Making Choices

for Excellence

EAST AURORA SCHOOL DISTRICT 131

•A magnet school concept-

•“School within a School”

Magnet Academies

•Beginning in August 2008 w/:

•5th grade

•8th grade

•9th grade

•Focus areas: Math, Science, and Technology

•Design of Magnet Academies is based on the results of a community survey…

DISTRICT 131 PROPOSAL

Focus Area Dual Language

(Span/Eng)

Gifted & Talented

Visual & Performing Arts

Science, Math, Technology

Responses

MAGNET SCHOOL SURVEYThe Magnet Academy Design Team designed and conducted a survey to guide the development of the East Aurora Magnet Academies model.

The survey:

•was distributed randomly to parents and students at elementary & secondary

•Polled interest level of students and parents and themes for the school

•275 responses were received

•The interest level was overwhelmingly positive and the results of the theme selection are as follows:

17% 25% 26% 32%

I. SITES

II.STUDENTS

III.TEACHERS

IV.CURRICULUM

V.TIMELINE

MAGNET ACADEMY

OVERVIEW

To accommodate space needs for the Magnet Academy during the 2008-2009 school year, three different sites will be used to house the programs:

•5th grade: O’Donnell Elementary School

•8th grade: East Aurora Middle School Campus

•9th grade: East Aurora High School

SITES

STUDENTS

STUDENT SELECTION FOR THE 2008-2009 SCHOOL YEAR:

•150 STUDENTS

•50 – 5TH GRADERS

•50 – 8TH GRADERS

•50 – 9TH GRADERS

CRITERIA FOR QUALIFICATION•MEETS OR EXCEEDS

ON STATE TESTS

•CURRENT 131 STUDENT

•COMPLETES THE APPLICATION PROCESS

APPLICATION PROCESS

•PART I: COMPLETE APPLICATION

•BASIC INFORMATION

•ESSAY QUESTIONS

•TEACHER RECOMMENDATION

•COUNSELOR/ADMIN RECOMM.

•DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 14, 2008

•PART II: APPLICATION REVIEW & RUBRIC

•MAGNET TEAM REVIEWS APPLICATIONS

•MAGNET RUBRIC:

•Application, Evaluations, Grades, Standardized Tests

•PART III: LOTTERY SELECTION (if needed)

50 -5th

50 -8th

50 -9th

LOTTERY SELECTIONIf over 50 qualified applications are received for any grade level, a lottery system will be used to select the students:

•All names will be entered in the drawing

•The drawing will be held publicly for each grade level with applicants as invited audience members

•After 50 students are selected, a waiting list will be formulated via the lottery system

5 YEAR PROJECTION PLAN

YEAR 1: 2008 – 2009

•MAGNET ACADEMIES

•150 STUDENTS

•GRADES: 5, 8, & 9

•YEAR 5: 2012-2013

•MAGNET SCHOOL

•550+ STUDENTS

•GRADES: K-12

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE FIVE YEAR MODEL:

2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013

K-2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12Total

50

50

50

150

50

50

50

50

50

50

300

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

450

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

550

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

550

STAFF

TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS

•Standard Teaching Certificate

•Highly Qualified by State & Federal Req.

•Five years of Teaching in District 131

•Masters or enrolled in Masters Program

•Strong working knowledge of technology

•Evidence of continued Professional Dev.

•Teacher Leadership Experience

•Flexibility w/ working at different sites

•Background in Gifted Ed preferred

The Teachers and Staff in the Magnet Academies will be the

driving force behind its success!

The positions will be:

• in the 5th, 8th, and 9th grades

• open to District 131 current staff members

• posted January 15, 2008

•Deadline: February 15, 2008

• interviewed by a qualified team of administrators

• finalized by March 1, 2008

CURRICULUMThe curriculum will be designed for the inquisitive student who is looking for an adventure in exploring, discovering, and learning in the following areas of concentration:

•SCIENCE

•MATHEMATICS

•TECHNOLOGY

The core of Science, Mathematics and Technology, combined with the other subject areas, will encourage students to:

•Solve problems through critical thinking

•Extensively use the scientific method

•Analytically manipulate models in modern mathematics and scientific laboratories

•Apply technology across disciplines

TIMELINE

•January 14 Presentation to Board Curriculum Committee

•January 15 Teacher Job Postings

•January 22 Magnet Committee Mtg.

•January 23 Release Applications to the Public

•February 4 Magnet Academy Kick-Off: 5:00p-6:30p at SSC

•February 5 Professional Development & Curriculum Writing Begins

•February 14 Student Applications are Due

•February 15 Interviews for Teachers Begin

•February 15-26 Student Selection Begins w/ Lottery Plan (if necessary)

•March 1 Teacher Selection Finalized

•March 1 Student Selection Finalized

•August 25 First Day of School

QUESTIONS/ COMMENTS

Making Choices

for Excellence

EAST AURORA SCHOOL DISTRICT 131