STUDENT-CENTERED SUPPORT SERVICES

J.E.Hill-Sampson L. Freedman Middle School
School District of Philadelphia 
Philadelphia, PA

Diane E. Hathaway, Principal
Aliya Catanch-Bradley, Literacy Coach
Pamela T. Anderson, Learning Support Teacher

Slide 2 - J.E.Hill-Sampson L. Freedman Middle School
“Be Proactive”
•	School Type - Magnet
•	Size - 278 Students
•	Geographic Location - Urban School in Philadelphia
•	Assessments - Terra Nova, PSSA, Gates, WRAP, Star Reading/Math, Benchmark Assessment
•	Other - Special Needs Population, Early Childhood Population

Slide 3 - School District of Philadelphia
“Be Proactive”
•	270 Schools - Twelve Geographic Regions
•	180,000+ Students
•	12,000+ Teachers
•	State takeover in December 2001/SRC
•	2002-2006 PSSA gains in scores have been increasing or have been maintained
•	Reform initiatives yield positive impact

Slide 4 - Challenges of Meeting a Child-Centered Environment
“Be Proactive”
•	Lack of Resources
•	Varied Instructional Ability Levels
•	Lack of Unified Curriculum
•	Parent Education
•	Student Work Ethic
•	Communicating Data

Slide 5 - Core Curriculum
“Be Proactive”
•	Need for Equity and Coherence
•	Provides Alignment 
•	Detailed, Prescriptive: What, How, When
•	Six Week Chunks/PSSA Checkpoints in Week 2 and 4
•	Benchmark Assessment and Analysis in Week 5 Remediation, Enrichment, Re-teaching in Week 6

Slide 6 - Assessment
“Begin with the End in Mind”

•	Baseline data to assess varied ability levels
•	SchoolNet
•	Principal dashboard
•	Communicating data
•	Student self-monitoring

Slide 7 - Crossing the Digital Divide
“First Things First”
•	Bridging the Achievement Gap
•	Modeling and Exposure to Excellence
•	Enhance Instruction
•	Remediation, Review and Enrichment
•	Powerful Twenty-First Century Tools

Slide 8 - Philadelphia - Our Extended Classroom
Promotion of Natural Ability
“Think Win-Win” 
•	Teacher’s  - “The Greatest Resource”
•	Student Experiences
•	Accelerated Program for all Students
•	Resources of the City
•	Arts Program
•	Broad Spectrum of  Special Needs Population

Slide 9 - The Teenage Brain
“Seek First to Understand”
•	Adolescence is a Pivotal Time
•	Student Work Ethic
•	Novelty and Structure
•	Informed Rules and Guidelines
•	Instructional Strategies
•	Diverse Arts and Sports Programs

Slide 10 - Building Community -  Seven Habits of 
Highly Effective Teens
“Seek First to Understand”
•	School-Wide
•	Mission Statements
•	Formation of Positive Habits
•	Model for Excellence
•	Goal Setting 

Slide 11 - Compensation of Areas of Inherent
 Disadvantage or Fragility
“Synergy”
•	Students as Stakeholders
•	Coordinated Student Services
•	CSAP
•	Guidance Classes
•	Medical Services

Slide 12 - A Structured/Organized Comprehensive 
Middle School Program
“Synergy”
•	Ease of transition
•	Community vs. institution
•	Student self exploration and development
•	Support and structure

Slide 13 - Summary Points
“Renewal”
•	Key Learning's
	 1. Vision and Leadership are Essential
	 2. Sense of Community 	
	 3. PDSA: Plan, Do, Study, Analyze 

•	Challenges Still Ahead 	
1. Raising the Bar  - Continuing  Excellence
	 2. Continue to be Agents of Change and Renewal 
	 3. Doing More with Less