Desegregation: ''North Little Rock School District Revised Desegregation Plan''

Little Rock School District v. Pulaski County Special School District
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North Little Rock Public Schools 12/1/89 NORTHL ITTLE ROCKS CHOOLD ISTRICT REVISED DESEGREGATIOPNL AN IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTER.N DISTRJCT OF ARKANSAS WESTERN DIVISION LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT vs. NO. LR-C-82-866 PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, et al. MRS. LORENE JOSHUA, et al. KATHERINE KNIGHT, et al. NORTH LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT REVISED DESEGREGATION PLAN i PLAINTIFF DEFENDANTS IN'l'ER\il~HORS INTERVENORS Introduction Section 1: Section 2: Section 3: Section 4: Section 5: Section 6: Section 7: Section 8: Section 9: Section 10: Section 11: TABLE OF CONTENTS Student Assignment Plan Staff Recruitment Plan. Special Education Plan Introduction. Compensatory Education and Elimination of Achievement Disparity Page i 1 15 21 31 Compensatory Programs Aimed at. . . . 50 Dropout Prevention Extracurricular Activities. 58 Discipline, Expulsions and. 62 and Suspensions Gifted and Talented Education. . . . 64 School Construction and Inadequate. 88 Facilities Desegregation Monitoring 91 Community Relations . . . 92 Referral Evaluation Placement and Programming. . 95 Procedures for Handicapped Students INTRODUCTION In its decision of April 13, 1984, the Court found the North Little Rock School District (NLRSD) to have committed the following segregative acts: 1. The NLRSD constructed and renovated schools in a manner which sought to preserve the racial identification of North Little Rock neighborhoods. Little Rock School Dist. v. Pulaski County Special School District No. 1, 584 F.Supp. 328, 343, Paragraph 39 (E.D. Ark. 1984) (LRSD I). 2. Blacks were underrepresented on the administrative staff and teaching faculties of the NLRSD schools. Id. at 348, Paragraph 91. 3. Whites were underrepresented in schools south of Interstate 40 and blacks were underrepresented in schools north of Interstate 40. Id., Paragraph 92. 4. The NLRSD had failed to have blacks coaching at the senior high level. Id., at 348-49, Paragraph 93. 5. Blacks were significantly overrepresented in special education classes and no valid testing procedure could explain it. Id. at 349, Paragraph 94 and 99. Furthermore, the NLRSD classified white students as "learning disabled" while blacks were classified as "mentally retarded." Id. at 350, Paragraph 103(l)(d) and ( 1) ( g) . ii 6. Blacks were underrepresented in the NLRSD's gifted and talented program. Id. at 349-50, Paragraph 100 and Paragraph 103(l)(a). 7. A disproportionate number of blacks drop out of school. Id. at 349, Paragraph 102. 8. Blacks were disproportionately expelled from school. Id., Paragraph 102. 9. The NLRSD did not provide adequate compensatory education programs for black students. Id. at 350, Paragraph 103(l)(c). 10. A disproportionate number of black students were bussed in the NLRSD with "less than satisfactory desegregation results." Id. at 351, Paragraph 103(5)(a). However, only four of these violations were found to have had a continuing interdistrict effect. Specifically, the NLRSD "(a) failed to assign blacks to its central administration or to high school principalships and coaching positions
(b) concentrated whites in schools north of Interstate 40 and blacks in schools south of it
(c) assigned students to special education classifications on a discriminatory basis
and (d) failed to apportion the burdens of transportation equally on black and white students." Id. at 353, Paragraph 10. n-012 iii The Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed these findings and also noted that, in addition to correcting the violations found by the District Court, the NLRSD would be required "to comply fully with the prior orders of the district court and this Court." LRSD v. PCSSD, 778 F.2d 404, 435 (8th Cir. 1985). The NLRSD's remedial plan, originally submitted as NLRX H-i, was directed toward remediating those segregative acts determined to have interdistrict segregative effects and did not address those violations which were intractistrict in their effect. The Court, however, directed that the NLRSD address these intradistrict violations as well and on October 14, 1986, the NLRSD filed its Supplement to Plan. Cumulatively the Plan and Supplement addressed all violations found by Lhe Dislrict Court and the mandate of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding Lhis and all prior orders. On February 27, 1987, the Court approved the Plan, as supplemented, in all respects and no party appealed. LRSD v. PCSSD, 659 F.Supp. 363, 367-68 (E.D. Ark. 1987). Since that time, the NLRSD has on several occasions requested the Court to amend the Plan. These include: 1. Addendum to Student Assignment Provisions of Section 1 of the Plan, filed on July 21, 1987 and approved by Order of July 27, 1987. n-012 iv 2. Petition to Modify NLRSD Student Assignment Plan and to Close Central Junior High School, filed July 20, 1988 and approved by Order of September 1, 1988. 3. Petition to Modify NLRSD's Desegregation Plan submitted to the Special Master on February 15, 1989 and approved by Interim Order of July 27, 1989. PURPOSE OF REVISED PLAN One purpose of this revised plan is to incorporate the District's approved plan and all amendments thereto into a single document. Second, t.he District committed in its original Plan to implement certain compensatory education programs if adequate funding was provided by the State. The Settlement Agreement does provide additional funding tot.he District for compensatory education and also requires the District to provide a description to the Court of the compensatory education programs which will be implemented with the settlement monies. On October 25, 1989, the Stipulat.ed Compensatory Education Programs to be Implemented by the NLRSD with Settlement Monies was filed which details the programs that will be implemented and when. This revised plan incorporates the provisions of the Stipulation, contingent, of course, on the Court's approval of the Settlement Agreement. Third, in addition to the original plan as formally amended and the stipulated compensatory education programs, the District n-012 V proposes some additional program commitments relevant to desegregation which have been incorporated in this revised plan. n-012 vi SECTION 1: STUDENT ASSIGNMENT PLAN~ HISTORY OF STORM PLAN Elementary students within the District are assigned according to the Storm Plan in grades 1-6. The Storm Plan pairs a school in a predominately black area with one or more schools in a predominately white area. These schools are grouped so that each group's racial composition represents the racial composition of the District. This plan is based on two primary premises: first that it accomplishes total integration and, second, that it is the least discriminatory method possible in that no area of the District can be considered to be favored in any way. In order to be as fair as possible students were initially selected at random for transportation. The following procedure was used: all letters of the alphabet were placed in a container and an alphabet was drawn from the container. Beginning with that letter of the alphabet the student body in each school was divided into groups of appropriate size. When the end of the alphabet is reached, the process starts over and the District continues to regroup alphabetically. ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS The North Little Rock School District desegregation plan, approved by the court of appeals, see Davis v. Board of-~~-:_, 449 F.2d 500, 501 (8th Cir. 1971) and revised with the 1 approval of the district court, see Davis v. Board of Ed., Order (E.D. Ark., May 12, 1978), LRSD v. PCSSD, 659 F. Supp. 363 (E.D. Ark. 1987) incorporates the following features: 1. Since the total student population of the elementary schools in the North Little Rock School District in 1989-90 is approximately 48 percent black and 52 percent nonblack students, each elementary school in the District must have a student population excluding kindergarten, which approximates as nearly as feasible the proportion of black and nonblack students in District as a whole. 2. To assure that each elementary school will have a balanced student population. Schools are placed in groups so that students within each group can be assigned to schools in such numbers as is necessary to achieve the desired racial composition in each school. See Addendum lA, p. 8. 3. Children entering the first grade after May 1, 1978, enter the District pupil assignment plan according to the last name of the child shown on his official birth certificate (or his previous school record if he is entering from another school district) and will continue in the rotation cycle under that name. 4. Kindergarten students are assigned to their neighborhood schools and are not transported for purposes of racial balance. This was approved by the court in Davis v. Board of Ed., 362 F.Supp. 730 (E.D. Ark. 1973). 5. Black students living in predominately white areas and white students living in predominately black areas are not bused or transferred. The questions and answers concerning the District's student assignment plan {Addendum lB, p. 9) are published each year and mailed to all patrons of the North Little Rock School District. The decision of the Court of Appeals directs that the student population in the District have a racial composition within 25% of the racial composition of the District as a whole. LRSD v. PCSSD, 778 F.2d 404, 435, (8th Cir. 1985). In 1989-90 the NLRSD has 4,444 nonkindergarten elementary students of whom 2,335 (52.5%) are nonblack and 2,109 (47.5%) are black. Thus, in order to meet the 25% standard, each school must have a black population between 35.6% and 59.4%, i.e., 47.5% + 11.9%. All the elementary schools in the District are presently in compliance with this standard. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS: 1989-90 Junior high schools, grades eight and nine, are also assigned by zones. The only exception to this is an area bounded on the east by Interstate 30, on the South and southwest by the Arkansas River, and on the north by Twenty-second Street. See Addendum lC, p. 13. Black students in this area are assigned to Ridgeroad Junior High School
all other students are assigned to Rose City Junior High School. Each junior 3 high school reflects the racial composition of the District in grades 8 - 9. These zones will be changed if and when necessary to maintain the racial balance within the District. One school, Central Junior High, serves all seventh graders in the District. In 1989-90, the junior high schools in the District have a student population that is 57.0% nonblack and 43.0% black. See Addendum lD. The black population in each school must be between 32.2% and 53.8% black, i.e., 43.0% ~ 10.8%. All junior high schools in the North Little Rock School District satisfy this standard. See Addendum lD, p. 14. LAKEWOOD JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL COMPLIANCE FOR 1989-90 Lakewood Junior High School has been brought into compliance with the court order. We used a volunteer method to bring them into compliance. A letter was sent out to all black students living in the Ridgeroad attendance zones. The letter asked for forty black students to volunteer and transfer to Lakewood Junior High School. It was indicated that this would be done on a first come first served basis. There were about 35 students to transfer. Another letter was mailed to all white students living in the Lakewood attendance zone. The letter asked for twenty white students to volunteer and transfer to Ridgeroad Junior High. It was indicated that this would be done on a first come 4 first serve basis. There were about ten students to transfer. SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS: 1989-90 The senior high school boundaries were drawn in 1970 so that each high school's racial composition reflected the racial composition of the District. These boundaries have not been changed. They will be changed if and when necessary in order to keep each school racially balanced. The racial composition of the District's senior high schools is 62.0% nonblack and 38.0% black. Thus, each school must have a black population between 28.5% and 47.5%, i.e., 38.0% + 9.5%. The senior high schools in the North Little Rock School District satisfy this requirement. SECONDARY RESTRUCTURING: 1990-91 AND AFTER The North Little Rock School District will implement the new Restructuring Plan at the beginning of the 1990-1991 school year. The plan will affect the secondary schools only. The elementary structure will remain as is. The changes that will occur due to restructuring will be major changes. However, our desegregation plan is made stronger and even more stable as a result of the changes. At present we have two schools housing grades 10, 11, and 12
three schools housing grades 8 and 9
and one school housing grade seven. When the restructuring occurs there will be only one high school housing grades 11 and 12
one school 5 housing grades 9 and 10
