District Achievements for Gifted Education 2006-7
· PEP information on Website www.portnet.k12.ny.us ...School s & Programs…PEP
· AGATE member on selection committee for Manorhaven Principal
· Math Olympiad permanent part of Weber challenge workshops
· Addition of a Multi-variable Calculus course at high school, Fall 2007
· Presentations at AGATE meetings in 2006-7 by Dr. Charles Piemonte (on differentiation in a math class) and Dr. Dona Matthews (current status of gifted education
· Regular Participation at Parent Council, BOE Curriculum Committee and Board of Ed meetings
· Held the only School Board Candidates night this year, despite uncontested election
· Helped fund Science Olympiad Finalists trip to Kansas City
· Awarded three AGATE Toula J. Halperin Awards for Academic Excellence to graduating high school seniors
· Provided individual support to parents with issues concerning gifted education
· AGATE of PW became an HSA
Key 2007/08 Concerns
· Need for further documentation of application, acceptance and appeal processes for advanced programs similar to what has been done for PEP
· Need more advanced course work in English and Social Studies in all grades at the high school level, and eventually middle school.
· Need for better articulation between elementary and middle school, and middle and high school with regard to students’ capabilities to do advanced work, as well as better overall communication between the three levels.
· Need for differentiation in the classroom at all educational levels. (supported by continued professional formation and strong emphasis from Administration)
In 2007-2008 AGATE intends to :
· Include regular reviews of current and pending legislation and policy changes at the local, state and national levels, as well as providing brainstorming and networking opportunities for parents of gifted children within the district at our regular meetings.
· Streamline and restructure AGATE PW internally.
AGATE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2005/06
Last year the district was more focused on getting the budget passed than in doing any major curriculum review or revision. The 5-year core curriculum initiative requested by the School Board that began in 2004-5 did not yet produce any reports. First to be examined was math, followed by language arts. The math report was originally expected by June 2005, then moved to June 2006, to be followed by a language arts review due by June 2007. However, the Administration decided that each review should be two years, rather than 1, making the full cycle a 10 year one. Now the math report is expected at the end of the current academic year, language arts in 2008.
In essence, advocacy for change took a back seat to getting roofs fixed and paid for, finding funding for sports teams and playing fields, and making sure that the best environment for learning could exist given financial pressures. Some teaching and administrative positions were filled, but in some cases, the financially-strapped district did not feel compelled to hire any of the candidates it attracted. We are very happy to report that Dr. Charles Piemonte has agreed to remain the interim Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment through June 2007. A search for a permanent candidate will be initiated again this coming year.
Did anything positive with regard to gifted & talented education happen last year?
Elementary School
AGATE worked closely with administration to have 3rd grade PEP start in mid February rather than the May 1st start date in the 2004-2005 school year. Prior to our involvement, there was a possibility that PEP would have been eliminated in the 3rd grade altogether. Instead, the administration found a different testing vehicle which could be administered early in the 3 rd grade year and provide quick results. Administration also tightened the timeframe for the IQ testing.
AGATE also spoke with administration about the importance of clustering small groups of gifted children in the classroom by sex, so one girl or one boy would not be isolated in a classroom. The administration listened and will take it into consideration.
We brought to the attention of Dr. Piemonte a one-day seminar focusing on Gifted education in Mathematics. As a direct result, money was found to send two math resource teachers and one fifth grade teacher from the PWSD. AGATE's president Corbey Hyman also attended. We are hopeful that they will implement some of what they learned at this important seminar.
Middle School
After years of advocating for 8th grade PEP to become a scheduled class, rather than a pull-out, it was finally put into effect.
We are particularly happy that the Math Olympiad program, which had been cut this past year due to the contingency budget, was reinstated. This program was redesigned as an after-school club, taught and administered by Schreiber math research students, rather than being part of in-class activities. This approach has the two-pronged benefit of bringing the program back to the middle school without taking class time from the regular curriculum (even though, unfortunately, some interested students can not participate due to sports, religious school or other obligations), and gave high school students an opportunity to teach. By actually working on solutions and related problems during the non-testing weeks, students are gaining mathematical insight and problem solving skills, something they never did when Math Olympiad exams were given during class time. The program was initiated after complaints by parents, many of whom are members of AGATE. Mrs. Rodahan was instrumental in devising the approach that would make it happen, and we appreciate her efforts. She also promised that if the budget passed (which it did), the program would be extended from grade 6 to grades 6-7-8. We will follow-up to remind the administration of this commitment.
Over the summer, a case was brought to our attention regarding admission into the accelerated 7th grade math class. We spent many hours advocating for more open, equitable, and appropriate selection criteria for accelerated coursework in the middle school (accelerated 7 th grade math and 8th grade Regents Earth Science), and for a formal appeal procedure if a parent feels an incorrect decision was made. We want to insure that any student who is qualified (and what the qualifications should be is a long discussion) have an opportunity to take the advanced work. We met with Dr. Piemonte, and expressed our general concerns in this regard, and gave him the long history of our advocacy on this issue. He subsequently met with Mrs. Rodahan and Dr. Gordon, and together they reviewed all the cases that had surfaced, many favorably. We believe that the administration finally understands that designating a specific number of sections, and then filling them with the top students who qualify (rather than finding out how many qualify, and creating the appropriate number of sections) is not a satisfactory solution to the concerned families in the district, and we hope that discussions on this topic will continue. Dr. Piemonte also promised to work on an official appeal process, to be put in writing and sent with the letter to parents when they are informed of the placement results. We believe that these are very positive steps, and commend the district and all involved in their efforts.
High School
AGATE formed a committee to develop recommendations to the high school for an Honors class alternative to the current Honors Project option for 9 th, 10th and 11th graders in English and Social Studies. As opposed to previous years, when we have advocated for an honors section in these subjects, and which has been rejected time and time again, we are now putting together a formal proposal that includes other possibilities.
Other
AGATE hosted a Speaker night with renowned educational consultant Dr. Marc Summers, who discussed the following topics: What are the emotional, social, and intellectual characteristics of gifted children? What has the research concluded on the outcomes of various approaches to educating gifted children?
Our annual "Meet the School Board Candidates' Night" focused on asking the candidates running for school board about curriculum issues. This year it was particularly important that AGATE host such a meeting, since all other candidates' night events focused on the budget.
The applicants for the AGATE scholarship this year were a most impressive and outstanding group. Our awards for 2006 were given to Shira Helft and Brian Tashman. We also awarded two Honorable Mentions to Emily Sorg and Elyssa Jakim.
At our annual end-of-year dinner, we honored the founder of AGATE of Port Washington by officially renaming the AGATE scholarship the "Toula J. Halperin AGATE Scholarship of Academic Excellence".
Ongoing
We have several on-going efforts related to the district as a whole. Several AGATE members regularly attend the Board of Education's Curriculum Committee, and weigh in on matters related to gifted and talented education. We are happy to report that the current board allows the public to speak at these meetings.
Our regular attendance at the Parent Council meetings has helped us understand what is happening in the district. Although not formally a member of Parent Council (because we are currently not a PTA/HSA), we do speak up on issues that concern us.
Several AGATE board members attend School Board meetings, although we would welcome more participation. If you regularly attend, and are willing to report to AGATE when relevant topics are discussed, please contact us at agatepw@gmail.com.