites, https://www.robeson.k12.nc.us/...
- Volunteer.
- Join the St. Pauls Middle School PTO.
- Graduation requirements: www.ncpublicschools.org/gradre...
- K-12 standards in academic subjects: www.ncpublicschools.org/curric...
- State student achievement test results: www.ncpublicschools.org/accoun...
- N.C. School Report Cards: https://ncreportcards.ondemand...
Parent engagement is at the heart of our school improvement efforts. Here are some ways we can work together:
Sounds like a lot but preparing our students so that they can succeed is not easy and is a group effort. Here are some resources available to help:
Our school is focused on continuous improvement and I look forward to working with each of you as we continue to focus on providing the best education for our children. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any specific questions as we move through this process.
Sincerely,
Dr. Paul Locklear