and three schools housing grade 7 and 8. The seventh grade school, Central Junior High School, will be closed and will no longer be in operation. The attendance zones will be.revised and reestablished as necessary to assure proper racial balance in each 7th and 8th grade school. Transportation will be provided in the 1990-91 school year to - all students who reside two miles or more from school. This will be a part of the restructured secondary schools program. Parents are encouraged to make recommendations and express concerns to the District's Transportation Department. Concerns and recommendations made to the Transportation Department will be investigated and corrected as the need arises. The North Little Rock School District will continue to provide safe transportation by (1) well trained drives, (2) good discipline on buses, (3) proper bus maintenance, and (4) bus routes as short as possible. STUDENT DISTRIBUTION NORTH AND SOUTH OF I-40 The following schools are located south of Interstate 40: ELEMENTARY Argenta Boone Park Glenview Lynch Drive Meadow Park Pine SECONDARY Ole Main High Rose City Junior High Central Junior High 6 Redwood Rose City Seventh Street The following schools are located north of Interstate 40: ELEMENTARY Amboy Belwood Crestwood Indian Hills Lakewood North Heights Park Hill Pike View SECONDARY Northeast High Lakewood Junior High Ridgeroad Junior High A map showing the approximate location of all North Little Rock Schools is attached as Addendum lC. The racial composition of elementary students in the District as a, whole, excluding kindergarten, is 52.5% nonblack and 47.5% black. Thus each area must be between 35.6% and 59.4% black, i.e., 47.5% + 11.9%. A review of the data in Addenda lA and lD discloses that the racial composition of all elementary schools north of I-40 is 54.9% nonblack and 45.1% black and of those schools south of I-40 the composition is 50.3% nonblack and 49.7% black. - The composition of secondary schools north of I-40 is 59.3% nonblack and 40.7% black and south of I-40 it is 54.8% nonblack and 45.2% black. These are all well within the+ 25% standard set by the Court of Appeals. 7 NORTH LITTLE ROCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS RACIAL COUNT AS OF SEPTEMBER 20, 1989 EXCLUDING KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS SCHOOL GROUP A LAKEWOOD ELEMENTARY CRESTWOOD ELEMENTARY BELWOOD ELEMENTARY PINE ELEMENTARY TOTAL: GROUP B &PIKE VIEW ELEMENTARY w,ARGENTA ELEMENTARY TOTAL: GROUP C GLENVIEW ELEMENTARY LYNCH DRIVE ELEMENTARY TOTAL: GROUP D AMBOY ELEMENTARY INDIAN HILLS ELEMENTARY SEVENTH STREET ELEMENTARY BOONE PARK ELEMENTARY TOTAL: GROUPE PARK HILL ELEMENTARY NORTH HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY REDWOOD ELEMENTARY TOTAL: GROUP F -MEADOW PARK ELEMENTARY ROSE CITY ELEMENTARY TOTAL: BARING CROSS* ELEMENTARY TOTALS: NON-BLACK 138 (57.5) 117 (56.5) 79 (53.4) 103 (53.1) 437 (55.4) 226 (53.3) 109 (49.5) 335 (52.0) 133 (58.8) 157 (51.0) 290 (57.9) 224 (54.1) 285 (63.6) 183 (58.1) 197 (42.5) 889 (54.2) 135 (61.1) 190 (49.4) 117 (46.6) 442 (51.6) 129 (48.7) 112 (56.6) 241 (52 .1) 10 (47.6) 2,644 (53.8) BLACK 102 (42.5) 90 (43.5) 69 (46.6) 91 (46.9) 352 (44.6) 198 (46.7) 111 (50.5) 309 (48.0) 100 (41.2) 111 (49.0) 211 (42.1) 190 (45.9) 163 (36.4) 132 (41.9) 266 (57.5) 751 (45.8) 86 (38.9) 195 (50.6) 134 (53.4) 415 (48.4) 136 (51.3) 86 (43 .4) 222 (47.9) 11 (52.4) 2,271 (46.2) TOTAL 240 207 148 194 789 424 220 644 233 268 501 414 448 315 463 1,640 221 385 251 857 265 198 463 21 4,915 *Baring Cross was created as an alternative to placing severely handicapped children in state institutions. The only students assigned to this school are those who are profoundly and multiply handicapped and this school is excluded from the student assignment plan. 8 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS CONCERNING THE REVISED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DESEGREGATION PLAN FOR THE NORTH LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT 1. Q. What about children in the same family who have different names? A. A child who enters the School District after May 1, 1978, as a first grader or as a newcomer to the District on any grade level will be placed in the pupil assignment rotation according to his/her last name as it appears on the official birth certificate. Special consideration cannot be given to families whose members have different last names. 2. Q. After the number of assignments have been made in the spring to achieve the proper racial balance, what provisions will be made to protect that balance from losses resulting from moving during the summer? A. An additional 10 percent will be selected as a standby list. 3. Q. Will the elementary schools continue to operate on a staggered time schedule? A. Yes, this is necessary to prevent students from having to wait at school longer than is desirable. It should be noted that no child will be transported more than 7.5 miles one way
therefore, the staggered 9 time schedule causes only slight differences in school schedules. 4. Q. Can a student avoid being transported if he/she attends a private school during the year(s) he was assigned to a school outside his neighborhood? A. Any movement within the District will place the student in the rotation plan or assignment presently in effect in the attendance zone where he will be residing. If a student attends a private school during the year(s) he is to be bused he is automatically bused when he returns to the North Little Rock Public Schools. 5. Q. Where do students attend school who enroll after the school year begins? A. Students will be assigned according to their place in the alphabetical rotation system. 6. Q. Are the loading and unloading of buses used to transport children supervised? A. Yes, principals and teachers supervise the loading and unloading of each bus. 7. Q. Where do buses load and unload? A. The neighborhood elementary school will be the pick-up point for all children being transported. No stops will be made to receive or discharge pupils at 10 any other point. It is the parent's responsibility to deliver children to the neighborhood school
it is the District's responsibility to return the children to the neighborhood school in the afternoon. In case the student is late and does not board the bus at the neighborhood school, it is the responsibility of the parent to transport the child to the school he/she attends. 8. Q. When this plan was revised, were any changes made in the elementary attendance zones? A. Yes, minor changes were made to alleviate crowding in two schools. The zones were revised so that some students who would have attended Crestwood Elementary will now attend Indian Hills, some students who would have attended Crestwood will now attend Lakewood, and some students who would have attended Seventh Street will now attend Redwood. 9. Q. How were the groupings of schools determined? - A. Using the percentages of 42 percent black and 58 percent nonblack students as a goal for each groupings, factors such as the racial composition of attendance zones, the present enrollment of each school and the capacity of each school were considered. 11 10. Q. Will any student be exempt from assignment outside their neighborhood? A. Yes, kindergarten students and students who live in an elementary zone with a racial composition such that their race is in the minority. Also, there may be instances where some handicapped children will not be transported although it is the general policy of the District to include special education students in the pupil assignment plan. There are children whose handicapping condition requires a particular special education program which may not be available in every school. It is also necessary to consider the number of students who can be accommodated in a particular program in a school since it is essential that enrollment in special education classes be small enough to allow for as much individual attention as is needed for each child. Exceptions may also be made for children with a medical disability if the situation warrants. These must be considered on an individual basis. 12 NORTHL ITTLE R1.,~t{P UBLIC SCHOOLS t l.NM'Nlt) .... ,w ... 1, \ml1t.,_ ,. .,. .. ,.. .. ......... J ~ II, 1..,L ' . " ............ t.8-.-n.,. ,.._ 1 I" _".'h'"..', .,".11"1.'J ... I ,11,h ll,1< Ill ~,, H .. !"' P.a1l II N.iuh '"itlih I? l'L 11,H ll ~a.~.." ,. . ., l'u-. ltt..'\Ju,-.1 1t,.,.-l1 ll S..,,,Nh Sun1 J111ol, lllsli ........... 1. l <1N1~I llf I JL\- .. ,ul
!II IC1tl1,u,&<1 !I llu-< l d) lllali "'"'"" !? Nu.,1.._. , \& !) Ilk MJIII !.a II-. ,~ ..... lHt\\ ( ~IUCI 2S II"' SLilh hct .- ----- \ \ ' Ridgeroad Junior High-black students' Rose City Junior High-white students ' ..... i: - ---
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, "c t luh kJ ( tHIUlt) ( luh ..... ' 1 SCHOOL CENTRAL LAKEWOOD RIDGE ROAD ROSE CITY TOTALS SCHOOL NORTHEAST OLE MAIN TOTALS NORTH LITTLE ROCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS RACIAL COUNT AS OF OCTOBER 2, 1989 JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS NON-BLACK No. (%) 396 (56 .5) 322 (66.0) 333 (53.2) 218 (52.5) 1,269 (57.0) SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS NON-BLACK No. (%) 686 ( 69. 3) 528 ( 54. 5) 1,214 (62. 0) BARING CROSS* BLACK No. (%) 305 (43.5) 166 (34.0) 293 (46.8) 197 (47.5) 961 (43.0) BLACK No. ( % ) 304 (30.7) 440 (45.5) 744 ( 38. 0) (School for multiple handicapped) SCHOOL NON-BLACK BLACK No. (%) No. (%) BARING CROSS (Secondary) 9 (34.6) 17 (65.4) SECONDARY TOTALS: 2,492 (59.1) 1,722 (40.9) TOTAL 701 488 626 415 2,230 TOTAL 990 968 1,958 TOTAL 26 4,214 *Baring Cross was created as an alternative to placing severely handicapped children in state institutions. The only students assigned to this school are those who are profoundly and multiply handicapped eind this school is excluded from the student assignment plan. 14 SECTION 2: STAFF RECRUITMENT PLAN The primary goal of the Worth Little Rock School District Personnel Office is to staff all positions in the District with the most qualified employees available. To meet this goal the recruitment, selection, assignment and promotion procedures will be routinely monitored. All personnel office programs and activities will be developed to comply with the District's Equal Employment Policy. The District is also committed to the principles of equal employment. In furtherance of the commitment, it will regularly analyze its hiring and employment practices to identify areas of under-utilization of minority employees as compared to the pool of qualified persons in the relevant labor market. The District will develop numerical goals and timetables to address any identified areas of under-utilization. District personnel involved in the employment process will be knowledgeable of all policies relevant to recruitment, selection, assignment and promotion. The Assistant Superintendent for Personnel will seek information on programs and activities related to minority recruitment and employment. When possible, she will participate in seminars designed to enhance recruitment skills. 15 ANALYSIS OF STAFF Computer software specifically designed to provide a profile of personnel by race will be used to analyze the District's staff by July 1 each year. This staff analysis will enable the Personnel Department to identify instructional areas and schools where under-representation of minority staff exists. Future decisions relating to employment and assignment of staff will be made in response to identified needs. ASSIGNMENT OF STAFF All personnel will be assigned to jobs that allow for maximum use of individual potential in an atmosphere most conducive to learning for all students. During the spring of 1990 all secondary teachers and administrators will be reassigned to facilitate the reorganization of the North Little Rock secondary schools. Assignments will be made in a manner which will allow for equal minority staff representation in all five secondary schools. - PROMOTION District personnel will be notified of vacancies in administrative and principal positions and will be encouraged to apply. Announcements of vacancies or job openings will include information relevant to the position title, job description, minimum qualifications, salary information and method used to apply. Notices of vacancies will be posted in 16 the Central Administrative Office Building and in each of the "District's schools. In addition, this information will be provided to the President of the North Little Rock Classroom Teachers' Association. Each spring the District will conduct an interest survey among its teachers and administrators with the purpose of identifying individuals who are interested in advancement to upper-level administrative or principal positions. In addition, all minority personnel will be surveyed to determine those currently pursuing or interested in pursuing certification in areas identified as having an under-representation of minority educators. A Minority Mentor Program will be developed to allow minority personnel currently employed in administration or areas with under-representation to provide support and guidance for those with similar aspirations. The District will strive to fill vacancies in assistant administrator positions with black employees who have indicated an interest in advancement to administrative positions and are currently working toward certification. Those assistants will form an applicant pool from which vacancies and newly created positions can be filled at both the District and school level. RECRUITMENT The most important aspect of employment continues to be the ability to attract qualified applicants. The North Little 17 Rock School District is committed to attracting a greater number of black applicants for certified positions thus increasing the pool from which selection can be made. To that end the District proposes the following components of a comprehensive recruitment plan. 1. The District will maintain a budget that anticipates activities related to all components of the plan and provide the necessary funding for these activities. 2. It will be the policy of the District to notify in writing all recruitment sources and to state in all recruitment materials, including newspaper advertisements, that it is an "Equal Opportunity Employer." 3. All individuals participating in the recruitment process will be made aware of the District's Equal Employment Policy. 4. All administrators will be kept apprised of the District's need for recruitment, selection and assignment of minority educators. 5. All interviews for administrative positions will be conducted by a bi-racial interview team. 6. The District will regularly analyze its staff in comparison to the pool of qualified persons in the relevant labor market to identify areas where under-representation by minorities exist. Future recruitment will be directed toward areas where under-representation exists. 7. The District will identify regional colleges and universities which have strong teacher education programs with significant black enrollment. 8. The District will identify regional universities having post graduate education programs with significant black enrollment for the purpose of soliciting black applicants for administrative positions. 9. The District will contact identified teacher training institutions, as well as others, using a letter of introduction and will provide them with a brochure containing brief information about the District, occupational opportunities and 18 employee benefits, an Equal Opportunity Employer's statement, and a packet containing other pertinent information. 10. The following items will be included in recruitment packets prepared for colleges and universities: - an introductory letter - a description of employee benefits - a District brochure (with minorities prominently shown throughout) - an application for employment - specific informational items on teaching, coaching and administrative positions - notices on current job vacancies - schedule of visitations and seminars - brochure described in paragraph 10 11. A recruitment team will be formed to assist the District Personnel Office staff with recruitment efforts. The team will be composed of black and white teachers, administrators. All members of the team will be knowledgeable of the District's equal employment policies and kept abreast of recruitment needs. 12. Members of the District Recruitment Team will periodically visit teacher training institutions with special emphasis on established career days or special events sponsored by the institutions. Special attention will be given to institutions that have historically produced greater numbers of black educators. 13. During special college events the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel will conduct on-campus interviews with all interested individuals. When vacancies exist, "letters of intent to employ" will be offered to applicants who present verifiable credentials and recommendations. 14. The District will request identified teacher training institutionsto provide the names and directory information o~ minority students enrolled in upper level courses. Periodic communication will then be mailed to these students. 15. When appropriate, the District will advertise teaching and administrative vacancies in newspapers and other media in communities that have colleges and universities targeted for recruitment efforts. 