Browsing by Author "Dretzke, Beverly"
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Item Anoka-Hennepin Compensatory Education Pilot Program Year 1 Report(University of Minnesota, Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, 2007-01) Wahlstrom, Kyla; Hornbacher, Judy; Dretzke, Beverly; Peterson, Kristin; London, Rachel; Center for Applied Research and Educational ImprovementThe Year 1 Report of the Anoka-Hennepin Compensatory Education Pilot Progam reviews student achievement results from the pilot schools and a matched set of control students, levels of implementation of the project in classrooms, impact of strategies on outcomes and changes in teacher and staff attitudes toward the project. Shifting the traditional allocation of funds allows the district to provide a major intervention in three schools with high populations of at-risk students. The intervention includes program structures for mathematics and reading, changing instructional delivery methods in math and reading, providing intense professional development for teachers in math and reading, coaching follow-up at each site, and significant oversightItem Anoka-Hennepin Compensatory Education Pilot Program, Year 1 Report(Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, 2007-01) Wahlstrom, Kyla; Hornbacher, Judy; Dretzke, Beverly; Peterson, Kristin; London, RachelThe Anoka-Hennepin Compensatory Pilot Program is a state funded effort to examine student impact when Compensatory Education dollars are reallocated to 2nd and 3rd grades in three pilot schools. Shifting the traditional allocation of funds allows the district to provide a major intervention in three schools with high populations of at-risk students. The intervention includes program structures for mathematics and reading, changing instructional delivery methods in math and reading, providing intense professional development for teachers in math and reading, coaching follow-up at each site, and significant oversight. The Year 1 Report reviews student achievement results from the pilot schools and a matched set of control students, levels of implementation of the project in classrooms, impact of strategies on outcomes and changes in teacher and staff attitudes toward the project.Item Arts for Academic Achievement Developing Readers Project(Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, 2010-11) Dretzke, Beverly; Meath, JudyThe Developing Readers Project is part of the Arts for Academic Achievement (AAA) program that has been implemented since 1997 in Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS). The mission of AAA is to increase student academic achievement and improve teacher practice by making arts-based and arts-integrated learning essential to classroom instruction through collaborations with artists and arts organizations. The primary goal of the project is to increase the reading achievement of students in the middle grades, with a concentration on working with students in grade 6. The students targeted for inclusion are struggling readers enrolled in schools that have a significantly large proportion of students in poverty as defined by their eligibility for free or reduced price lunch. MPS has contracted with the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) to evaluate its implementation of the Developing Readers Project. This document is the year 2 evaluation report that addresses project implementation during the 2009‐10 academic year. The report includes descriptions of the participants and project activities and the results of student surveys, classroom video documentation, and teacher interviews. Also included are the results of analyses of attendance rates during the 2009‐10 school year and standardized reading test performance in spring 2009 compared to spring 2010.Item Examining the Impact of Later High School Start Times on the Health and Academic Performance of High School Students: A Multi-Site Study(2014-02) Wahlstrom, Kyla; Dretzke, Beverly; Gordon, Molly; Peterson, Kristin; Edwards, Katherine; Gdula, JulieThe results from this three-year research study, conducted with over 9,000 students in eight public high schools in three states, reveal that high schools that start at 8:30 AM or later allow for more than 60% of students to obtain at least eight hours of sleep per school night. Teens getting less than eight hours of sleep reported significantly higher depression symptoms, greater use of caffeine, and are at greater risk for making poor choices for substance use. Academic performance outcomes, including grades earned in core subject areas of math, English, science and social studies, plus performance on state and national achievement tests, attendance rates and reduced tardiness show significantly positive improvement with the later start times of 8:35 AM or later. Finally, the number of car crashes for teen drivers from 16 to 18 years of age was significantly reduced by 70% when a school shifted start times from 7:35 AM to 8:55 AM.Item FACETS: Focus on Arts, Culture and Excellence for Teachers and Students(Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, 2011-11) Dretzke, Beverly; Rickers, SusanIn 2008, a 3-year Professional Development for Arts Educators (PDAE) grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) to the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) to support professional development for arts educators. The funded project was titled Focus on Arts, Culture and Excellence for Teachers and Students (FACETS). Project funding provided professional development opportunities