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As a major component of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) comprehensive plan to address the goal of closing the achievement gap, DESE staff and other key consultants have collaborated in the development of an initiative referred to as “Project SUCCESS: Close the Gap Consortium.” As was reported to the State Board of Education in June 2004, this initiative endeavors to build on both state and national research models and experiences with particular focus on meta-analysis conducted by Dr. Bob Marzano and staff at McREL. Imbedded in this work is the firm belief that the gap can and must be closed through changed practices, strong leadership, and appropriate support. Partnering with OSEDA and McREL, DESE staff have designed an initiative focused on 25 selected middle and high schools where there currently exists a significant gap between the percent of African-American students proficient in communication arts and math on the MAP and the statewide average for white students proficient in communication arts and math on the MAP. The Project Success Close the Gap Consortium Action Plan and timeline presented in June has been followed in beginning the work of the Consortium. Potential partner schools were selected through an extensive analysis of performance and demographic data. The design team recommended that the initial cohort group come from the St. Louis, Kansas City and Southeast Missouri regions. Assistant Commissioner Charles Brown and Howard Jones, Project SUCCESS Coordinator, met with administrators from prospective schools and selection was completed. A key component of the initiative is the use of mentors to support school leadership teams in implementing the strategies presented by McREL at statewide training sessions. Mentors have been selected for all twenty-five schools with the support and assistance of the Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC) directors and school district administration. In keeping with the timelines established for year one, mentors received a two and one half day orientation in August and began the process of establishing strong relationships with the school teams. In October, the first four day training session was held in Columbia. All state-wide sessions will include one day exclusively for mentors, a second day with mentors and building principals and the third and fourth days the mentors and principals are joined by the designated school leadership teams. |
For additional information contact:
Howard Jones, Project SUCCESS
Coordinator. |
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