School Policies and Programs

Tain Cantrell

Demographic:

· 280 total students.

· 31.6% in ESL programs

· 84% of all kids receive free or reduced lunch.

o In reality, the number is closer to 90%

o All kids receive free breakfast through Title 1.

· Average class size, 20-25 students

Title 1

School Programs:

· Outdoor pursuit

o Science club

· Tiger Club

o Academic based program

o Only open to low-grade students.

§ Kids who are performing below standards are specifically invited to come after school to go through this program.

· Art Program

· Marimbas

o Performing group.

§ One of the only groups specifically ran by a teacher.

§ Also, the only group to bring money to the school.

Who is participating?

· Of the 280 students, only 85 participate in the programs.

· Would have more, but there is a lack of funding.

o For example, if there was funding for a bus, there would be an additional 40 students.

· Kids participate as a way for the parents to have supervised activities until they can come pick them up.

· Bush Elementary wants a safe place for the kids.

· There are 40 kids who go to the church up the street from Bush, for some activities.

· Their belief is that it’s important to have other programs than just academic ones.

o They want kids to be excited about school, not just the academic side.

· During school, there are mandatory reading periods for students who tested below standards.

Does it work?

· No effective way to measure it.

· No high stakes academic test.

· With dwindling funds from Title 1, there isn’t enough money to do everything the school would like.

o The school had to cut teacher tutors for the students after school.

o There isn’t enough funding for teachers to run the programs.

§ Relies heavily on volunteers.

§ Willamette makes up 80% of all volunteers at Bush.

o Why no parents?

§ Won’t meet criminal background checks.

§ Need a social security number, but some don’t have one.

§ They are a working poor.

Data

Volunteers:

· As 80% of Willamette students make up the volunteers, we are underqualified.

· This is a direct result of lack of funding.

· More funding would get more teachers involved.

o The teachers who are involved, do so on their own time.

· We do provide a good role model to students who are having a rough time.

Propaganda