16. A 10-minute slide show describing the District 19 and occupational opportunities in the District will be used at recruitment sites. 17. The District's Personnel Office staff will work cooperatively with the personnel office staffs of Little Rock and Pulaski County School Districts to facilitate recruitment and placement of minority educators. 18. The District will request assistance from the Arkansas Department of Education in identifying potential minority applicants. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT The Assistant Superintendent for Personnel will host meetings with black community leaders to report results of the District's analysis of staff. Those leaders will be encouraged to assist the District in its efforts to recruit and employ minority educators. They will also be asked to identify community groups and professional organizations that could provide assistance with minority recruitment. The District will contact organizations identified by black community leaders and will provide them with relevant materials regarding employment with the North Little Rock School District. When appropriate, District personnel will attend state, regional or National conferences sponsored by professional associations for the purpose of recruiting minority educators. 20 Section 3: SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN INTRODUCTION The Court of Appeals has ordered the North Little Rock School District to adopt a "racially neutral plan evaluating and placing students requiring special education." Mem. Op. at 61, 778 F.2d at 435. In addressing this directive, the NLRSD remains cognizant of several important factors. First, the District is obligated by State and federal law to provide every handicapped child with a free and appropriate education. While classifying black children as in need of special education when, in fact, they do not need it, could be discriminatory and, thus, a violation of the Constitution, the failure to provide special education to a black child who did need it would be a violation of Public Law 94-142 and Arkansas Act 102 of 1973. Recognizing the tension between these important public policies, the District considers that the emphasis of its special education plan must be on ensuring the accuracy of its evaluation programs and the elimination of any masking influence caused by cultural or socioeconomic biases. Second, the District recognizes that the Court of Appeals' primary concern is with the classification of black students as educably mentally retarded (EMR) and has, therefore, focused specifically on the evaluation, placement and instructional practices related to its mental 21 retardation programs. Third, the District also notes that the evidence giving rise to the Court's findings arose from data collected in 1976 and 1980. Since 1980, however, significant changes have.been implemented in the State and federal regulations governing evaluation and placement in special education programs, many of which were specifically aimed at safeguarding against the misclassification of students as needing special education. See generally, Referral, Placement & Appeal Procedures: For Special Education and Related Services, (Arkansas Department of Education 1985} (Hereinafter referred to as"Referral Procedures"} and Program Standards and Eligibility Criteria for Special Education (Arkansas Department of Education 1985). (Hereinafter referred to as "Program Standards"). STRICT ADHERENCE TO PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS REQUIRED BY STATE GUIDELINES The Arkansas Department of Education, as the regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of the Education of the Handicapped Act of 1975, P.L. 94-142, 20 U.S.C. sec.1401 et seq., has issued detailed regulations governing the operation of special education programs in Arkansas public schools. These detailed guidelines were first issued in 1981 and were updated and reissued in 1985. See "Referral Procedures" (1981} and "Program Standards" (1981} (provided to the Court in NLRX R-1 and NLRX 28). 22 These guidelines incorporate provisions which specifically act as safeguards against improper evaluation and placement. ---DUE PROCESS PROTECTIONS In "Referral Procedures'' (1981 & 1985), the Department of Education adopted detailed requirements for due process designed to safeguard against the misevaluation of a child and to ensure that the best educational interests of the child were of paramount importance. The North Little Rock School District has complied with these requirements by implementing due process procedures consistent with the State regulations. A copy of the NLRSD's due process procedures are attached hereto as Addendum 3A. For a complete understanding of all the details of these procedures, one is referred to the procedures themselves. A summary of some of the more important features follows: 1. Parents must be notified of every step in the referral, evaluation and placement process and given the opportunity to attend and participate in all meetings and conferences. 2. Parents must give their consent before any formal evaluation or testing of the child may be done. 3. The parent has the right to be represented by the person of their choice at all proceedings. While not required by State or federal regulations, the NLRSD provides the parents of children being evaluated with a list of independent agencies who provide assistance to parents in this process. See Addendum 3B. 4. No child can be placed in a special education program without either parental consent or court order. 23 5. The parent may request an independent professional evaluation from a list of twenty-four approved agencies (Addendum JC). While the NLRSD is required to pay for such an evaluation only in the event the District's evaluation is found to be incorrect, the NLRSD has nonethel~ss paid for every independent evaluation requested in the past even though its evaluations have never been found to be incorrect. The NLRSD will continue this practice to the extent its budget permits. 6. Finally, the parent has the right to appeal any evaluation or placement decision to a hearing officer, who conducts a formal evidentiary hearing, and ultimately to a court of competent jurisdiction. See "Referral Procedures" at 24-33 ( 1985). 7. In any appeal, the burden of proof as to any placement is upon the school district. See "Referral Procedures" at Pl.B p. 24 (1985). 8. The NLRSD advises parents of these rights in writing at the beginning of the referral and evaluation process. ---SAFEGUARDS AGAINST IMPROPER USE OF TEST INSTRUMENTS In addition to the procedural safeguards discussed above which are designed to ensure an open process involving fully informed parents having access to independent review of any decision, the State regulations first adopted in 1981 also require the incorporation of specific safeguards in the assessment process. The most important of these safeguards are as follows: 1. Tests and other evaluation materials: a. Have been validated for the specific purpose for which they are used
and b. Are administered by trained personnel in conformance with the instructions provided by their producer. 24 c. Include materials tailored to assess specific areas of educational need and not merely those which are designed to provide a single general intelligence quotient. 2. No single procedure is used as the sole criterion for determining an appropriate educational program for a child. 3. The evaluation is made by a multidisciplinary team or group of persons, including at least one teacher or other specialist with knowledge in the area of suspected disability. 4. The child is assessed in all areas related to the suspected disability, including, where appropriate, health, vision, hearing, social and emotional status, general intelligence, academic performance, communicative status, and motor abilities. 5. Intellectual ability must be measured by an individual intelligence test appropriate to the student and such testing may only be done by a certified educational examiner, licensed psychologist or licensed psychological examiner. See "Referral Procedures" at 3-4 (1985). STATE REGULATIONS SPECIFY WHICH TESTS MAY BE USED IN MENTAL RETARDATION ASSESSMENT in furtherance of the requirement that tests must have been validated for the purpose for which they are used, the Arkansas Department of Education, in its "Program Standards" specifies by name which tests may be validly used for what purpose. This is done for each handicap category. The provisions relating to mental retardation assessment are found at pages 13-1 through 13-7 of the "Program Standards" (1985). The North Little Rock School District is in compliance with these regulations. It uses no test not specifically approved 25 in these regulations in making final evaluation and placement decisions and will continue to adhere to this practice. ADOPTION OF ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES AND INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO AVOID OVERREPRESENTATION OF MINORITY STUDENTS IN EMR PROGRAMS In addition to maintaining its compliance with all State and Federal regulations governing special education, particularly those provisions designed as safeguards against the misclassification of individuals as being mentally retarded, the North Little Rock School District will engage in an on-going effort to identify and study new assessment and evaluation techniques which are designed to address the problem of overrepresentation of minority children in EMR programs. Individual schools found to have overrepresentation problems must suJmit a school action plan which addresses the disparity in their special education population. CANTALICIAN STUDY - ALTERNATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES At page 7-8 of its March, 1986 Plan, the NLRSD committed to implement the six alternative instructional practices recommended by the Cantalician Foundation in its report in 1984. Three of these practices have been implemented -DISTAR, Peer Tutoring and Computer Assisted Instruction. The contents of the Exemplary Center for Reading Instruction (ECRI) and Adaptive Learning Environment Model (ALEM) have been implemented through other programs although not 26 necessarily in the form specifically described by the Cantalician Foundation in its report. The parties recognize that the purpose of the Cantalician Report was to provide school districts with exemplary programs which could be adapted to each district's curriculum and needs. It was never suggested that the programs could be effective only if implemented exactly as described in the Report. Thus, because the North Little Rock School District has adopted various programs such as PACIR, TESA and Classroom Management as well as DISTAR and Computer Assisted Instruction which implement the educational content and elements of ECRI and ALEM, the Districts actions have been consisten1: with the intent of the Cantalician Report. Therefore, the parties agreed that the North Little Rock School District should not be required to implement the Adaptive Learning Environment Model and the Exemplary Center for Reading Instruction alternative practices except as is already being done through other programs. (See Exhibit 3D attached). The sixth proposed alternative instructional practice was Precision Teaching. This has been very effective in teaching the profoundly handicapped but even the Cantalician Foundation warned that there was as yet no evidence of its efficacy in teaching non-handicapped students. The North Little Rock School District made several attempts to obtain information regarding the effectiveness of this method in teaching non-handicapped students but has been unable to obtain such information. The parties have agreed that the 27 North Little Rock School District should not be required to implement the Precision Teaching Model as an alternative instructional practice until such supporting data is forthcoming. The District will assess the use of Precision Teaching when data is supplied supporting its efficacy for non-handicapped students. The Cantalician Foundation also recommended four alternative referral and assessment practices: 1. Pupil Appraisal Assessment Program (Id. at 30) 2. Rapid Exam for Early Referral and Classroom Learning Screening (Id. at 35) 3. Reclassification and Declassification (Id. at 40) The alternative referral and assessment practices listed above will be closely studied by the NLRSD. If there are critical attributes within the above referenced practices that are not currently in use in the North Little Rock School District and the addition of these attributes will lower referral and placement rates in the District without compromising educational quality, these attributes will be added or used to replace current practices. ---INCREASED REVIEW BY INDEPENDENT PARTIES State regulations provide that the Department of Education will conduct a review of each school district's special education program annually to determine compliance with all State and Federal regulations. The North Little Rock School District's last compliance review was completed on May 26, 28 1989. See "Compliance Letter" attached as Addendum 3E. All suggested improvements were implemented by October 1, 1989. See "Followup Letter" attached as Addendum 3F. In addition to this regularly scheduled compliance review, the District has invited the following organizations to conduct in-service training and/or periodic review of the District's policies, practices and procedures related to special education. 1. Child Advocacy Services, Inc. 2. Bureau of the Educationally Handicapped 3. Parents' Coalition for the Handicapped 4. Federal Office of Special Education 5. Arkansas Department of Education 6. Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education As a further effort to open the District's assessment process to outside review and constructive criticism, child advocates will be invited to attend conferences where children's need are being discussed, subject to parental approval where necessary. The Superintendent of the North Little Rock Public School District will appoint a Special Education Advisory Committee with the responsibility to conduct compliance reviews every 18 months. This committee will be established with the following additional requirements: 1. Chaired by a member of the North Little Rock Public School Board. 29 2. No fewer than seven (7) members. 3. Minimum of two (2) members to have expertise in special education or related field. 4. No employee of the North Little Rock School District may.serve as a member. RECORD KEEPING The District will maintain records sufficient to identify and tabulate separately the total number of students by race in each school and grade level and by type of placement who are (a) referred for consideration for placement in a special education program
(b) evaluated for such placement
