Barrington School Board to Get Closer Look at Dip in NECAP Science Scores

The School Committee will hear an update on Barrington students’ most recent scores on the NECAP science tests -- reported as showing a  “statistically significant” decrease in proficiency over the past year -- at its meeting Thursday evening, Sept. 3.

The meeting starts at 7:30 pm in the School Committee Meeting Room in Town Hall.

The RI Department of Education reported on Sept. 23 that Barrington’s proficiency rate on the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) science test for 2013 was 65.6 percent. That proficiency rate is 6.7 percent lower than in 2012 although 2.6 percent higher than five years ago. 

The score also shows Barrington as one of four districts in RI with the “statistically significant” decrease in proficiency from a year earlier.

The most recent score also shows Barrington dropping to second best in Rhode Island behind East Greenwich, which scored at a 67.4 percent proficiency rate. 

NECAP tests in science were given to students in grades 4, 8 and 11 last May. Only students at the middle school showed an increase in proficiency -- by 1.1 percent -- since the 2012-2013 test was administered. 

The School Committee also is scheduled to get an update on science standards and enrollment, which continues to decline, and hear reports from the All-Day Kindergarten Task Force and the Building Committee.

Here is the complete agenda for the Oct. 3 meeting, which will air live on the Eagle News Network  at Barrington High School:

BARRINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING

Government Center, 283 County Road

AGENDA

October 3, 2013

7:30 p.m. 

A.      PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (approx. 7:30 – 7:32 p.m.)

B.     ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNITION (approx. 7:32 – 7:37 p.m.)

C.     BPS SPOTLIGHT ON TEACHING AND LEARNING (approx. 7:37 – 7:57 p.m.)

D.     INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS (approx. 7:57 – 8:30 p.m.)

1.      NESDEC Enrollment Data

2.      Science NECAP Update

3.      Next Generation Science Standards

4.      School Accountability Update (Principals)

E.      GENERAL PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION (approx. 8:30 – 8:40 p.m.) 

F.      OLD BUSINESS (approx. 8:40 – 9:10 p.m.)

Superintendent and Staff

1.      UCOA Report 

School Committee

1.      All Day Kindergarten Task Force

2.      Building Committee Update

3.      Superintendent Evaluation

4.      Governance Workshop Scheduling

G.     NEW BUSINESS (approx. 9:10 – 9:35 p.m.)

Superintendent and Staff

1.      Resignations/Retirements

HS, Talon Advisor

MS, Drama Program

MS, Industrial Arts

2.      Budget/Financial Update

School Committee

1.      Policy First Reading – Appeals Policy

2.      Policy First Reading – Diploma Waiver Policy

3.      Policy First Reading – Free and Reduced-Price Meals and/or Free Milk Policy

H.     DECISION ITEMS (approx. 9:35 – 9:37 p.m.)

1.      Consent Agenda

Meeting Minutes

Open Meeting and Executive Session of September 3, 2013

Financials

Monthly Expenditures for August $3,006,770.12

I.      DISCUSSION ITEMS (approx. 9:37 – 9:40 p.m.)

1.      Discussion Future Agenda Items

2.      General Discussion to Guide Future Recommendations 

J.       GENERAL PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION (approx. 9:40 – 9:50 p.m.)

EXECUTIVE SESSION (approx. 9:50 – 10:20 p.m.) Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws:

Section 42-46-5(a)(1) for Personnel;

Section 42-46-5(a)(3) for discussion regarding school buildings security issues.