Preview of ESSR spending plan

ESSR Survey Results■ RSD posted an English and Spanish survey online in July. ■ Participants were staff, families, and community members.■ The survey asked participants how they would like to see additional funding

spent in RSD under 4 categories (Academics, Safe Schools, Community Engagement and Technology, Programs, and Other)

■ 431 participants responded. (350 English/ 81 Spanish)■ Data shows English and Spanish results combined

Academics143 33% Blank response

67 16% More staffing/bilingual staff (Reading/ Math Specialist, Bilingual Clerks and Paras, Social workers, Classroom teachers, Deans, Tutors, Technology teachers, Specialists, ESL teachers, Gifted teachers)

42 10% Classroom supplies (classroom libraries, graphing calculators, outdoor learning spaces, school supplies for home, interventions, library books for library)

33 8% After school programs

33 8% Technology/ classroom tools, equipement

39 8% Curriculum (Handwriting, Collins program expansion, FCS, Wood shop, leadership, Spanish, Technology, Mindfulness, Enrichment, Financial literacy, Hands-on life skills/high interest, Project based learning (RKAA), )

23 5% Special Ed programs (Before and after school, staffing, Dyslexia support, sensory items)

20 5% Interventions

22 5% Community Resources (English classes for families, business partners to support students for employment)

11 3% Professional Development

10 3% Updated textbooks

5 1% Enhancement of Music and Arts program

3 <1% Scholarships for college bound students/Financial help for families

2 <1% Building maintenance/Safety

Safe Schools211 49% Blank responses

89 20% More security staff, more bilingual staff

76 18% Building maintenance, secure entryways, building upgrades, electric, lighting

24 6% Training, de-escalation techniques, restorative practices, social emotional learning

12 3% Intervention, behavior specialists

9 2% Locker checks, metal detectors, daily searches

6 1% Salary increases

4 <1% Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS)

4 <1% Better parent communication

4 <1% Peer mediation, mentor program

3 <1% Traffic control, armed guards

Communication, Engagement, Technology205 47% Blank responses

130 30% Upgraded and expanded technology, music studios, 3D printers, display boards, laptops, continue 1:1 device, equip science classrooms with upgrades

35 8% Community resources, family engagement activities over the summer, technology training for parents

18 4% More staff, technology and STEM teachers, more interpreters

19 4% Training, ESL classes for parents, Spanish classes for employees

14 3% STEM/STEAM curriculum, classes

14 3% Afterschool programs

7 1% Building upgrades, playgrounds, playsets for younger stduetns

3 <1% Salary increases

4 <1% Music

Programs199 46% Blank responses

79 18% After school programs, include transportation

23 5% STEM/STEAM curriculum in all grades, gifted classes

21 5% Curriculum enhancements and internships, more CTC programs, finance classes, more workforce ready programs

18 5% ESL programs and supports for families

17 4% Athletic programs for all grades, swimming, yoga

15 4% SAP/conflict resolution training

11 3% Music//Arts, theater, STEAM, more Arts exposure

13 3% More parent outreach

9 2% Training for parents

5 1% Spanish classes for staff

7 1% Special education classes, more resource rooms

6 <1% More staff

3 <1% Salary increases

Other161 37% Blank responses

106 26% Building and facility upgrades, heating and air conditioning, new furniture, playgrounds, new vehicles, updated classrooms, another high school

44 10% After School activities with transportation, different clubs, more extracurricular

30 7% More staff, assistants, reading specialists, social workers, counselors, classroom teachers

12 3% Increase salaries

15 3% Classroom supplies, books, masks, desks, selfcare options, whiteboards

12 3% Healthy food, better lunches, funding for food for athletics teams

15 2% Training for staff, SEL, trauma informed care, ESL classes for parents

17 2% Music/Arts/Technology

10 2% Special education

6 1% Smaller class size

6 1% Curriculum/STEM

7 1% Field trips

Teaching and Learning■ Student Services■ Academic Recovery■ Curriculum/Innovation■ ESL

Student Services- Social Work SupportGoal: To provide student support outside of academics for social/emotional well-being and growth■ Additional 9 School Social Workers:

– 5 added to elementary schools bringing caseload down to approximately 450:1■ Includes one Social Worker assigned to provide counseling and

case-management services to students in Emotional Support classes in the elementary schools.

– 4 added at the secondary level to target specific student populations■ Two Social Workers to provide counseling and case-management services

to students in Emotional Support classes in the elementary schools.■ One Social Worker to provide services to Reading Virtual Academy students

and families identified with needs by Welcome Center staff.■ One Social Worker to address attendance improvement at Reading High

School.

Additional services from Social workers can be billed to ACCESS.These were added last June and supported from general funding.

Social Emotional Supports

■ Development of Grief Support Services and Groups for students.

■ Revision of Suicide Intervention and Prevention Protocol to include updated resources for parents/guardians and students, and implementation of safety plans for students returning from care.

■ Ongoing revisions to Student Assistance Program processes to increase support and interventions for students and parents.