and (c) actually placed in a special education program. This data will be maintained in the central administrative offices although separately from each student's individual file. This data is to be reviewed by the central administrative staff and reported to the Court annually. 30 SECTION 4: COMPENSATORY EDUCATION AND ELIMINATION OF ACHIEVEMENT DISPARITY The North Little Rock School District believes that each student can learn and encourages each student to achieve according to his or her best abilities. Careful appraisal, frequent evaluation, and flexible grouping ensure that each student will receive instruction according to identified strengths and needs. The curriculum in the elementary schools places primary emphasis on the basics of reading, spelling, language, mathematics, writing, social studies, science, and health. Students also participate in music, art, and physical education activities. Mastery of skills in each subject is stressed, and career awareness is a component in many of the basic subjects. The middle school program provides a period of transition from the elementary school to senior high school. The transition covers all areas of school life: academic, co-curricular and social. At the middle school level, continued emphasis is placed on the individual and on basic skills instruction, while a wider scope of instructional programs and co-curricular activities is introduced. In addition to basic disciplines, middle school students may select electives in modern foreign languages, industrial arts, home economics, exploratory business, art, communications, choral music and band. 31 Introduction to competitive athletics, student government, spirit clubs and special interest organizations encourage self-development and preparation for high school. The senior high schools provide a comprehensive course of study based on the District's commitment to providing a classical college preparatory curriculum and career preparation programs. A strong basic academic program and a wide-range of electives in fine arts, foreign languages, forensics, business, and vocational-technical skills offer a multitude of options to high school students. The District recognizes that the regular curriculum is often insufficient in aiding disadvantaged students to achieve mastery of basic skills. Therefore, within the framework of a comprehensive curriculum, which meets and exceeds State Standards and which is structured to meet the varying individual needs of all students, the North Little Rock School District must address identified remedial needs of disadvantaged minority students. The District also recognizes that achievement disparity does exist between the black and nonblack student population. Addressing the disparity issue may start with the development of disparity plans at each campus unit. The summary data of the standardized achievement test are analyzed by race and content area. The content areas that indicate a significant difference in achievement and disparity plans are developed. The following compensatory programs and compensatory 32 * * components of programs will be provided to help students overcome identified deficiencies. EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM Pre-Kindergarten Program. To better prepare disadvantaged and minority students for school success, a HIPPY program will be established in lower socio-economic elementary attendance zones such as Redwood, Pine, Boone Park, Argenta, Gleview and Seventh Street. This program will focus on academic and social skills necessary for school success. Parent involvement in the learning process of the students in a component of the program. One school will be added each year beginning in 1989-90 and continuing until all identified schools' programs are made operational. Funds outside the settlement funds will be utilized until after year four of the Settlement Plan. Kindergarten Program Kindergarten programs have been implemented at each elementary school with a District goal of 100 percent attendance by all eligible students. Note: Program descriptions preceded by"*" are dependent on the monies to be paid to the NLRSD as part of the Pulaski County School Desegregation Case Settlement Agreement, March, 1989 (as revised September 28, 1989). If this agreement is not 33 approved by the Court, the District will not be able to implement these programs. The Boehm Test of Basic Concepts is administered to all kindergarten children at the first of each school year. The Boehm Test assesses student understanding of fifty basic concepts which are fundamental to understanding verbal instruction and are essential for early school achievement. The Early Prevention of School Failure program will be implemented in all kindergarten classes. The goal of the program is to prevent school failure through early identification and remediation of developmental deficiencies in young children. The goal is achieved through the implementation of the following six components: team screening, team conferencing, educational planning, modality instruction, evaluation, and parent involvement. Students are screened in the following modality areas: language, auditory, visual, fine motor skills, and gross motor skills. Speech, vision, and hearing are also assessed. By the end of the fourth year of the Plan, the Early Prevention of School Failure program will be implemented in all kindergarten classes. Intensified Instruction At levels kindergarten through second grade, Chapter I teacher aides are assigned to assist teachers in providing learning experiences for selected students who exhibit 34 deficiencies in reading, language, and basic concepts. Third grade students in selected schools also receive special instruction from paraprofessionals in computer labs. The paraprofessional provides supplemental compensatory instruction for selected students. Instruction will occur in small groups and on a one-to-one basis, or with computer assisted instruction. The instructional lessons provided by the paraprofessionals are correlated with the instructional lessons provided by the teachers. BASIC SKILLS INSTRUCTION The curriculum in grades K-7 places primary emphasis on the mastery of the basic skills in reading, language arts, and mathematics. Careful appraisal, frequent evaluation, and flexible grouping ensure that each student will receive instruction according to identified strengths and needs. In grades 8-12, continued emphasis is placed on the individual student and on basic skills instruction within the framework of a comprehensive secondary curriculum. Chapter 1 Computer Labs Chapter 1 computer labs are in operation in the following elementary schools: Amboy, Boone Park, Glenview, North Heights, Redwood and Rose City. An instructional aide is assigned to each lab. Students in grades one through six who are most in need of supplemental instruction in reading and mathematics are served in the labs daily. 35 * Basic Skills Computer Laboratories The first priority of the Settlement Plan is to establish a twenty-eight station Basic Skills Computer Laboratory in each elementary school to assist students in mastering the basic reading, language and mathematics skills. Settlement funds, federal funds and other available funds will be utilized to fund the computer laboratories. The first priority will be to increase the size of existing computer laboratories at Redwood, Boone Park, Amboy, Glenview and Rose City elementaries to twenty-eight station labs. Computer laboratories would then be added to all other elementary schools in priority based upon the largest number of economically deprived students as determined by the eligible participants in the free/reduced lunch program. The expansion of labs at these five schools will occur the first year of the Plan and additional schools will be equipped with a computer laboratory starting the second year - of the Settlement Plan and completing that installation process by the end of the fourth year of the Settlement Plan. Basic Skills Computer Laboratories have also been established at Central Junior High School, Lakewood Junior High School, Ridgeroad Junior High School, Rose City Junior High School, Northeast Senior High School and Ole Main Senior High School. The basic skills computer laboratories provide supplementary 36 * computer assisted and computer managed instruction in reading, language and mathematics for all students on a regularly scheduled basis. Utilizing IMPACT software and other course software materials, the supplemental instruction is geared to the individual student's needs. The educationally disadvantaged student will benefit greatly form this individualized program. Diagnosis and Prescription Diagnostic and prescriptive services will be available to each grade 1-8 student and teacher in reading, language and mathematics through locally developed PACIR objectives with prescriptive tests and the use of the Curriculum Management software that IBM has under development. The North Little Rock School District has requested that IBM Corporation allow North Little Rock School District to participate in the pilot of this software this year. Through the use of PACIR objectives and diagnostic tests using the Curriculum Management Software, individual education plans (IEP) will be made available for students. - These services will be available during the fourth year of the Plan provided IBM Corporation has developed and released the Curriculum Management software in early 1990. A comprehensive assessment program permits the District to identify students who are having academic problems and to provide opportunities for them to experience success. The assessment program also includes standardized tests in grades 37 * * * 2-10
Minimum Performance Tests in grades 3, 6 and 8
aptitude tests
subject area mastery tests
diagnostic tests, such as the Boehm Test
teacher-made tests
psychological tests
and health screentng. Test data is used in planning appropriate compensatory programs and services for students. Again, particular emphasis is placed on the needs of minority and disadvantaged students. Standardized achievement testing will be extended to grade 1 and grade 11 in order to provide more sequential and comprehensive data for curriculum assessment and individual student mastery. Achievement data by race will be developed for each school by grade. These data will be analyzed each year to determine program efficacy and in developing achievement components of each school's annual School Improvement Plan. Beginning in year one of the Settlement Plan, the District will provide up to $5,000 to assist disadvantaged youth in paying for college entrance testing such as the SAT and ACT. REMEDIAL READING AND MATHEMATICS SUPPLEMENTARY INSTRUCTION AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL Remedial reading and/or remedial mathematics supplementary instruction will be provided in the elementary schools serving students who score below the twentieth percentile in grades 1, 2 and 3. The Metropolitan Achievement Test (MAT-6) will be used as the evaluative instrument for grades 2 and 3. 38 An appropriate standardized instrument will be selected for evaluation of grade 1 students prior to implementation date. Grades 4, 5 and 6 will be served as funds become available. The supplementary instructional program will be staffed by itinerate (floating) reading and/or mathematics specialists who will be assigned to schools as needed to deliver instruction to students who score below the twentieth - percentile on diagnostic instruments described above for grades 1, 2 and 3. The learning experiences would be in addition to classroom instruction, but will be correlated with classroom programs. The supplementary instructional services will be provided the fifth, sixth and seventh year of the settlement plan. Remedial Reading at the Junior High School Level Remedial reading classes are provided at each junior high school for students with deficiencies in reading. The classes are staffed by reading specialists. Special emphasis is placed on the following skills: comprehension, word recognition, communication, study skills and survival reading skills. * Remedial Reading Laboratories at the Senior High School Level Remedial reading instruction will be provided at each senior high school for students with deficiencies in reading. Instruction would be provided jointly through computer assisted and teacher directed instruction by a reading 39 specialist. Special emphasis would be placed on the following skills: comprehension, word recognition, communication and survival reading skills. These services will be implemented beginning with the fifth year of the Settlement Plan and continuing through year seven. PACIR An ongoing curriculum renewal project for Mathematics and Language Arts called Practical Approach to Curriculum and Instructional Renewal (PACIR) has been developed and is being implemented for grades K-12 to ensure that classroom learning meets the expectations of parents and students. In this program objectives are developed
students' progress is measured
students' needs are identified
and programs, practices, and resources are adjusted. Through this emphasis on the mastery of the basic skills, the North Little Rock School District continues to focus on the remediation of identified deficiencies in reading, language arts, and mathematics. Additional Reading Instruction Generally, District elementary students are involved in only one small group classroom instructional reading lesson per day. Selected elementary s Jdents are involved in an additional reading instructional lesson per day. Students who are reading below grade level and who are experiencing 40 difficulty in reading are prime candidates for this additional instruction. Academic Skills Development Plans State Minimum Performance Tests are administered to students at the third, sixth, and eighth grade levels. Teachers work in cooperation with principals, parents, and counselors to develop and implement Academic Skills Development Plans for - all students who do not pass the Minimum Performance Tests. Each individual student plan includes a list of the basic skills which were not mastered by the student and strategies for remediation of these deficiencies. Teachers are required to indicate the date when mastery of each skill has been reached. PUPIL SERVICES AND PROGRAM MONITORING In addition to the opportunities for academic achievement provided by the core curriculum, the District will provide specialized programs and services to diagnose and meet the particular educational needs of all students and to foster their individual physical, social, intellectual and emotional growth. The special needs of identified disadvantaged and minority students are met in a variety of ways. Beginning in the 1990-91 school year, basic classes will be eliminated in phases. Seventh and eighth grade basic classes will be eliminated in 1990-91 and the following year basic classes will be eliminated in grades 9-12. Students will be taught in regular or honors classes. Teachers and counselors 41 will make a concerted effort to identify minority students who can be successful in honors classes. Guidance Services. A guidance program will be provided in each school to aid students in educational, personal, social and vocational development. All students will have access to a guidance counselor. The ratio for secondary and elementary schools will be one counselor for every 450 students. Particular attention will be paid in this program to the needs of minority and disadvantaged students. Social Work. A half-time social worker will provide services for students who have serious problems with school adjustment. The social worker will serve as a link between school, home