Focus School 2013-2014 Template Parent Letter
<Date>
<Parent>
<Address>
<City, State, Zip>
Dear <Parent>:
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has released Scorecards and top-tobottom rankings of the state’s public schools based on the results of 2012-2013
standardized tests. The State of Michigan uses the scores from these tests to determine
whether a school is meeting Michigan School Proficiency Targets and where it ranks in
a "Top to Bottom" list of schools based on their performance.
As a result of their ranking, schools may receive the designation of Reward, Focus, or
Priority school. Reward and Priority labels deal with being ranked in the top or bottom 5
percent of all schools in the state. However, the Focus label compares the school to
itself. Essentially, the highest performing students are compared to the lowest
performing students within a single school building to determine an inner-school
achievement gap. A Focus school label does not necessarily imply low achievement for
a school as a whole.
This year, <XXX School> is identified as a Focus school because the achievement gap
between the top and bottom performing students in the school was larger than most
other schools across the state.
As a Focus school, we will concentrate our school improvement efforts on closing
achievement gaps in order to help all children reach their learning potential. <insert
specific initiatives the school or district supports to close the achievement gap. A
suggestive list is provided from MDE which reflects the options for Title I Focus
schools>
It’s important to note that our district uses several other measures throughout the year
to ensure that students are making academic progress. We are proud of <insert
school’s points of pride: award winning or unique programs, teams, clubs; top rankings
from other resources; at-risk programs; advanced placement programs, etc.>
<XXX School’s> staff continue to work diligently to prepare all students for success in
their path to career or college and to become responsible citizens of the 21st century.
<Schools who were offering choice/transportation in 2012-13 OR Schools that plan to
offer choice transportation in 2013-14, must insert additional information here>
To discuss this information further, please call <name and number> and <he/she/they>
will be happy to help you. You can also find more detailed information about our Focus
School label at <www......>
Sincerely,
School Official
MDE Notification for Focus Schools:
“Letter includes a description of what the school and district is doing to improve
student achievement. The following provides a partial list of required and/or optional
activities and interventions that may be described in the letter as appropriate:
● The school is implementing the Superintendent's Dropout Challenge to assist
students at-risk of dropping out of school. (required)
● The district will monitor and evaluate the Focus School's School Improvement
Plan. (required)
● The school will implement professional learning on research-based interventions
aligned to the building's needs assessment.
● The district will implement a multi-tiered system of supports that includes
scaffolded instruction for students with disabilities and English Language Learner
students. (If the school implements such a system, deepen or broaden the scope
or enhance the fidelity of its implementation.)
● The school is working with the ISD/ESA and a School Support Team to develop
and implement new strategies for classroom instruction to improve teaching
methods and enhance student achievement.
● The school is providing additional professional learning about implementing the
Essential Elements for teachers with students in the bottom 30 percent.
● The school and district are collaborating with Michigan State University to better
understand the school’s strengths and weaknesses by looking at the
achievement data more closely, and to make changes in how instruction is
delivered in the classroom toward closing the achievement gap.
● The school will provide culture/climate interventions, use of time analysis or
culturally-responsive teaching interventions as needed.
● The school will contract with the local ISD/ESA for a School Improvement
Review, which will give the school an external perspective on processes that best
support student achievement.
● The school will provide weekly/daily time for teacher collaboration. The school
will contract for the administration of Surveys of Enacted Curriculum.
[If the district did not offer choice/transportation in 2012-13, then nothing further
needs to be stated.]
[If the district WAS offering Choice/Transportation and has now elected NOT to offer
Choice/Transfer and transportation for the 2013-2014 school year, include additional
language:]
Along with changes to the accountability scoring system, schools and districts are no
longer required to offer a Choice/Transfer option to students attending a Focus school
nor provide transportation for students whose parents had in past years chosen to
transfer students to another school under the Choice/Transfer option. If your student
was a Choice/Transfer student last year, they may continue to attend the
Choice/Transfer school, however, transportation will no longer be provided by the
district. You may also choose to have your student return to <XXX School,> and they
will be warmly welcomed by our caring staff.
[If the district has elected to continue transportation for students whose parents
elected to transfer to another school under the Choice/Transfer option selected in
previous years:]
For the 2013-14 school year, the <XXX School District> will not offer students the
opportunity to transfer to another school under the previous Choice/Transfer option.
Students whose parents elected to transfer to another school under this option in
previous years may continue to attend the Choice/Transfer school until the student has
completed the highest grade in that school. <XXX School District> will continue to
provide transportation to the Choice/Transfer school for the 2013-14 school year.
However, if you wish, your student may return to the <XXX School> for the 2013-14
school year, and they will be warmly welcomed by our caring staff.