The review team analyzed multiple data sets and reviewed numerous documents before and during the site visit, including: Student and school performance data, including achievement and growth, enrollment, graduation, dropout, retention, suspension, and attendance rates. Data on the district’s staffing and finances. Published educational reports on the district by ESE, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and the former Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (EQA). District documents such as district and school improvement plans, school committee policies, curriculum documents, summaries of student assessments, job descriptions, collective bargaining agreements, evaluation tools for staff, handbooks, school schedules, and the district’s end-of-year financial reports. All completed program and administrator evaluations, and a random selection of completed teacher evaluations. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 01/11/2016 01/12/2016 01/13/2016 01/14/2016 Orientation with district Interviews with town or interviews with school Interviews with school leaders and principals; city personnel; leaders; interviews with leaders; follow-up interviews with district Interviews with district school committee interviews; district review staff and principals; staff and principals; members; visits to the team meeting; visits to the document reviews; and review of personnel Elm Street Elementary Elm Street Elementary visits to the Waterford files; interview with School, the Gardner School, the Gardner Middle Street Elementary teachers’ association; Middle School, the School, the Gardner School for classroom teacher focus groups; Gardner Academy for Academy for Learning and observations. parent focus group; and Learning and Technology, and the visits to the Gardner Technology, and the Gardner High School for High School, Gardner Gardner High School for classroom observations; Middle School, and the classroom observations. emerging themes meeting Waterford Street with district leaders and Elementary School for principals. classroom observations.
The review team analyzed multiple data sets and reviewed numerous documents before and during the site visit, including: Student and school performance data, including achievement and growth, enrollment, graduation, dropout, retention, suspension, and attendance rates. Data on the district’s staffing and finances. Published educational reports on the district by ESE, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and the former Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (EQA). District documents such as district and school improvement plans, school committee policies, curriculum documents, summaries of student assessments, job descriptions, collective bargaining agreements, evaluation tools for staff, handbooks, school schedules, and the district’s end-of-year financial reports. All completed program and administrator evaluations, and a random selection of completed teacher evaluations. Monday 01/11/2016 Tuesday 01/12/2016 Wednesday 01/13/2016 Thursday 01/14/2016 Orientation with district leaders and principals; interviews with district staff and principals; document reviews; and visits to the Waterford Street Elementary School for classroom observations. Interviews with town or city personnel; Interviews with district staff and principals; review of personnel files; interview with teachers’ association; teacher focus groups; parent focus group; and visits to the Gardner High School, Gardner Middle School, and the Waterford Street Elementary School for classroom observations. interviews with school leaders; interviews with school committee members; visits to the Elm Street Elementary School, the Gardner Middle School, the Gardner Academy for Learning and Technology, and the Gardner High School for classroom observations. Interviews with school leaders; follow-up interviews; district review team meeting; visits to the Elm Street Elementary School, the Gardner Middle School, the Gardner Academy for Learning and Technology, and the Gardner High School for classroom observations; emerging themes meeting with district leaders and principals.
gardner-2016.docx