and community and will assist students in overcoming academic, social and behavior problems. Homebound Services. Students with medical conditions which require them to be - absent from school for four or more consecutive weeks will be provided instruction by a certified teacher. LEARNING RESOURCES Library/Media Program The library/media program is a key component of the instructional program. The District Instructional Materials 42 Center and the individual school media centers are extensions of classroom instruction as books, films, videotapes, and other instructional materials are utilized to expand and enrich the curriculum. The media specialist, recognizing students' unique learning abilities, performance levels, learning styles, and interests, prescribes appropriate curricular and special interest learning materials. This service is extremely beneficial to educationally disadvantage students as their specific learning needs are matched to appropriate learning materials. Multicultural Education A committee of elementary and secondary administrators is charged with the responsibility of reviewing the literature on multicultural education and studying the needs of the district. This committee has written a developmental guide for multicultural education in the North Little Rock School District, and that guide is in the implementation process. The curriculum guide is based on the belief that multicultural education incorporates the idea that male and female students, exceptional students, and students who are members of diverse racial, ethnic and cultural groups will have an equal chance to achieve academically in school. In accordance with recommendations from our parents' advisory group, parents and students will be more actively involved in the implementation of the District's multicultural plan. Computer Assisted Instruction 43 For those students whose instructional needs require reteaching and additional drill and practice to achieve mastery in reading, language and mathematics, computer assisted instruction is erovided. Computer activities are integrated into the instructional program so that classroom instruction is reinforced by concentrated on-task learning on the computer. All schools will use computers and computer assisted instruction and computer managed instruction software. A committee of secondary teachers in the content areas of English, social studies, and science is developing a list of software for each area. A catalog of software will be developed at the district level. Items will be purchased from this list as funds permit. SUMMER LEARNING EXPERIENCES Summer School for Elementary and Junior High School Students Summer learning opportunities will be provided for selected elementary and junior high school students who have not mastered the basic skills curriculum. Each year the instructional department will carefully review and analyze Metropolitan Achievement Test data and t~e data from the Minimum Performance Tests to determine the content areas and grades in greatest need of remediation services. The curriculum would provide remedial and enrichment activities in large and small group settings through both computer 44 * assisted and teacher directed instruction. Summer school activities are currently on-going for grades 1, 3, 6 and 8. An evaluation and review of each program is made each summer. Continued review and evaluation will continue with consideration given for program expansion for the second year of the implementation plan. Summer School for Secondary Students To meet the summer school needs of educationally disadvantaged students, tuition scholarships and transportation will be provided to those students who would be unable to attend without assistance. Regulations governing the free and reduced lunch participants will be the guide in awarding scholarship tuition and transportation for secondary summer school. Tuition scholarships and transportation will be made available the second year of the implementation plan. VOCATIONAL SERVICES Compensatory services in the area of vocational education are provided through a Carl Perkins Project which is specifically targeted for students identified for inclusion in this program. Services include the assessment of interests, learning modes, and individual needs by a vocational education evaluator and the use of a computerized Job Opportunity Based Search System to place students in the most appropriate vocational courses. 45 STAFF DEVELOPMENT The North Little Rock School District Staff Development Program is designed to assist each staff member in performing to optimwn level in every area of the total teaching act. The District programs which will impact greatly on compensatory education are the Program for Effective Teaching (PET) Classroom Management Training and Teacher Expectation and Student Achievement (TESA). 1. 2. Program for Effective Training. The Program for Effective Teaching (PET) teaches the teacher the key elements which must be present in any instructional lesson if student mastery is to occur. A training cycle consists of: seven full days of instruction for the teacher
five practice lessons taught by the teacher while being observed by a trained observer
and follow-up conferences by the observer and teacher. Since all present staff members have completed PET training, new teachers will receive the training each spring. Students with learning deficiencies will profit as the instructional proficiency of teachers is increased. Classroom Management Training. In the training sessions, Classroom Management is approached as a matter of preparation, organization, and instruction. The program stresses that effective classroom managers are successful, not so much because they are more effective in responding to problems of inattention or disruption, but because they are more effective in preventing such problems. Each training cycle consists of two days of training for each teacher and three classroom observations. Following each observation, the trained observer confers with the teacher to commend areas of strength and to provide assistance in overcoming deficiencies in classroom management. 46 3. All elementary teachers have completed this training. New elementary teachers will receive Classroom Management Training. Since many students who are encountering learning problems are often inattentive or disruptive, this program impacts positively on these students as teachers iearn to manage classrooms more efficiently and effectively. Teacher Expectations Student and Achievement (TESA). Extensive research shows that teacher interaction with students perceived as low achievers is less motivating and less supportive than interaction with students perceived as high achievers. Research also shows that high achievers receive more response opportunities and are given more time to respond to questions. This has particular application to educating minority and disadvantaged students. The Teacher Expectation and Student Achievement Program (TESA) deals with these important research data. It addresses the effects of teacher expectations on student achievement. In the program, teachers learn to increase specific motivating and supportive interactions with low achievers. Fifteen interactions are presented in the program. The training program consists of five workshop sessions and five classroom observations per teacher. The TESA program will begin implementation the first year of the Plan, and all teachers will have received TESA training by the end of the sixth year of the Plan. Inservice training programs are provided to staff based upon identified need. Staff needs assessments for inservice training activities are conducted each year. Standardized test data are analyzed to determine areas of greatest need. These data are analyzed and inservice programs are provided to support those identified needs. ACHIEVEMENT DISPARITY 47 The District recognizes the existence of achievement disparity between the black and nonblack student population. Addressing the disparity issue will start with the development of disparity plans at each campus unit. Disparity plans are linked to pedagogy techniques and programs designed for specific service delivery such as: Early Childhood Programs, Basic Skills Inatruction, Chapter 1 Computer Labs, Remedial Reading and Mathematics Programs, PACIR, Multicultural Education, Staff - Development and other programs previously identified. All of these programs deal with issues of disparity. Standardized test data are first analyzed by race, grade and content area for the development of disparity plans at the campus unit level. After these data are analyzed, school improvement plans are developed. The locally developed objective based curriculum in mathematics and language arts, Practical Approach to Curriculum Renewal (PACIR), provides the cornerstone for identification and direction for student mastery in these content areas. Each child may be diagnosed to the objective level of mastery and provided direction for future teaching and study. These processes may be teacher directed, computer assisted, tutorials, independent study, etc. or any combination. As technology progresses, the District goal is to provide individual educational plans to teachers and parents as a guide to enhance the student's achievement level. 48 Staff development activities, standardized achievement testing and specialized instructional programs must be used with objective based diagnostic curriculum to eliminate the achievement disparity of students. 49 SECTION 5: COMPENSATORY PROGRAMS AIMED AT DROPOUT PREVENTION In North Little Rock, as in any urban school district today, at least 25 percent of t~e students could be categorized as potential dropouts. Characteristics of these "at risk" students may include: poor self-concept, a high degree of frustration with school work, possession of values that are in direct conflict with those of the school, and difficulties in verbal and nonverbal communication. All compensatory programs address those symptoms, even at the early elementary level
however, if the problems have not been corrected as the student enters the secondary schools, the risk of dropout intensifies. A number of intervention programs which address the "at risk" student will be implemented. ---WIN PROGRAM The WIN Program (We Intervene Now), designed to identify and modify student behaviors which interfere with educational progress, is being implemented in our secondary schools. The intent of the program is to provide an intervention process that involves the student, parent, and school personnel. This intervention process will be especially beneficial for disadvantaged students. ---IMPACT TRAINING In addition to the WIN program, school-based teams (IMPACT) were formed to deal with substance abuse issues and concerns. 50 IMPACT teams are currently operational in each secondary school. VOCATIONAL SERVICES Compensatory services in the area of vocational education will also be provided through the Carl Perkins Project, which is specifically targeted for students who are potential dropouts. An individualized written vocational plan will be - completed for each student identified for inclusion in this program. Services will include the assessment of interests, learning modes, and individual needs by a vocational education evaluator and the use of a computerized Job Opportunity Based Search System to place students in the most appropriate vocational courses. STUDENT ATTENDANCE When possible, parents of senior high school students will be notified each day that a student is absent from one or more classes. To aid in this effort, an automatic phone calling system will be installed in each of the senior high schools. A computer will call the home of each absentee at night and ask for a response from a parent. Follow-up calls will be made the next day by school personnel. STUDENT ASSIGNMENT CLASSES Student Assignment Classes (SAC) will be established for on-campus suspension of secondary school students. Students involved in this program will continue academic work under 51 the supervision of the SAC teacher during the time of suspension. ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION In an attempt to meet the diverse educational needs of students in a metropolitan desegregated environment, numerous methods of alternative educational approaches are used to serve those children with special needs. Programs such as Alternative Classroom Elementary, Alternative Classroom Secondary, Joseph Pfeifer Alternative Program, and the Tri District Learning Center are some examples of this approach to service. ALTERNATIVE CLASSROOM (ELEMENTARY) The alternative classroom which is housed at the North Little Rock Boys' Club, is staffed with a full-time teacher and aide. The alternative classroom, conducted in a self-contained setting, is designed to provide structure and maximum supervision for the student whose behavior directly and significantly interferes with classroom performance. A student who might be considered for placement in the alternative classroom would exhibit persistent behaviors that can cause serious injury to self and others or behaviors of such magnitude and duration that the student is unmanageable in the regular classroom setting. After appropriate behavior has been demonstrated and maintained in the alternative classroom, a student will be mainstreamed into a regular classroom setting at Argenta. 52 After the student is mainstreamed successfully for the full school day for a minimum of two weeks, consideration would be given to returning the student to the homebase school. ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL (SECONDARY) Suspension to the North Little Rock Boys Club is an alternative to our-of-school suspension that will be provided for selected secondary school students. This program will be available for students whose behavior is unmanageable both at school and at home and who cannot function in the on-campus suspension program. Students involved in this program will continue their academic work, and receive counseling services at the Boys' Club Alternative School JOSEPH PFEIFER KIWANIS CAMP ALTERNATIVE CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE A pilot Alternative Classroom Experience has been designed for students between the ages of 9 and 13 or who are in the fourth, fifth, or sixth grades in North Little Rock or Pulaski County School Districts. The four main goals of the program are: 1. To improve student behavior in an institutional classroom setting. 2. To improve academics in an institutional classroom setting. 3. To improve community and home relationships. 4. To improve classroom attendance. In addition, the program works to build self-esteem and motivation within the student and to improve basic academic skills. 