for music and visual arts teachers in elementary and middle schools characterized by high poverty, where 50% or more of the students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. FACETS had two primary purposes. One was to enhance music and visual arts teachers’ knowledge and skills related to providing effective instruction for students of the ethnic/cultural backgrounds present in their classrooms, especially African American, Somali, Hmong, Latino/Hispanic, and American Indian students. The second was to support the creation of on-going professional learning communities (PLC’s). MPS contracted with the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota to serve as the external evaluator of the project. This report presents an evaluation of the 3 years of the FACETS project, 2008-2011, including a description of the components, the modifications that were made from year to year, and the results of teacher surveys and teacher interviews.Item Global Literacy Through Mandarin Immersion and STEM: Minnesota Mandarin Immersion Collaborative Year 1(Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, 2010) Dretzke, Beverly; Rickers, Susan; Wahlstrom, Kyla; Werner, JessicaIn 2009, a 5-year Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education to the Minnesota Mandarin Immersion Collaborative (MMIC) for the project Global Literacy Through Mandarin Immersion and STEM. The grant supports immersion instruction in Mandarin Chinese that begins at the kindergarten level and the development of a curriculum that has a content focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The schools in the MMIC will add a grade level each year, with the intent of creating the capacity to continue Chinese immersion to grades 7-12. The MMIC has contracted with the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota to serve as the evaluator of the project. This year 1 evaluation report presents enrollment and retention data as well as the results of a teacher survey, teacher interviews, principal interviews, and a parent survey.Item Global Literacy Through Mandarin Immersion and STEM: Minnesota Mandarin Immersion Collaborative Year 2(Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, 2011) Dretzke, Beverly; Rickers, Susan; Wahlstrom, KylaIn 2009, a 5-year Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education to the Minnesota Mandarin Immersion Collaborative (MMIC) for the project Global Literacy Through Mandarin Immersion and STEM. The grant supports immersion instruction in Mandarin Chinese that begins at the kindergarten level and the development of a curriculum that has a content focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The schools in the MMIC will add a grade level each year, with the intent of creating the capacity to continue Chinese immersion to grades 7-12. The MMIC has contracted with the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota to serve as the external evaluator of the project. This report presents CAREI’s evaluation of the second year of the grant-funded project. The report includes enrollment and retention data as well as the results of principal interviews, teacher interviews, and a parent survey.Item Global Literacy Through Mandarin Immersion and STEM: Year Three Evaluation Report (2011-2012)(Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, 2012-12) Dretzke, Beverly; Miron, Chloe OIn 2009, a Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education to the Minnesota Mandarin Immersion Collaborative (MMIC) for the project Global Literacy Through Mandarin Immersion and STEM. The funding was expected to continue for a total of 5 years contingent upon annual renewal approved by Congress. However, in 2011, Congress voted to discontinue all FLAP funding. The 3 years’ of funding received by the MMIC supported early elementary immersion instruction in Mandarin Chinese that begins at the kindergarten level and the development of a curriculum that has a content focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The schools in the MMIC have added a grade level each year, with the intent of creating the capacity to continue Chinese immersion to grades 7-12. The MMIC contracted with the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota to serve as the external evaluator of the project. This report presents CAREI’s evaluation of the third year of the grant-funded project. The report includes enrollment and retention data as well as the results of a parent survey and a survey of English teachers (i.e., instructional staff whose positions were in the regular, non-immersion program).Item Looking More Deeply: Fidelity of Implementation as a Critical Component in Evaluating Intervention Impacts(Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, 2008-03) Hornbacher, Margaret; Dretzke, Beverly; Peterson, Kristin; Hickey, MeghanThis study investigated the use of fidelity of implementation measures in concert with standardized tests in a matched-pairs, quasi-experimental design for evaluation of a pilot intervention program that was designed to increase second and third graders’ mathematics and reading achievement. Although students in pilot classrooms characterized by high fidelity generally performed at the same level as control students , students in low fidelity pilot classrooms performed at a significantly lower level compared to both control students and students in high fidelity pilot classrooms. We found that the fidelity measures allowed more indepth analysis of the intervention’s component parts and increased the