Student Services- Internship ProgramGoal: To provide students workforce ready experiences in an interested field.

The RHS Internship Program will be restructured and under supervision of central office and internship coordinator and continued collaboration with RHS staff.Internship experiences would be provided during the school year and in the summer for students grades 9-12.During the school year experiences that may earn high school credit would include:

Existing RHS internships (Visions, Penn State Health, Reading Hospital)RSD Elementary and Middle School classrooms (Rising educators program)

Summer paid internship experiences include:RSD Elementary and Middle School classroomsRSD Office/Clerical supportRSD Maintenance/Custodial supportRSD IT supportExternal organizations/companies found by coordinator

InstructionGoal: To provide students with Social Emotional Learning activities throughout the school year

■ Each student will have at the minimum two SEL lesson a week PreK - 8th grade. In PreK - 4th grade, teachers with utilize Second Step materials and in 5th - 8th grade will participate in restorative circles.

Funds to include:■ Second Step classroom kits for each PreK - 4th grade teacher■ continued Restorative Practices training

Instruction- ESSR TutoringGoal: To provide academic recovery/remediation for all students in grades K - 12 who are not at grade level

■ Tutoring for all students identified through benchmark assessments identified at below grade level. Tutoring will occur during the day and after school.

– Funds to include:■ Tutor Coordinator- needed to identify and coordinate tutors and handle

billing/compensation■ Tutors - tutors could include: college students, contract with an agency (or

multiple), high school students completing a paid internship– Tiered approach based on need

■ Intensive - Agency, REA ■ Strategic - College students; retired teachers (must work 5 days), RESPA■ High strategic - high school students

■ Incentives■ Research based materials in both math and reading■ Professional development for research based materials

Instruction- After School ProgrammingGoal: To expand extracurricular offerings and provide students high-interest motivating clubs and activities to join after school that re-engage students in learning.

Students will have the opportunity to join high-interest after school clubs and activities. These include cooking, sports, coding, legos, kenex, drone operation, yoga, nutrition, tutoring, music, art, health and wellness, leadership, book study, student council, and much more.

InstructionGoal: To provide professional development to building level leadership teams and teachers ensure students master state standards and prepare for post secondary■ Contract with West Ed to work with building level leadership teams on the

following:– data driven dialogues– increase knowledge of effective instructional practices– support teachers with standards based instruction

■ Contracted service for professional development on utilization of technology in the classroom

– how to balance technology and instruction in a 1:1 environment

InstructionGoal: To support the MTSS, Multi-Tiered System of Support

■ Tier 2 and 3 of MTSS requires materials for students needing additional levels of interventions and support in areas of reading, math and behaviors

– Funds to include:■ adding resources for math and behavior■ purchasing additional resources for literacy and upgrading the current

resources

InstructionGoal: To increase student achievement by using valid student data to make decisions on curriculum, scheduling, programming

■ Contracting with an intermediate unit for Data Analyst position to be utilized across disciplines (i.e. instruction, special education, ESL, etc.)

– Deep analysis of achievement data – Identify effective instructors and replicate– Identify ineffective instructors and provide support and professional

development

Special Education

■ Expand research-based interventions– All students receiving special education services that are 2 or more

years below grade level receive intervention programs.– Purchase of additional research-based intervention materials:

■ Reading Mastery■ Read 180■ Math 180

■ Purchase of additional coaching sessions for Read 180/Math 180.

■ Development of specially designed career education and work scope and Sequence for students in low-incidence classrooms.

Instruction- InnovationGoal: To re-engage students in learning outside of traditional/ remote classroom experiences

Grades K-4■ All students would participate in STEM classes once in a two-week cycle.

– Taught by STEM teachers who are trained in inquiry-based STEM learning– Students and classroom teachers would rotate through classes held by STEM teachers.

Classroom teachers would assist to facilitate the lessons.– STEM classes would occur 45-60 min/every two weeks– Classroom teachers can continue the STEM projects/research during the following week

■ Utilization of 2 current gifted teachers with an additional 4 more for all 13 elementary schools.■ STEM teachers would also teach and case manage gifted students in each building.■ Identification of teachers, training, and writing curriculum would occur in 21-22 school year.■ STEM class implementation would occur 22-23 school for all K-4 students.

Instruction- Innovation (cont.)Goal: To re-engage students in learning outside of traditional/ remote classroom experiences

Grades 5-8■ Expand computer science and STEM offerings down to grade 5■ Partner with Albright College SRI program

– Provide summer camp experience during RSD summer school– Train a cadre of 10 teachers in the SRI methodology (Train the Trainer model)– Investigate a partnership to utilize the Albright SRI building for field trips, or

magnet type program.