53 ---PARENTING COMPONENT During the course of the program, parents will be required to attend at least three (3) parenting workshops. ---PROGRAM DESIGN Each student who participates in the program will live at Pfeifer Camp for six (6) weeks, excluding weekends and holidays. During the first four (4) weeks, Phase I, the student will attend the alternative classroom at the camp. Phase II consists of the last two (2) weeks, when the students will attend his/her regular school and return to the camp in the afternoon. In all, each student is required to live at the camp for thirty (30) days. No child will stay at the camp during the weekends, unless a special event, such as a campout or retreat has been scheduled. This program is operated by Mr. Sanford Tollette, under the supervision of the Little Rock Kiwanis Club with sponsorship from the Arkansas Department of Education and the Metropolitan Education Service Center. TRI DISTRICT ALTERNATIVE LEARNING CENTER The Metropolitan Education Services Center in cooperation with the Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Pulaski County Special School Districts has developed and is implementing a program for educating students at-risk of dropping out of school. This school is an alternative program with new choices for the potential dropout candidate. 54 The target population will be 7th, 8th, and 9th graders who. are experiencing difficulty or have been unsuccessful in the traditional school setting. These students will receive alternative instruction at the old Carver Elementary School at 800 Apperson, Little Rock. The courses will include the State-adopted curriculum standards along with supplemental instruction in self-esteem and drug education. ---GOALS 1. Help students attend school regularly. 2. Help students accept responsibility for their own education and conduct in order that they can be successful. 3. Set goals that include graduation. 4. Instill a sense of self-worth and a belief in themselves and to give them an opportunity to learn in a non-threatening adult environment where they can experience a feeling of belonging and a taste of success. 5. Achieve academic success. ---CRITERIA FOR REFERRAL The teachers, counselors, school administrators, or parents may refer students to the Tri-District Alternative Learning Center (TDALC). The following criteria have been established as appropriate reasons for referrals: 1. Students with repetitive discipline problems in the classroom or with peers. 2. Students will excessive absences. 3. Students with children. 4. Students who are 2 or more years over age for their current grade placement. 55 5. Students whose academic difficulties may be attributed to problems with parents or the lack of basic needs. Students who have been diagnosed as needing support from a special education service will not be considered. ---ADMISSIONS Students eligible to attend the Tri-District Alternative Learning Center (TDALC) meet in a traditional school. Referrals to TDALC will be made to a designated person in each district or the TDALC supervisor. These referrals will be screened and final selection of candidates will be the decision of the selection committee. Each district will be allotted the following number of students: Little Rock Pulaski County North Little Rock 7th 14 11 5 30 8th 14 11 5 30 9th 14 11 5 30 Black 26 9 6 41 White 16 24 9 49 Total 42 33 15 90 The admissions committee will evaluate student eligibility based on these indicators: Poor Attendance Poor Academic Performance Negative School Behavior Need for Social Services Documented Recommendation from the School Students guilty of illegal or violent behavior may be selected to attend classes in other setting. If expelled from school because of illegal or violent behavior, students may enter other components of the alternative program after 56 being out of school one semester. Target date for accepting students in TDALC is set for October 2, pending preparation of the facility. EXITING Students may be withdrawn from Project TDALC and put on a regular campus at any time, but this usually takes place at the end of the school year. An Exit Committee composed of a representative from the receiving school, two TDALC teachers, the TDALC supervisor and the student's parents will determine if a student is to be exited. The students' placement will depend upon attendance, academic, and social progress, as well as the students' age and achievement test scores. 57 SECTION 6: EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES The North Little Rock School District recognizes that clubs and student organizations are an important part of the total educational experience for students. All clubs and student organizations shall operate under the direction of the principal and shall be under the supervision of a staff member appointed or approved by the principal. Membership in student organizations and clubs shall not be restricted on the basis of race, sex, national origin, or other arbitrary criteria. Further, entry shall not be by decision of the current membership of the organization. Eligibility requirements for participation in cheerleading, drill teams, and athletic activities are determined by the Arkansas Activities Association. Other extracurricular activities and/or organizations related to special interest or subject areas do not have a minimum grade requirement, except those clubs and organizations that are governed by charters from parent organizations. In order to assure greater participation by minority students the following actions will be taken: 1. Principals, counselors, sponsors, and teacher will inform and encourage minority students to become more active in all extracurricular activities. 58 2. Schools will publicize and inform minority students and their parents well in advance of the selection process so that they will know what to expect and when to apply. 3. All selection committees will be biracial in make-up. 4. Principals and sponsors will monitor participation in all extracurricular activities and, where such participation is racially identifiable, special efforts will be made to promote minority participation in any such racially identifiable clubs and/or organizations. 5. The District will annually review try-out procedures and eligibility requirements to identify and eliminate and practices that discourage or adversely affect minority participation. 6. Each school will prepare a summary report for ali clubs, organizations and other extracurricular activities reflecting the racial composition of the officers in each activity, the total membership, and all those who tried out or sought membership, and all those who tried out or sought membership. This report will be prepared in April of each year which provides sufficient lead-time to permit planning, publication and recruitment of minority participation for the following year. See Addendum 6A. These reports will be compiled in a District summary for all extracurricular activities which will be completed and presented to the Board of Education at its May meeting each year. 59 Mr. Horace R. Smith, Program Advisor from the Division of Planning and Development from the State Department of Education came into the secondary schools in Spring Semester, 1989, and did an assessment of the North Little Rock extracurricular activities. Mr. Smith provided technical assistance in the form of an inservice program for secondary school administrator and activity advisors on strategies to increase minority participation in extracurricular activities. Student feedback was compiled and one-hour inservice sessions designed and scheduled for each of the secondary schools. The primary participants were the school administrators and the activity advisors. The objective of the inservice sessions was to raise staff awareness and focus attention on the broader issues such as academic expectations and social alienation which directly impact the degree of minority extracurricular participation. These inservice sessions were held between March 15, 1989, and May 22, 1989. Since the inservice sessions were held, we have been working closely with the Equity Center from the State Department of Education to finalize plans for on going inservice. Meetings were held with the Equity Center in September of 1989 and also October of 1989. The North Little Rock School District welcomes parental involvement regarding participation and identified concerns in the extra curricular program. The District is presently 60 studying possible actions to reduce cost barriers that may restrict participation in identified activities. Possible actions being considered are (1) including an activity period in the regular school da, (2) providing transportation for student activities, and (3) providing cheerleader and pep squad uniforms. 61 SECTION 7: DISCIPLINE, EXPULSIONS AND SUSPENSIONS DISCIPLINE Disciplinary policies are periodically reviewed to ensure fundamental fairness and absence of bias. In this effort all District policies relating to student conduct and discipline were revised in the 1985-86 school year. See Addendum 7A. To ensure that parents and students are advised of expected student conduct, bases for discipline and all disciplinary procedures including any right of appeal, District wide handbooks were developed in the 1985-86 school year and given to each student. Students are annually required to have their parents read the handbooks and sign a statement acknowledging that both the parents and the student have read the handbook. Additionally, the handbook is reviewed with the students in all schools during class time. SUSPENSIONS To ensure fairness and the absence of bias in suspension decisions, the District has revised its disciplinary policy to provide clear standards of expected behavior as well as guarantees of due process including the right of appeal. Second, each suspension is reviewed by the Assistant Superintendent for Student Affairs and the Superintendent to ensure that District policies are followed. Third, a summary of suspensions showing the number and race of students 62 suspended in each school is compiled by the Assistant Superintendent for Student Affairs annually and provided to the Board of Education at its July meeting each year. A review of all suspensions will be conducted for any school that has a disproportionate number of suspensions of minority students to ensure that race has not been a factor in the suspension. In the 1989-90 school year the North Little Rock School District developed a plan to monitor the discipline referrals from each school. At anytime the District Desegregation Team believes there may be disparity, a conference is held with the building principal. The bases for disciplinary action will be studied and an effort will be made to check the consistency from one student to another, and the problem will be corrected. EXPULSIONS The North Little Rock School District has expelled only twenty students during the last three years. Of this number, ten have been black. Seventeen of these expulsions have been because of serious offenses relating to drugs or the possession and/or use of weapons. Given the very small number of expulsions and the extreme seriousness of the offenses involved, the District believes that any violation relating to expulsions has been corrected. Further, all expulsions are made by the Board of Education and then only after a hearing. 63 SECTION 8: GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION The Court based its determination that the NLRSD denied black students access to its program for gifted and talented students on data from 1980. LRSD & PCSSD, 584 F. Supp. 328,349 (E.D. Ark. 1984). Since that time significant changes have been made in the District's identification procedures designed specifically to improve the identification of gifted minority students. These efforts, which are detailed below, have been described by Dr. Emily Stewart, an expert in gifted and talented education, as comparing favorably with the state of the art for identifying minority gifted students. T. 2692. She also testified that the program for the 1983-84 school year, NLRX 22 and 23, were consistent with the national norm and were reflective of a concerted effort to identify gifted minority students. T. 2689. CALLAHAN/TREFFINGERSTUDY During the 19&2-83 school year, the District's concern was the identification of all gifted students, but an overriding concern was the identification of the culturally disadvantaged. Through a Title IV-C Grant the District was afforded the opportunity to hire two consultants in the field of gifted education, Dr. Donald Treffinger from State University College at Buffalo, New York, and Dr. Carolyn Callahan, University of Virginia. The plan was to develop a methodological case-study/placement procedure. The 64 case-study method provides information from a variety of sources and also summarizes strengths and weaknesses for instructional programming. Dr. Callahan evaluated the District's case-study placement procedures. She found that although the identification of minority students was uneven across the District, the selection of minority students had increased by 43% districtwide. Recommendations in Dr. Callahan's study were used by the District to implement other strategies to increase identification and selection of culturally different students as well as to even out the process across the District. CREATIVE POSITIVES FOR IDENTIFYING DISADVANTAGED YOUTH During the same year, the District adopted the use of the ''Creative Positives of Disadvantaged Youth and Children." by E. Paul Torrance. See Add. 8A. The District has also adopted the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking. This test has been even more useful in discovering giftedness among the culturally different. The District continues to use the test, and special scoring of strengths are used in the creativity test for purposes of screening and identification of culturally disadvantaged students. 65 MULTIPLE REFERRAL SOURCES As a safeguard against bias, nominations for placement in the gifted program are sought from a wide variety of sources including parents, other students, and the individual student himself or herself as well as from teachers and principals. This assures that everyone who might see a different facet of the nominated student perhaps not seen by others is encouraged to nominate that student if he or she feels the student might be gifted. Where there is unevenness of referrals for culturally disadvantaged students, the supervisor for gifted and talented, resource teacher for gifted and talented and the school principal carefully examine the permanent folders for additional nominations. MULTIPLE PLACEMENT CRITERIA Student placement decisions are based on multiple criteria. See Add. 8B. No single criterion or cut-off score is used to exclude a student from placement. Teacher ratings may override poor test scores
however, good normative information may outweigh negative teacher ratings. Creative Positives Among the Culturally Different by E. Paul Torrance is used to assist in identification of the culturally different. GROUP DECISION-MAKING Another safeguard against bias and a further assurance that no student is overlooked lies in the fact that no single individual makes a placement decision. Each school has a 66 case-study/placement committee made up of the principal or assistant principal, counselor, resource teacher for gifted and talented, and two classroom teachers. On the elementary level, one teacher is primary
