A new report by LFA and Grunwald Associates, with support from AT&T, examines how parents perceive the value of mobile devices, how they see their children using mobiles, and what they think of the possibilities for mobile learning.
Measuring Success One Student at a Time
Story posted March, 2008
Results:
• Almost 90% of 3rd-10th graders now read at or above grade level
• Almost 100% of parents attend parent-teacher conferences
A depressed economy, low teacher salaries and a dwindling population in poor remote areas usually translate into restricted opportunities for children. Not so for the students in the Walsh School District in rural southeastern Colorado.
In the Walsh School District, which serves approximately 150 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, almost three quarters of the students qualify for a free or reduced-price lunch - a federal benchmark for poverty. Although the median household income is less than $25,000 a year, the district is overcoming daunting challenges to providing every student an excellent education.
In fact, Walsh has the highest reading scores in the state. Its small size allows staff to truly practice Walsh Elementary School's mission of "Measuring Success One Student at a Time." Teachers take time every day to give one-on-one help to struggling kids.
For example, elementary teachers ensure that all students have time for small group reading with an adult. They also use supplemental programs such as after-school tutoring, summer school and extra support for English Language Learners to boost educational success. The results speak for themselves. Nearly 90 percent of Walsh's third- through 10th-graders are reading at or above grade level.
The district allows teachers to direct their own professional growth to the benefit of students. Each educator in the district can receive a $l,000 reimbursement for continuing education. The district trusts these educators to use the money wisely in charting their own professional growth.
In Walsh, the support teachers receive from the district has a trickle-down effect. Elementary teachers will often walk over to the high school during their free time and tutor students. And if a Walsh high school student is getting D's and F's, the school requires him or her to spend extra time with a teacher.
Walsh Elementary also enlists the help of parents to ensure students' success. In this tight-knit rural community, nearly 100 percent of parents attend parent teacher conferences. The school also hosts a Parents as Teachers Night to instruct parents in methods for assisting their children with homework. Four nights a year the school hosts parent night, where parents have the opportunity to come into the school and meet with teachers.
"Failure is not an option," said Charylene Smith, who has taught at Walsh Elementary for seven years. "If a student fails, that means the adults aren't putting enough effort in. Year after year, we say that to ourselves, and it works."
The District has found that individual attention, parent involvement and professional development for teachers are key components to student achievement.
Further details about this story can be found in our sources:
Allison Sherry, for The Denver Post, "Rural School Districts Learn to Flourish", September 2007
2005 National Title 1 Distinguished Schools, "A Galaxy of Stars", January 2006
For additional information, please contact:
Kyle Hebberd
Superintendent/Elementary Principal, Walsh School District RE-1
Walsh, Colorado
Kyle.Hebberd@walsh.k12.co.us
Photos courtesy of Walsh School District and The Denver Post
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