Present: Cynthia Black, Rose Fulton, Harold Hawkins, Kay Postma, John Veal

The following item was distributed: Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) top 10 performance rankings for language, math, science, & social studies from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

It was noted that LCPA students scored in the top 10 rankings five times in: Communications Arts - grade 7 {1st place}, Social Studies - grade 8 {4th place}, Communications Arts - grade 11 {1st place}, Math - grade 10 {9th place}, and Social Studies - grade 11 {3rd place}.

Mr. Veal stated that sample test questions have been given to teachers who are teaching IB courses. Attempts are being made to assure that major categories of instructional items are being covered in the IB curriculum as well as possible. There are 17 IB diploma candidates and 55 students are taking one or more IB tests. All junior and senior students must, by the nature of the curriculum, take at least two "advanced", i.e., weighted grade, classes. Enrolling teachers in IB training courses should be easier now that the District has issued the school a credit card which can be used for IB tuition payments.

It was noted that on the official census date in late September for school year 1999/2000 LCPA�s student enrollment was 1,074 and for school year 2000/2001 the enrollment was 1,004. The minority percentage at the middle school was 74.5% while the change at the high school is minimal. It was noted that the ratio of female to male is 60:40, which may partially explain the gender gap noted in test scores. Hope was expressed that recruitment efforts will not only increase the enrollment, but add balance to the racial mix of students. The identified achievements gaps are being addressed by providing the same level of expectations for all students. Reinforcement of performance expectations by parents was noted as being beneficial. Mechanisms, programs, and incentives for increasing parental involvement were discussed.

Students are participating in the after-school tutoring program. The number of student demissions has decreased. Any decreases in the number of students reaching academic probationary status and the number assigned to ISS and OSS could also be measures of success of the student mentoring program, which occurs during the school day. The possibility of adding a study skills program as a semester course which would be mandatory for incoming students and students on academic probation was discussed.

Long-term teachers are functioning as mentors for associate teachers. It is uncertain which of the associate teachers will remain in their teaching positions.

The lack of teacher attendance at the this committee meeting was discussed. The administration suggested that perhaps members of this committee could attend the department meetings as a way of gathering information on efforts to increase academic achievement. The departments meet after school on the second Monday of each month, except April when the meetings will be the third Monday. The department chairs should be approached about the possibility of having parents attend their departmental meetings and to determine the location of the meetings. The department chairs are as follows:

Science - Mr. Ketchum
Physical Education/ROTC - Ms. Brewer
Language Arts - Ms. May-Washington
Math - Ms. Bralley
Social Science - Mr. Chamas
Foreign Language - Mr. Buss
Fine Arts - Mr. Martz

The next meeting will be

March 21st at 3:45 p.m. in the high school ROTC room
(February 21 meeting canceled)

submitted by,

Kay Postma