the other is intermediate. On the secondary level, one classroom teacher is a current teacher of the student being referred. The principal is responsible for the total process and serves as chairman of the case study/placement committee. The resource teacher of gifted and talented will be actively involved in the committee work. The supervisor of gifted and talented assists as needed. No single person can decide to place or not to place a student. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND APPEAL Parents are involved throughout the referral and placement process. They are invited to refer their children for placement. They are required to complete the Parent Questionnaire, Add. BC, which is an important source of information not obtainable by other means. They meet with the case study/placement committee concerning placement recommendations. Finally, parents have the right to appeal the decision of the case study/placement committee to the Director of Elementary or Secondary Education. The Director and the Supervisor of Gifted and Talented Program then review all identification instruments, Add. BB, and meet with the parents to review all 67 placement criteria. If an error has occurred an appropriate correction will be made. MONITORING AND INTERVENTION Reports are submitted to the Central Administration showing the race and grade of all students referred and placed in the gifted programs in each school. Where there is an unevenness of nominations, referrals, and placements of the culturally disadvantaged students, the permanent folders are carefully examined by the Supervisor for Gifted and Talented Education. As a result of such additional reviews, minority students who might be gifted are identified and follow-up procedures are initiated to observe and document the student's actions which would justify referral, evaluation and possible placement. Also, additional in-service training regarding the use of the creative positives in identifying minority gifted students is conducted for teachers in those schools. One of the goals of the North Little Rock School District Gifted and Talented Program is to help the student develop self-understanding. Many activities are conducted in the resource room at the elementary level and the cluster classes at the secondary level to encourage the gifted student to recognize and use his/her abilities. Emphasis is placed on the nature and nurture of needs of the gifted student through the following areas: inservice training by resource teachers/facititators, training during 68 pre-school inservice, dissemination of articles on behavioral characteristics, handbook for gifted education and two newsletters per year. The District is making specific efforts to seek minority teachers as stated on pp 18, 19, and 20 of the North Little Rock School District Revised Desegregation Plan. 69 NORTH LITTLE ROCK PUBLIC SCHOOLS GIFTED/TALENTED PROGRAM Creative Positive Among The Culturally Different 1. Ability to Express Feelings and Emotions. 2. Discovery: I suggest that giftedness in expressing feelings and emotions may be discovered by: ----Observations of facial expression and body gestures. ----Analysis of samples of creative writing, especially poetry. ----Observations of behavior in discussions, classroom meetings, role playing, sociodrama, creative dramatics, dance, creative movement, music, and rhythm. ----Study of visual art products and the processes used in their production. ----Observations of response in creative reading. Ability to Improve with Commonplace Materials Discovery: The following observation checklist is suggested for identifying giftedness for improvisation with common materials: ----Makes toys from commonplace materials. ----Uses common materials to modify toys. ----Makes games from common materials. ----Uses common materials for unintended uses at home. ----Uses common materials for unintended uses in school. ----Uses common materials in inventions. ----Uses common materials in creative dramatics, art, and so forth. 3. Articulateness in ~ole Playing and St~ry Telling Discovery: Giftedness in role playing and story telling may be observed among culturally different students in learning activities involving role playing, sociodrama, and related techniques. Such talent becomes evident when the role playing becomes very absorbing and lifelike. Fresh ideas arise in the sociodramatic processes, and students respond to one another at a deeply empathic level. In story telling, the interest of the group is aroused and sustained. The students become quite absorbed as one event inspires another and the problem solving processes become complex. 70 Role playing and improvisation tests have been devised by Moreno (1946, 1969) and others, but a sensitive and alert teacher, school psychologist, or sociodramatic director can discover this kind of talent in the regular course of instruction when this methodology is used. It requires a bit more alertne$S to become aware of the real life role playing used by many culturally different students as a survival or adaptation technique. However, this may be the "real test." Importance: Since role playing (especially as used in sociodrama) and story telling fundamentally are creative problem solving processes, this kind of talent is important in achievement, just as creative problem solving skills are important. There are numerous careers that specifically require this kind of talent for success. 4. Enjoyment of and Ability in Visual Arts Discovery: Although there are tests to discover giftedness in the visual arts, research literature does not reveal much of great value. Visual art products are so easy to obtain that most searchers for talent in the visual arts have been willing to rely upon judgements of products such as drawings, painting, and sculptures. As an observational screening device for surveying and talent in the visual arts, the following checklist is suggested: ----Experiences real joy in drawing. ----Experiences real joy in painting. ----Experiences real joy in sculpture. ----Becomes deeply absorbed in drawing, painting, sculpture, or other visual art activity. ----Understands subject matter by "drawing it" (e.g. illustrates stories, illustrates history, draws biological objects, makes maps.) ----Communicates skillfully through drawings, paintings, sculptures, and other visual arts. ----Captures the essence of whatever is photographed. ----Makes photographs tell a story. 5. Enjoyment of and Ability in Creative Movement and Dance. Discovery: Although some excellent work has been done on the development of tests to assess creativity in movement (Alston, 1971
Clover, 71 1974
Wyrick, 1966), these tests have not yet been fully standardized and made widely available. While these tests would doubtless be useful in becoming aware of talent in creative movement and dance that might otherwise be missed, most workers will probably depend on observations and judgements of performance. For this purpose, the following checklist is suggested: ----Experiences deep enjoyment in creative movement/dance. ----Becomes intensely absorbed in creative movement/dance. ----Can interpret songs, poems, stories, and so forth through creative movement/dance. ----Can elaborate ideas through creative movement/dance. ----Movement facilitates learning and understanding of events, ideas, concepts, and reading/literary materials. ----Spends unusual amount of time in perfecting creative movement/dance. 6. Enjoyment of and Ability in Music and Rhythm Discovery: Although there are a number of useful tests of musical ability such as the Seashore Measures of Musical Talents (Seashore, 1980), Aliferis Music Achievement Tests (Aliferis, 1954), Drake Musical Aptitude Tests (Drake, 1957), and the Musical Aptitude Profile (Gordon, 1965), and although there are measures such as Sounds and Images (Torrance, Khatena, & Cunnington, 1974) and Vaughn's (1971) Test of Musical Creativity that seem to predict certain kinds of creative behavior in the realm of music, actual performance in musical activities will probably continue to be the best route for discovering giftedness in music and rhythm. For this purpose, the following checklist, which can be used by teachers and other observers, is suggested: 72 7. ----Writes, draws, works, walks, moves with rhythm. ----Rhythm facilitates learning of skills. ----Rhythm facilitates learning and understanding of ideas, events, concepts and so forth. ----Creates songs. ----Creates music. ----Interprets ideas, events, concepts, feelings, and so forth through rhythm. ----Interprets ideas, events, feelings, and so forth through music. ----Becomes highly absorbed in music and rhythmic activities. ----Works perseveringly at music and rhythmic activities. ----Is exceptionally responsive to sound stimuli. Use of Expressive Speech Discovery: Since the social situation is a powerful determiner of speech (Labov, 1972, 1973), the discovery of giftedness in expressive speech among the culturally different requires that the would-be discoverer enter into the right social relationship with the young person. Many teachers, school psychologists, and counselors are unable to do this. Whether one is searching for giftedness in expressive speech through standardized test situations or in nontest situations, it is important that the culturally different student feel free to use the expressive system that is most comfortable. The importance of this is illustrated by Foster's (1974) study of the influence of non-Standard English dialect and lexicon upon Black 10th grade students' ability to comprehend, recall, and be fluent and flexible in providing titles for verbal materials. These students scored higher in response to non-Standard English stories than they did to Standard English stories. It was apparent that these students thought better in their language when they were cued in some semblance of their language, were not limited to preset written responses, and were allowed to respond verbally and freely and to interpret as they proceeded. Foster's test also indicated that in an uninhibiting situation Black students can be more verbal and intellectually creative in their own language than they can in Standard English. 73 The following checklist is suggested for use in screening students who might be gifted in the expressiveness of their speech: ----Speech is colorful. ----Speech is picturesque (e.g., suggests a picture). ----Speech iocludes powerful analogies, metaphors, and so forth. ----Speech is vivid (e.g., lively, intense, penetrating, exciting). ----Invents words to express concepts and feelings for which existing words are inadequate. ----Combines speech with movement and sound. 8. Figural Fluency and Flexibility Discovery: Both the Guilford (1967) and Torrance (1966/74) batteries of creativity tests contain measures of figural fluency and flexibility that seem capable of identifying giftedness in this area among culturally different groups. Little or no language ability is required by this type of test, and language handicaps seem not to interfere with performance. One need not be dependent upon tests for discovering this kind of giftedness, however. The following checklist is suggested in screening for this kind of talent: ----Produces many different ideas through drawings. ----Produces many ideas with common objects. ----Arranges blocks and other play materials in many combinations. ----Assembles and reassembles complex machines with ease. ----Produces images in response to music, sounds, or movement. ----Sketches maps from memory with ease. ----Organizes objects and materials in space. 9. Enjoyment of and Skill in Group Problem Solving Discovery: While there has been considerable work by social psychologists and educators (Lake, Miles, & Earle, 1973) in the development of tests of group performance, such tests have not been widely used either to discover talent or to evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs. Few such tests have been standardized and made available commercially. Perhaps the most carefully developed and standardized of these tests for use in school settings is the Russel Sage Social Relations Test (Darnarin, 1959, 74 10. available from Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey 08540). Perhaps the best methods for discovering such talent are those that provide students with opportunities for solving problems in groups and for getting important tasks done. The following checklist is suggested as a guide for discovering this kind of talent: ----Influences other students to engage in projects he or she initiates. ----Organizes and structures the group and the group task with skill. ----Work in small groups facilitates learning and problem solving. ----Tries harder in small groups than otherwise. ----Produces original and useful ideas in small groups. ----Becomes more alive in small groups. ----Is highly aware of feelings and skills of others in small groups. ----Supports other members of group, displays high group loyalty and involvement. ----Initiates activities in small groups. ----Is effective in teaching others in small groups. Responsiveness to the Concrete Discovery: Frequently, educators derogate concrete thinking as being inferior to abstract thinking. However, responsiveness to the concrete as a creative positive goes beyond what is implied by concrete thinking or concrete operations. The person gifted in responsiveness to the concrete is stimulated by the concrete
