In order to increase rigor and academic meaningfulness, the following are highlights of our continuous improvement of middle schools:

1. Teaching of the state standards and measuring the mastery of each student with ATI Galileo.
    
2. The Essential Standards and new District Assessment Plan (DAP) through ATI Galileo will for the first time provide information for each individual student and teacher regarding the actual mastery of state standards in reading, writing and math.
    
3. This data, as well as, accountability reports will also allow us to identify students who have already mastered the grade level standards. This will ultimately drive daily lesson plans for students based on appropriate grade level standards.
    
4. Professional Development for teachers focusing on:
• Increasing the expectations of learning by raising the level of Bloom's taxonomy in each lesson plan from 414.2 to analysis, synthesis and application
• Continue the use of differentiated instruction to increase the rigor and level for students who have already mastered some or many of the standards in their grade level
• Classroom management for keeping students highly engaged in very interesting activities in all core academic and elective classrooms
• ELL (SDAIE) strategies for reading and writing for teachers with English Language Learners
• Teaching reading in content area classes starting first with our social studies and science teachers with collaboration from / with reading and writing teachers
• Increasing integration of reading and writing standards in the lesson plans of elective teachers
• Science adoption, K-8 technology
   
5. Specific Middle School program modifications are:
• Providing math, reading or writing electives for those students who are falling far below on AIMS in that specific area content
• Providing math, reading or writing electives for students who excel and/or are passionate about that specific area content
• Continue the Gifted Innovations elective for identified Gifted learners
• Computer classes for interested parents and students
• Computer proficiency assessments for those students interested in …
• PE that aligns to the new state and national wellness standards
• Foreign Language
• Fine Arts (band, strings, vocal music, and visual art)
   
6. Important highlights for every middle school community:
• District Core Curriculum aligns with State Standards in reading, writing, math, science and social studies
• Plan for parent conferences in middle schools
• Student schedules in advance to all families
• Middle school teams
• Student transition articulation meetings (exit / entry) elementary to middle school, and middle school to high school
• Teacher transition articulation meetings (exit / entry) elementary to middle school, and middle school to high school
• Advisory to meet the emotional and social needs of adolescents
• Exceptional customer service for all years, and special focus on transition year families