confidence with which the project’s major questions could be addressed, thereby providing more useful information to school district personnel.Item Minneapolis Public Schools North Side Initiative: Year Two External Evaluation Report(Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, 2009-10) Dretzke, Beverly; Rickers, Susan; Alexander, Nicola; Wahlstrom, Kyla; Ingram, DebraMinneapolis Public Schools announced in April 2007 that it would close five schools on the North Side of the district to consolidate resources and improve academic programs in the remaining North Side schools. This was the first step in the North Side Initiative (NSI), the district’s multi-year effort with goals to increase achievement for all students, close the achievement gap, improve attendance, increase enrollment, and decrease suspensions in the North Side schools. Two North Side elementary schools, Lucy Laney and Nellie Stone Johnson, were selected for a fresh start, which included appointing two new principals to provide leadership for reform initiatives. The district contracted with the University of Minnesota’s Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) to evaluate the year one (2007-2008) implementation of the NSI. In response to the year one evaluation findings, the district contracted with CAREI again to carry out a year two (2008-2009) process evaluation of the NSI. The year two evaluation focused on three major areas: Family liaisons in North Side schools Parent/guardian satisfaction with North Side schools Implementation of a fresh start in two North Side SchoolsItem Minneapolis Public Schools Small Learning Communities: Final Evaluation Report(Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, 2010-11) Dretzke, Beverly; Rickers, SusanMinneapolis Public Schools (MPS) was awarded a 5‐year grant by the U.S. Department of Education for a Small Learning Communities (SLC) project that was implemented in its seven comprehensive high schools. The funding period began in July 2005 and ended in July 2010. Two main goals were established for the project. Goal 1 was to close the achievement gap between students of color and White students in reading and mathematics while raising the achievement of all students. Goal 2 was to increase the graduation rate and post‐secondary readiness of all students. This evaluation report describes MPS’s attainment of these two goals in the final year of the 5‐year project and across all 5 years.Item Minneapolis Public Schools Small Learning Communities: Year 3 evaluation report, 2007-08 school year(University of Minnesota. Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, 2008-12) Dretzke, Beverly; Kalke, NanItem Minnesota State Teacher Development, Evaluation and Peer Support Model Pilot: Initial Evaluation Report(2014-02-05) Dretzke, Beverly; Ingram, Debra; Kwon, Melissa; Peterson, Kristin; Sheldon, Timothy; Wahlstrom, Kyla; Crampton, Anne; Dahmes, Shannon; Larabee, Kaitlyn; Lim, AliciaMinnesota Statute requires that districts begin evaluating teachers in the 2014-2015 school year. In response to the statute, during early winter 2011, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) convened a work group to consult with the Commissioner to develop a state model for teacher growth and development. In winter 2013, MDE released the Minnesota State Teacher Development, Evaluation, and Peer Support Model (hereafter “Model”) and began planning for a pilot of the Model during the 2013- 2014 school year (hereafter “Pilot”). The Model includes three components: 1) teacher practice, 2) student engagement, and 3) student learning and achievement. Sixteen school districts and one charter school across Minnesota agreed to participate in the Pilot. Six of the districts are implementing the full Model (all three components) and nine districts are implementing one or two components of the Model. The size of participating districts varies widely, ranging from 287 students to 7,356 students. In August 2013, the Joyce Foundation funded the University of Minnesota’s Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) to conduct an evaluation of the Pilot. This report summarizes results of surveys and interviews conducted during November and December 2013 with Pilot participants. This status report is the first of three reports. The report for the entire Pilot year will be available in August 2014 and a final report, which will include information on the value-added assessments, an element of the student learning and achievement component, will be submitted to the Joyce Foundation in December 2014. The data in this report is preliminary and encompasses only the first three months of the school year; thus readers should not over-generalize the findings or conclusions presented here. The purpose of this interim report is to provide formative feedback to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).Item Minnesota State Teacher Development, Evaluation and Peer Support Model Pilot: Initial Evaluation Report Executive Summary(2014-02-05) Dretzke, Beverly; Ingram, Debra; Kwon, Melissa; Peterson, Kristin; Sheldon, Timothy; Wahlstrom, Kyla; Crampton, Anne; Dahmes, Shannon; Larabee, Kaitlyn; Lim, AliciaMinnesota Statute requires that districts begin evaluating teachers in the 2014-2015 school year. In response to the statute, during early winter 2011, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) convened a work group to consult with the Commissioner to develop a state model for teacher growth and development. In winter 2013, MDE released the Minnesota State Teacher