Summit School District to address achievement gap with assistance from McREL
October 16, 2008
Denver—Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) has been chosen by Summit School District, in Frisco, Colo., as its professional development provider in a three-year state initiative to close the district's achievement gap.
McREL is providing Summit teachers and administrators with a comprehensive range of services, including professional development for teachers, helping them improve their instruction of English-language learners (ELLs), and to school leaders, helping them effectively guide school-wide improvement efforts. McREL will also provide technical assistance to help the district ensure uniform adoption of a rigorous curriculum.
The Colorado Department of Education's Close the Achievement Gap project is a pilot program for which six school districts across the state were selected not only for having a significant gap but also for having proper structures in place to mobilize efforts immediately.
Summit School District is a high-performing district that has experienced, in recent years, an influx of ELLs at all grade levels, which has led to a significant gap on state assessments between ELLs and their non-ELL peers. However, according to Jim Eck, McREL senior director of Field Services, the district chose McREL because, rather than focus just on ELLs' performance on assessments, they want to improve achievement in a "more systemic way."
"Closing achievement gaps associated with race and poverty is a top priority for the Colorado Department of Education and we deeply appreciate the work of McREL and others who will assist in tackling this significant issue head-on," said Colorado Commissioner of Education Dwight D. Jones. "This work would not have been possible without the funding support from the State Legislature, the leadership in all six school districts and the keen insight and analysis from outstanding organizations like McREL. We eagerly await the results of these collaborations with confidence that the effort will reveal strategies that are reliable, effective and can be deployed statewide."
Dr. Millie Hamner, superintendent for Summit School District, said, "The resources and expertise provided by McREL are the perfect fit for our district and will help us develop a sustainable model for school and district-wide improvement. We are delighted to have this opportunity…to close the achievement gap while raising achievement levels for all students."
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McREL is a nationally recognized, private, nonprofit organization located in Denver, Colo., dedicated to improving education for all students through applied research, product development and service. In 2007, McREL provided research-based guidance to educators and policymakers in 47 states across the U.S.
