WVW offers plans in reading, writing

KINGSTON – Teachers will get more training and students can expect more tutoring and testing at four Wyoming Valley West schools that missed state goals in reading and writing tests, under new “school improvement plans” unveiled by Curriculum Director Anthony Grieco at Wednesday’s School Board meeting.

The plans are mandated by the state whenever schools miss the goals. Grieco noted that in almost all schools test results improved substantially, but there were weak spots at Main Street and State Street Elementary schools and the Middle School, all of which missed goals this year after making them last year.

The high school on the other hand, missed multiple goals for the third year in a row.

Each school has a different improvement plan, but they all share some features: The creation of data teams that will review test scores to determine strengths and weaknesses of individual students; expanded tutoring and remediation programs; and more training to help teachers identify and correct problems.

Main Street will also use all “appropriate legal means” to improve attendance, where Principal Ray Whalen said one student had missed more than 60 days and another more than 40, while 23 students missed 20 days or more and 12 missed 10 days or more. Whalen noted the school has an unusually high percentage of children from low-income families, who statistically tend to struggle academically and have less parental involvement.

State Street and high school students can expect local tests that try to gauge preparation for the state tests, known officially as the Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, or PSSA. State Street will also pilot a transition program for those entering first grade in an attempt to help newcomers who start classes behind their peers in reading and math skills.

The Middle School will increase the use of PSSA preparation courses for eighth grade students who have done poorly the previous year, while the high school will incorporate math and reading lessons into other subjects when possible, and add more course options for those in grades nine and 10 who are at risk of doing poorly in the PSSA tests, which are administered in grade 11 at the high school.

The board also agreed to settle a dispute about the number of district students enrolled at West Side Career and Technical Center by having those students fill out a form showing they are also Wyoming Valley West students. West Side takes students in grade 9 through 12 full time while the district pays a per pupil fee, and there has been confusion as to how much the district should be paying.

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The school district moves to correct problems indicated by schools missing goals.

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