Development, Evaluation, and Peer Support Model (hereafter “Model”) and began planning for a pilot of the Model during the 2013- 2014 school year (hereafter “Pilot”). The Model includes three components: 1) teacher practice, 2) student engagement, and 3) student learning and achievement. Sixteen school districts and one charter school across Minnesota agreed to participate in the Pilot. Six of the districts are implementing the full Model (all three components) and nine districts are implementing one or two components of the Model. The size of participating districts varies widely, ranging from 287 students to 7,356 students. In August 2013, the Joyce Foundation funded the University of Minnesota’s Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) to conduct an evaluation of the Pilot. This report summarizes results of surveys and interviews conducted during November and December 2013 with Pilot participants. This status report is the first of three reports. The report for the entire Pilot year will be available in August 2014 and a final report, which will include information on the value-added assessments, an element of the student learning and achievement component, will be submitted to the Joyce Foundation in December 2014. The data in this report is preliminary and encompasses only the first three months of the school year; thus readers should not over-generalize the findings or conclusions presented here. The purpose of this interim report is to provide formative feedback to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).Item Minnesota State Teacher Development, Evaluation and Peer Support Model Pilot: Participant Recommendations(2014-02-06) Dretzke, Beverly; Ingram, Debra; Kwon, Melissa; Peterson, Kristin; Sheldon, Timothy; Wahlstrom, Kyla; Crampton, Anne; Dahmes, Shannon; Larabee, Kaitlyn; Lim, AliciaIn August 2013, the Joyce Foundation funded the University of Minnesota’s Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) to conduct an evaluation of the Minnesota State Teacher Development, Evaluation and Peer Support Model Pilot. This report summarizes participant recommendations gathered via surveys and interviews conducted during November and December 2013 with Pilot participants. The report for the entire Pilot year will be available in August 2014 and a final report, which will include information on the value-added assessments, an element of the student learning and achievement component, will be submitted to the Joyce Foundation in December 2014. The data in this report is preliminary and encompasses only the first three months of the school year; thus readers should not over-generalize the findings or conclusions presented here. The purpose of this interim report is to provide formative feedback to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).Item Minnesota State Teacher Development, Evaluation, and Peer Support Model Evaluation Report(2015-01) Dretzke, Beverly; Ingram, Debra; Peterson, Kristin; Sheldon, Timothy; Wahlstrom, Kyla; Baker, Julia; Crampton, Anne; Lim, Alicia; Yap, ShannenItem Project Intersect: Year Two Evaluation Report (Cloquet Public Schools & Fond Du Lac Ojibwe School)(Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, 2008) Dretzke, BeverlyProject Intersect is funded by a Department of Education grant awarded to Cloquet Public Schools and the Fond du Lac Ojibwe School for a period of three years: July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2009. The primary purpose of the project is to help students increase their understanding and appreciation of visual and performing arts, language arts, math, and science and how American Indian culture intersects with these areas. The project is a collaborative effort of the American Indian community, the Ojibwe tribal college, the elementary and middle schools, University of Minnesota art education faculty, and the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration. Year one of the project was a planning year devoted to establishment of a design team and development of an intervention design to integrate American Indian arts content into grade 1-8 curriculum. Year two was the first implementation year. In addition to continuing implementation, year three will include creation of a replication manual and dissemination of print and Web-based materials. CAREI evaluated three aspects of Project Intersect: teacher participation, teacher professional development, and classroom implementation.Item Saint Paul Public Schools Chinese Articulation Project(Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, 2009-11) Dretzke, Beverly; Jordan, KellyIn 2006, Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) received grant funding from the Department of Education’s Foreign Language Assistance Program to support its Chinese Articulation Project (CAP). The three-year funding period started on September 15, 2006, and ended on September 14, 2009. SPPS established four main goals for the project: 1. Expand the Chinese program. 2. Articulate and align the Chinese language curriculum and instruction to provide continuity of student experience, standards-based programming, and district-wide structure. 3. Enrich the Chinese language program to provide a comprehensive rigorous academic experience. 4. Develop a national model and demonstration site of the articulated Chinese language program. CAREI was asked to evaluate the projects impact in each of these areas.Item TRANSFORMING EDUCATION THROUGH THE ARTS AND MEDIA (TEAM): FINAL EVALUATION REPORT(2015-02) Dretzke, Beverly; Yap, Shannen