HiCap Parents Council
October Meeting
District Office
10/02/2024 - 10 AM - 12 Noon
In Person Attendance: Ashley W, Carson S, Mairead, Amity B, Elizabeth W, Liz P
In Person Late:
Zoom Meeting Attendance: Terri, Allen, Veronica, Karen, Lyn, Holly, Elisa, Beth R, Ekta, Sean Q, Hong, Iman, Jenn C, Nikhat
Zoom Late:
Secretary: Liz P.
Zoom Liaison: Mairead
Next meeting date: Tuesday, November 5th at 10 AM
Guest Speaker: Dr. Craig Foster, Director of Research and Evaluation
Speaking on I-Ready data and HiCap students
The way data is analyzed is to compare students to themselves over a year
The data on HiCap students shows that students compared in the 2022-2023 year vs 2023-2024 showed no significant difference. It was also segmented out by the schools, grade levels, and their type of service delivery,
His conclusion: Service Delivery did not matter
Can we clarify and say, “Service delivery does not affect academic outcomes for Gen Ed and HiCap students”?
This means that GenEd kids don’t appear to have a boost; HiCap students don’t appear to have a drop
Could we look at the students who moved from self contained to integrated classrooms?
Lots of data, lots of variables
Might not be the priority
Amity will look at how many students and consider if this is a good population to look at
Remember, NSD is always looking at this type of data.
There has been some Social-Emotional data gathered, including the big project Amity did last year interviewing students from throughout the district
Study sessions where more district data is reviewed can be viewed on the district page. Here is the September session.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hcYwMWqtO0
Discussion - Amity Updates
Professional Development day yesterday
All day. ELA morning, Math in afternoon.
Attendees: Canyon Creek, Fernwood, Lockwood, Elementary - 3rd grade teachers. About 20 people in the room. Will receive 15 clock hours.
Reviewed lots of information on integration, scheduling, Thinking Classrooms (including activity)
More PD days coming for other groupings of teachers (including some mid-year with Emily Kircher-Morris)
Ultimate goal: All kids receive an appropriate level of challenge in a safe environment, so they can meet those challenges later in life.
HiCap Task Force Applications and Dates
Charge of this task force will primarily be Middle School
Begin in November - October 2025
Tuesday evenings, 5 - 7 pm
Goal of 30 people - 8 teachers (2 4th/5th grade), 4 administrators, 6 parents, 2 counselors, 4 high school students, family engagement specialist, Andrea (curriculum)
Can we have at least 1 person be a HiCap Council member?
End result will be a recommendation made to Superintendent
Skyview
Skyview Middle School last year wanted to integrate kids in science and social studies. There was resistance to this.
Ultimately, changes did happen this year to science and social studies. The classes are integrated. However, the HiCap kids’ school schedules are being listed as “HC” even though the class is integrated.
Children’s screening and assessment dates?
1st grade families: Screen by teacher in classroom during school day. 9/19 - 10/11. Date and time determined by school and teacher.
Everyone else plus 1st grade: Do not know dates of testing until 1 week before. We need to wait until the referral deadline 10/11. This determines how many kids need testing, how many proctors, etc.
See Elizabeth’s HiCap Office letter below for more information.
Council Questions/Updates
Spring 2024 HiCap Survey Results
Biggest difference is ELA satisfaction in an integrated classroom. Also, slight decline in satisfaction and related questions for integrated classrooms.
Terri will try to set up a meeting at East Ridge, from where we received good feedback about the ELA model. Ashley will attend.
Fundraising need is high
Amazon Smile?
Mairead will send ideas from the chat over to Carson.
NAGC logo needs to be promoted. Must include official logo.
Action Items
Mairead - NAGC graphic for newsletter, social, and website; will send fundraising information over to Carson
All: Please send priorities: what went well, what needs improvement
All: please send headshots if you haven’t!
September: Do we need better descriptions on our website of what the Integrated model is?
Next month Agenda/Meeting
Potential reading for next month: The Class Privilege article from Amity
