Closing the Gap Between Special Education and General Education Students in Reading at Albertville Middle School

Brian SaulsAlbertville Middle SchoolJuly 22, 2014

Albertville Middle SchoolLocated in Marshall County, AL

Grades 7 and 8Approximately 641 students59% White, 37% Hispanic, and less than 1% of all other ethnicities

Over 60% receive free/reduced lunch

Title I School

Step I: Identify the ProblemThe problem to be addressed is the discrepancy between general education and special education student test scores on the reading portion of the Alabama Reading and Mathematics Test (ARMT).

ARMT Reading Scores at AMS

2012-2013

2011-2012

2010-2011

2009-2010

2008-2009

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Regular Education Reading ScoresSpecial Education Reading Scores

Step II: Stakeholders Impacted by the ProblemAdministrators

Teachers Students ParentsOur community/city

Step III: Select a Representative Committee to Address the ProblemAMS PrincipalAMS Assistant

PrincipalSpecial

Education Teacher

ELA TeacherScience TeacherTwo ParentsOne Student

Step IV: Identify Limitations on the Group’s Decision MakingOur school is a focus group

school and must consult with representatives from the state department of education.

Our special education students vary greatly in ability on a year by year basis.

Money- we have to stay within the limitations of the school budget.

Our teachers must be willing to implement new strategies.

Step V: Criteria to Measure Possible Solutions#1: Each solution must support

the response to intervention model currently being used in our school.

#2: Each solution must support content area instruction related to the reading subtest on the Aspire test.

Step VI: Generate Proposed Solutions#1: Common planning time for

the 8th grade ELA and Special Education teacher.

#2: Implement peer tutoring program in the ELA inclusion class.

#3: Have monthly PD sessions led by the ELA teacher for all core teachers. The PD would be related to reading and comprehension strategies.

Step VII: Solicit Feedback for Proposed SolutionsSurvey was distributed to

members of all stakeholder groups.

Results are below:Solution #: Percent

Support:#1 89

#2 74

#3 44

Step VIII: Make decisions on proposed solutionsOur task force based our results

on our research, survey results, and group discussion and feedback.

Solutions #1 and #2 were selected. They had high support, were easy to implement, cost nothing for our school, and were research-based.

Step IX: Implement the SolutionBoth solutions will be

implemented during the 2014-15 school year.

The common planning time will be included in the master schedule.

Peer tutoring will begin as soon as school starts with the selection of peer tutors and their training.

Step X: Evaluate the ImplementationReading scores on the Aspire test

will the main evaluation of our solutions.

We will also administer a survey in October and March to evaluate the effectiveness of our solutions and guide any changes/ adjustments that need to be made.

Step XI: Modify/ Adjust the ImplementationTwo checkpoints will be utilized

during the 2014-15 school year to evaluate the effectiveness of our solutions.

In October and March, the task force will administer a survey to affected teachers and students to assess our progress.

We can adjust either of our solutions at the checkpoints if needed.

Step XI: Modify/ Adjust the ImplementationThe reading task force will also

meet after we receive the results of the Aspire test.

Our group can discuss the effectiveness of our solutions and decide how to progress in the future.