Introduction

        Cash Valley Elementary implemented Success for All, a scientifically research-based literacy program, during the 2001-2002 school year.   The program was developed at Johns Hopkins University by Dr. Robert Slavin and Dr. Nancy Madden, and it is the result of years of study with at-risk learners.  The program is currently used in over 1800 schools throughout the nation.  Funding is provided through a three-year Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration (CSRD) grant, which was written by members of the Cash Valley faculty.  Click here to learn more about the Success for All program.

Questions

2.  What measures are used to monitor student progress?

3.  Are we making progress toward school-wide reading goals?

4.  Has attendance improved since the implementation of SFA?

5.  Has there been an increase in student performance on County Benchmark Assessments?

6.  Did the number of referrals to special education increase or decrease last year?

Resources

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Parent Resources
http://www.successforall.net      -direct link to the SFA homage
http://www.successforall.net/curriculum/sfa.htm     -more information about SFA curriculum components
http://boe.allconet.org/     -Bd. of Ed. of Allegany County home page
http://boe.allconet.org/users/ca/     -link to Cash Valley's home page
http://www.NoChildLeftBehind.gov/     -web site dedicated to the No Child Left Behind Act
http://www.ed.gov/audience/audience.jsp?type=I&top=Parents+%26+Families     -U.S. Dept. of Education-parent page
http://www.ncpa.org/pi/edu/pd071999c.html     -National Center for Policy Awareness-response to SFA
http://www.famlit.org/faqs/faqreading.html     -family reading tips/book selection
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Reading/     -information about helping with literacy at home
http://www.twoteach.com/ActiveReaders.htm     -tips for helping children become life-long readers
http://www.alexandria.k12.mn.us/.htm     -ways to assist with reading comprehension at home

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How has Success for All changed the structure of Cash Valley's reading program?
     All students in grades one and two participate in reading groups between 9:00-10:30 each morning.   Students in grades three through five have reading from 10:30-12:00 each day.  Students work in multi-age groups according to reading levels.   All teachers, including classroom teachers, resource teachers, and reading specialists, teach reading groups, allowing for smaller group sizes.

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What measures are used to monitor student progress?
  Student progress is measured in several ways.  Reading Roots students are individually assessed every eight weeks using running records, comprehension questions, and vocabulary activities.  Reading Wings students are also individually assessed using running records and comprehension questions.  Additionally, reading teachers forward Eight Week Assessment Forms to the SFA Facilitator regarding areas of student performance including fluency, reading and listening comprehension, writing, and homework.  Students are regrouped every eight weeks according to reading levels, and placement is made based on a combination of assessment information and classroom observations.

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Are we making progress toward school-wide reading goals?
     The goal of Success for All is to have all students reading on or above grade level by the end of third grade, with no regressions thereafter.  The following graph displays the percentage of students reading on or above grade level at the conclusion of each assessment period.

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Has attendance improved since the implementation of SFA?
     In order to be considered "excellent", Cash Valley's yearly attendance rate must be 96% or above.  The graph below compares Cash Valley's attendance rates during the last two school years.

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Has there been an increase in student performance on County Benchmark
         Assessments?
  County Benchmark Reading Assessments are administered at the conclusion of each marking period.  Assessment results are reported in the form of the percentage of students meeting the appropriate benchmark for each grade level.   Cash Valley's 2001-2002 Benchmark Assessment results are shown below, with a comparison of student results from the first and fourth marking periods.

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Did the number of special education referrals increase or decrease last year? The graph below compares the number of special education referrals at Cash Valley during the two most recent school years.

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