VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Review of Year-Round SchoolsOctober 15, 2013

JLARC

Study MandateHJR 646 (2011)

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JLARC to study year-round schools in Virginia and elsewhere

•Determine which divisions use year-round schools and describe their experience

•Evaluate impact on • Academic achievement

• School cost

• Other factors

JLARC

In Brief

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In Virginia’s year-round schools, the shorter breaks throughout the year have typically been used to provide additional instruction. Certain student groups, in particular black students, were more likely to improve their SOL test scores at year-round schools than their peers at traditional calendar schools.

JLARC

In This Presentation

Background

Test Scores for Certain Students Better at YRS

Financial Impact Related to Intersessions

Summary and 2013 Planning Grant

Review of Low-Performing Schools

YRS = Year-Round Schools

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JLARC

Earlier Start, With Intersessions in

Fall, Winter, and Spring

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JulAug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar JunApr May

In session

Intersession

Vacation

Year-Round

Traditional

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Goal to Improve Academic Achievement or Increase

Capacity• Single-track −Increase achievement through reduced summer

learning loss and instruction during intersession

−Predominantly used in Virginia

• Multi-track −Maximize building capacity through “track

rotations”

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JLARC

Five Divisions Used YRS at Nine Virginia Elementary Schools

(2011-2012)

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Richmond (1)Lynchburg (1 )

Danville (4)

Alexandria (2)

Arlington (1 school)

JLARC

In This Presentation

Background

Test Scores for Certain Students Better at YRS

Financial Impact Related to Intersessions

Summary and 2013 Planning Grant

Review of Low-Performing Schools

YRS = Year-Round Schools

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JLARC

Finding

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No appreciable difference in SOL test scores of general student population at year-round schools compared to traditional calendar schools.

JLARC

Finding

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Black student groups at year-round schools appear to do better on SOL tests.

Other student subgroups at year-round schools also appear to do better on SOL tests, but less consistently than black students.

JLARC

Average Scores of Black Students Improved Faster at Majority of

YRS

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65%Improve

dfaster

35%Did notimprove faster

26%Did notimprove faster 74%

Improved

faster

English SOL Math SOL

Percentages refer to percentages of year-round schools.

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Average Scores of Black Students at Some YRS Higher Than Predicted,

Especially in Math

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Lower thanpredicted

Within range of predicted (+/- 10

pts)

English SOL

Math SOL

13%

58% 29%

26%

29% 45%

Higher than predicted

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Other Subgroups at Some YRS Scored Higher in English, But Majority Scored

As Predicted

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Lower thanpredicted

Within range of predicted (+/- 10

pts)

English SOL

20%

53% 27%

17%

54% 29%

Higher than predicted

13%

68% 19%

Hispanic

Economically-

disadvantaged

LEP

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Practitioners Believe Intersessions And Shorter Breaks Contribute to

Improvement

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• Timely and targeted remediation−Avoid accumulated learning loss

• Reinforcement of recently-learned concepts−Helps all students

• Shorter breaks−Less time for skills to decline

JLARC

In This Presentation

Background

Test Scores for Certain Students Better at YRS

Financial Impact Related to Intersessions

Summary and 2013 Planning Grant

Review of Low-Performing Schools

YRS = Year-Round Schools

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JLARC

Finding

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Year-round schools spent 3%, on average, of their total annual expenditures on intersessions (not including transportation and student food services).

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Resources Typically Required to Provide YRS Intersessions

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• Instruction and instructional support−Teachers

−Instructional aides

−Instructional supplies and support

• Non-instructional−Nurses

−Transportation

−Food services

−Intersession coordinator

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Funding Sources for YRS

• Local funds used most frequently−Some divisions also use fees to offset

enrichment costs

• Federal Title I funds

• State basic aid, remedial education, and summer school funds

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JLARC

In This Presentation

Background

Test Scores for Certain Students Better at YRS

Financial Impact Related to Intersessions

Summary and 2013 Planning Grant

Review of Low-Performing Schools

YRS = Year-Round Schools

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JLARC

Divisions With Higher Percentages of Certain Student Groups May Want to Consider Year-Round

Schools

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• Year-round schools may be a method to improve student performance

• Particularly schools with high proportions of black, Hispanic, LEP, and economically disadvantaged students

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Year-Round School Planning Grants Provided in the 2013

Session

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• General Assembly provided $412,500 for year-round school planning grants ($50,000 per grant)

• Applications were due August 1st

• Seven divisions were awarded planning grants

JLARC

In This Presentation

Background

Test Scores for Certain Students Better at YRS

Financial Impact Related to Intersessions

Summary and 2013 Planning Grant

Review of Low-Performing Schools

YRS = Year-Round Schools

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JLARC

JLARC Review of Low Performing Schools (CH 806, Item #31, G.1)

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• (i) options used in other states and cities, including an assessment of Virginia's efforts to date;

• (ii) other current successful approaches for high poverty urban schools within Virginia and whether they could be replicated in other areas;

• (iii) an estimate of the resources and expertise that would be required at the state level to effectively implement and oversee any such models;

• (iv) appropriate criteria for intervention decisions; and• (v) analysis of the primary reasons for low school or

district performance.

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Study Planned for Completion inJune 2014

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• Planning stage−Cataloging policies and standards in Virginia

−Researching restructuring efforts in other states

−Reviewing academic literature

−Assessing potential study issues and methodologies

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JLARC Reports are Available On Website

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http://jlarc.virginia.gov

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