Instruction- Innovation (cont.)Goal: To re-engage students in learning outside of traditional/ remote classroom experiences

Grades 9-12■ Additional classes offered in STEM related courses

– Investigate upgrading RHS STEM classrooms and greenhouse to provide laboratory spaces for the STEM, Ecology, and Botany courses.■ Esports/Video Game Design Lab

■ Makerspace/FAB Lab for Engineering

■ Additional two teacher positions created to offer more courses (Completed)■ Collaboration with Albright with dual enrollment of STEM related classes (In Progress)■ Implementation of Albright's PA’s smart grant offering 50 students' memberships to

Albright’s exclusive SRI camp/classes for the next 1.5 years. (Completed)

Instruction- School ImprovementGoal: To provide professional development to building level leadership teams and teachers to ensure school improvement actions have a direct impact and affect on student achievement.

■ Contract with IU’s for coaching support for schools with school improvement planning and monitoring.

■ Contractors would assist in planning, goal setting, measuring outcomes, monitoring, and revising plans for academic improvement for each school.

CurriculumGoal: To provide an align standards-based curriculum with up-to-date resources that meet the needs of every RHS learner.

■ RHS Curriculum Development and Resources– Fund Phases 2 and 3 of the RHS Curriculum Development Project

■ Ensure a written, standards-aligned curriculum is in place for every course at RHS

■ Leverage community partners to review current courses and develop innovative programming within the career pathways.

– Ex - Social Media Marketing, Video Game Design, Music Development and Marketing

– Purchase resources (programs, textbooks, laboratory supplies, etc.) for Phases 1, 2, and 3 of the RHS Curriculum Project■ Ensure that materials are up-to-date, culturally relevant, and have required

supports for ELLs and Special Education students.

CurriculumGoal: Increase math achievement throughout the district by developing RSD teacher’s capacity to address mathematical thinking and differentiation in the classroom.

■ Research and adopt a new K-8 Mathematics program than supports instructional change in the classroom.

– Embed coaching support to ensure instructional changes■ Research and adopt a K-8 Tier II program to support struggling students and

address learning loss.■ Provide supports at each building for coaching in mathematics

– Expand K-4 Math Point of Contact Role– Add Intervention Specialists to each Middle School (Title Funded)– Convert the Science PDF to a Math PDF (Completed)

■ Invest in a single adaptive math platform in K-8 for differentiated instruction

English as a Second Language Program Professional Development

Goal: Expand professional development opportunities to ensure the implementation of research-proven systemic and instructional practices that effectively support English learners and immigrant youth.■ Reading SD's Internal ESL Certification Program

– Stipends paid to program coordinator, course instructors and course participants– Cover the cost of course materials and technology– Cover fees related to teacher certification

■ Quality Teaching for English Learners (QTEL) training & coaching from WestEd– Continue to support the QTEL initiative at RHS– Expand QTEL training and coaching into the 5 middle schools

■ Foundational EL training & coaching through SupportEd– Continue to support SupportEd PD initiative in grades 5&6– Expand training and coaching into the 13 elementary schools

■ ESL Program Supervisors – Hire 4 additional ESL Program Supervisors to provide professional development,

coaching support, and assist with ongoing instructional supervision/accountability

English as a Second Language Program Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment

Goal: ■ Align ELD Curriculum to Grade Level Content

– Continue ELD curriculum development work with WestEd at RHS– Expand the WestEd ELD curriculum project into middle and elementary school– Compensate teams of teachers to serve on curriculum writing teams– Develop progress monitoring tools embedded into the curriculum

■ Academic supports– Establish a cadre of bilingual tutors to provide academic support in native

language(s) of students during the day and in the evenings– Newcomer extended day/extended year program focused on dual language

literacy skills■ Seal of Biliteracy /Dual Language

– Research steps for designing a district-level program– Implementation of the program

Family & Community Engagement

Goal: ■ Translation & Interpretation Services

– Formal training and certification for bilingual staff who serve as interpreters/translators

■ ESL Classes for Parents– Establish "English Forward" ESL Programs at multiple district sites for parents

using the staff who were trained by the Literacy Council– Pay stipends, purchase materials, provide incentives– May be able to combine this with student academic supports to form a "family

literacy" program

Improvements to Existing Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) SystemsImprovements consists of two phases:■ Evaluation of existing Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems to

determine the level of repairs needed to meet current ventilation standards and make the necessary improvements.

– RSD completed air quality and air exchange evaluations.– RSD engaged and continues to engage a third party contractors to assist

with making repairs to existing HVAC systems.■ Consider adding air conditioning to three middle schools: Northwest,

Southern and Southwest Middle Schools– RSD has engaged an engineer to determine scope and specifications

New SchoolLocated at 9th & Windsor Streets

Based on previous demographic studies, it was determined that the area with the greatest student enrollment density is in the northeast quadrant of Reading. The property located at 9th & Windsor is in the middle of this area.RSD has engaged Cropper GIS to update the demographic study and density map to assist in determining the type of school to be built at the site.

American Recovery PlanElementary and Secondary School Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund Allocation

■ Allocation is based on the percentage of Title I Funds received.

■ RSD allocation was approximately $104,550,000

■ See chart for estimated use allocation

American Recovery PlanElementary and Secondary School Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund Allocation