thinking and problem solving are facilitated if the problem can be conceptualized in physical terms. This person obtains enjoyment from doing things with his or her hands, from manipulating objects physically, and from using hand tools. Perhaps the best way of discovering this kind of giftedness is through involving culturally different students in meaningful tasks and problems permitting physical manipulation. There are also a number of tests, games, and puzzles that involve this kind of physical manipulation of objects. The following checklist is suggested for discovering this type of giftedness. ----Produces a flow of ideas and alternative solutions when concrete objects and materials are involved. ----Tries to conceptualize problems in terms of concrete objects and systems. 75 ----Uses concrete objects and systems to generate ideas and solutions. ----Works in an absorbed manner for lengthy periods of time on concrete puzzles, mechanical problems, and so forth. 11. Responsiveness to the Kinesthetic Discovery: There is a danger that responsiveness to the kinesthetic among the culturally different may be equated with a physical or motoric learning style. Responsiveness to the kinesthetic, as I have conceptualized this creative positive, goes far beyond the old concept of a physical style of learning, which is usually thought of as a deficit among the culturally different. Giftedness in responsiveness to the taxonomies of the psychomotor domain (Harrow, 1972). It includes not only manipulative movements but also kinesthetic discrimination, psychomotor coordination, endurance, strength, flexibility, adaptive motor skills, expressive movement and interpretive movement. Out of the growing field of movement education and work on assessing skills in the psychomotor domain, assessment procedures will doubtless be developed for discovering giftedness in this creative positive. Those interested in developing psychometric procedures for assessing this kind of giftedness can build on the earlier work of the Gesell Institute (Ames, 1966) and the California group (Hayley, 1969) and will find many cluec in Harrow's (1972) work on a taxonomy of the psychomotor domain and in Birdwhistell's (1970) work on Kinesics. The following checklist is suggested to guide teachers in screening for responsiveness to the kinesthetic: ----Skillfully communicates ideas through movement. ----Skillfully interprets meaning of movement. ----Movement is effective as warm-up for creative thinking. ----Displays skillful manipulative movement in crayon work, typing, piano playing, and so forth. ----Makes quick, precise movements in mime, creative dramatics, role playing, and so forth. ----Shows movement in drawings and other visual art products. ----Makes fine discriminations of kinesthetic information. 76 12. ----Has excellent memory for kinesthetic information. ----Works at movement activities for extended periods of time. ----Displays total bodily involvement in interpreting a poem, story, or song, and in creative reading, dramatics, and so forth. Expressiveness of Gestures and Body Language Discovery: Expressiveness of gestures and body language as a creative positive of the culturally different overlaps somewhat with the creative positives dealing with creative movement and responsiveness to the kinesthetic. However, in view of the present state of knowledge concerning these types of giftedness, it seems desirable to treat expressiveness of gestures and body language as a separate set of abilities. Its focus is on communicating through gestures and body language and interpreting this kind of communication. Certain aspects of this type of giftedness may be tapped by some of O'Sullivan and Guilford's (1966) tests of social intelligence, especially their measure labeled Expression Grouping, which involves the interpretation of pictured facial expressions. It is my feeling, however, that tests of this kind miss the essence of the kind of giftedness I have in mind. Thus, I am suggesting the following checklist of behaviors that may help in the discovery of this kind of giftedness: ----Expresses ideas powerfully and accurately through gestures and body language. ----Combines speech with gestures and body language to communicate nuances that cannot be expressed by word. ----Is skilled in recognizing the needs of other children from their gestures and body language. ----Is skilled in recognizing faces. ----Is skilled in mimicry, imitations and impres~ions. ----Is accurate in "reading" the body language of the teacher. ----Uses gestures and body language to tell a story. ----Is skilled in charades that rely on the use of gestures and body language. 77 13. Humor Discovery: There have been many attempts to develop tests of humor, but at the present time I am unable to identify any well developed, standardized tests of humor that could be used in discovering giftedness in humor. There are a great variety of theories of humor (Goldstein & McGhee, 1972), and in each, one may find clues for identifying humor in everyday life and in various creative products such as writing, drawing, and acting. Superiority theories of humor maintain that the roots of humor are in triumph over other people. Humor and enjoyment, according to these theories, occur when people compare themselves favorably to others as being less stupid, less ugly, less unfortunate, or less weak. However, this type of humor may be combined with sympathy, congeniality, empathy, and geniality. The incongruity theories of humor insist that humor arises from disjointed, ill suited pairings of ideas or situations or from presentations of ideas or situations that are divergent from usual customs. According to surprise theories of humor, the elements of surprise, shock, suddenness, or unexpectedness are necessary conditions of humor. Ambivalent theories of humor content that the basis of humor is the simultaneous occurrence of incompatible emotions or feelings. Release or relief theories of humor maintain that the basis of humor is relief from strain or constraint, or release of excess tension. According to configurational theories, humor is experienced when elements initially perceived as unrelated suddenly fall into place. Psychoanalytic theories of humor hold that in humor there is an economy in the expenditure of feeling
humor turns an event that would ordinarily cause suffering into less significance. One can draw from all of these theories of humor to obtain clues for discovering giftedness in humor in the culturally different. I have tried to find such clues in the creative writings and drawings of children. Some workers might find the following checklist helpful: ----Portrays the comical, funny, amusing in role playing. ----Portrays the comical, funny, amusing in drawings. ----Makes humorous, original comic strips. 78 ----Portrays the comical, funny, amusing in dramatics. ----Makes people laugh a lot in games. ----Makes up humorous jokes or stories. ----Makes people laugh (not "makes fun of") in discussion. ----Describes personal experiences with humor. ----Plays jokes on others. The problem in using these observations is finding appropriate criteria of what makes something humorous, funny, comical, or amusing. Other than "It makes me laugh," the best criteria I have found are those inherent in the above theories of humor, such as: - ----Superior or clever adaptation in triumph or victory. ----Joining together of incongruous disjointed elements. ----Element of surprise, breaking up of a routine course of thought or action. ----Simultaneous experiencing of two or more incompatible emotions or feelings. ----Experience of release from tension or relief from strain. ----Joining together of incongruous elements that fall into place. ----Making something important unimportant and something unimportant important. 14. Richness of Imagery Discovery: Richness of imagery has generally been viewed as a characteristic of creative products (such as poems, essays, stories, etc.) rather than as an aspect of giftedness. Although my associates and I (Torrance, 1965c, 1976) have obtained crude measures of richness of imagery in the writings and drawings of children, I know of no really satisfactory measure of this type of giftedness. Since images may be visual, auditory or kinesthetic, indications of the ability to procure rich imagery may be sought in all three of these modalities and in the processes through which images are produced. The following checklist is suggested as one approach to discovering this type of giftedness among the culturally different using criteria of clarity, intensity, vividness, and liveliness for various types of imagery: ----Imagery in writings. ----Imagery in dance, movement, and other kinetic activity. 79 15. ----Imagery in singing or instrumental music performance. ----Imagery used in relating personal experiences. ----Imagery that emerges from oral reading. ----Imagery in role playing and dramatics. ----Imagery in drawings and other art work. Originality and Inventiveness Discovery: There are a variety of tests that can be used in discovering giftedness in originality and inventiveness among the culturally different~ One of the oldest such tests is the Rorschach Ink Blot Test (Klopfer & Davidson, 1962), which uses uncommon responses of good form and humor movement as the primary indicators. Current tests which provide measure of originality include the Barron-Welsh Art Scale (Barron, 1969), the Structure of Intellect tests (Guilford, 1967), the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (Torrance, 1966/1974), Sounds and Images and Onomatopo and Images (Torrance, Khatena, & Cunnington, 1974), and Welsh's Origence measure based on the Welsh Figure Preference Test (Welsh, 1959, 1975). The following checklist is suggested for purposes of crude screening: ----Produces solutions that others do not think of. ----Produces solutions when no one else can. ----Solutions are unusual, unconventional. ----Stories have unusual, surprising endings. ----Stories have unusual, surprising plots. ----Comes up with inventions to solve problems. ----Innovates with common materials to produce new solutions. ----Comes up with solutions to problems that others say cannot be solved. 16. Problem Centeredness Discovery: Problem centeredness is such a behaviorally oriented phenomenon that it would be difficult to devise a well balanced test to assess this type of giftedness. However, psychometric procedures have been devised to assess certain aspects of it. Most such attempts have involved the length of time a person is willing or able to continue working on a puzzle or difficult problem. Frequently, teachers and parents are annoyed by the problem centeredness of children and tend not to recognize this type of behavior as a potential strength to be used in facilitating learning and in developing careers. 80 The following checklist of problem centered behaviors is suggested as a guide in discovering this kind of giftedness: ----Does not give up easily
keeps trying to solve a problem. ----Persists in asking questions about a problem or topic. ----Shows concern and tries to solve or help solve problems of others. ----Is stimulated by difficult problems. ----Is hard to distract when concerned about a problem. ----Keeps seeing relevance of new information to problems of the group. ----Comes back to a problem or unfinished task time after time. ----Follows up outside of class with problems generated in reading or class discussion by reading, interviewing, experimenting, and so forth. 17. Emotional Responsiveness Discovery: Since emotional responsiveness is not associated with level of intelligence, this characteristic is not usually thought of as an aspect of giftedness. While there are tests of empathy and emotionality (Lake, Miles, & Earle, 1973), little or no work has been done to apply such measures to problems of discovering giftedness among the culturally different. While such work needs to be done, the following checklist may be useful in discovering this type of giftedness and culturally different: ----Listens intently and understandingly. ----Feels strong empathy with others and is highly aware of the feelings, distresses, and the needs of others. ----Actively responds to meet the needs of others. ----Responds emotionally to stories, events, needs of group members, and so forth. ----Is responsive to sincere interest and concern of others. ----Seems almost psychic in ability to interpret and anticipate the actions of others. 18. Quickness of Warm-Up Discovery: There are vast individual differences in the quickness with which people warm up or "get ready to go" in coping with problems for which they have no learned or habitual responses. 81 Some warm up very slowly, and in responding to tests of creative thinking they may go ahead and produce a large number of obvious and commonplace alternatives before they are able to do the "mind stretching" that results in new or original responses. Or, they may sit or stand apparently inert and inactive for a considerable length of time and then seem suddenly to spring into action and produce brilliant solutions. In track competition, there are brilliant dash runners who perform poorly in the distance events, while others perform poorly in the short distance races and excel in the distance races. In open ended tests of creative thinking such as the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking, certain aspects of quickness of warm-up may be discovered. Currently, we are obtaining one such measure by determining how many of the early responses to tasks (first three responses in the verbal tests and in the repeated figures task of the figural test) are original (uncommon) responses. The following checklist may be helpful in discovering youngsters gifted in quick warm-up: ----Begins productive work immediately when given a new assignment. ----Becomes tired of waiting and loses interest when there are delays in getting a class or activity started. ----Goes "all out" on a task immediately. ----Responds immediately to emergencies, quick changes, and so forth. ----Adapts immediately to changes in the situation or assignment. ----Produces original ideas early in a brainstorming session. 82 NORTH LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT INSTRUMENTS OF IDENTIFICATION Ideally, identification should include all of the information which can be gathered about each student. By using multiple criteria, the pitfall thus avoided is that of exclusive attention to an insufficient number or variety of criteria. The case study/placement committee will be less likely to exclude students who could benefit and are in need of special services. 1. Individual Intelligence Test - Wechsler Intelligence Scale fqr Children-Revised (WISC-R), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults, Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. These tests are administered by the District's licensed examiners. The WISC-R will be the primary test used. The Stanford-Binet will be an alternative. The Otis Lennon School Abilities Test will be used for prescreening. These tests give an estimate of potential, but must not be used to exclude students from the gifted and talented program. 2. Creativiey Test - Thinking Creatively,with Pictures Figural Booklet A by E. Paul Torrance. This test will be administered and graded by the resource teacher/facilitator for gifted and talented. 3. Achievement Tests and Grades - Metropolitan Achievement Test - (MAT-6). Scores and grades should be used to indicate students' performance. Either low test scores or grades should not be used to exclude students from the gifted and talented program. 4. Scales for Rating the Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students. Renzulli Scales for Learning Motivational, Creativity, and Leadership Characteristics will be used for grades K-6. Grades 7-12 will use Renzulli's Scales for Learning, Motivation, Creativity, and Leadership Characteristics. The Purdue Secondary Checklist for English, math, social studies and science. The Scales will be completed by the classroom teacher(s). 83 5. Parent Questionnaire - The parent questionnaire will be completed by the parent. Parents can provide information on advanced abilities which are often not observable in the school setting. 6. Product Evaluation - Products such as poetry, slide/tapes,.photo essays, and/or science projects may be used to document ability, creativity, and motivation. 7. Interviews - An interview will be conducted by the resource teacher/facilitator for gifted and talented. 8. Interest Inventory - An interest inventory will be administered by the resource teacher/facilitator. The inventory will help determine areas of interest. 9. Creative Positive Among the Culturally Different (A list of indicators of potential.) The resource teacher/facilitator will assist the classroom teachers in applying these criteria to the students' characteristics. 10. Characteristics of Giftedness - A list of indicators of gifted responses for possible referrals at the elementary levels. 84 Student's Full Name Parent/Guardian NORTH LITTLE ROCK PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARENT QUESTIONNAIRE GIFTED/TALENTED PROGRAM (Date) All information on this form will be strictly confidential and will be used only by the referral and placement committee. 1. Child resides with: (Check) Father ( Mother Other If other, please specify Occupation of: Father: Mothe
:-: Other adults in the home: 2. Brothers and sisters: Names Ages 3. Hobbies of: Father Mother 4. Child has own room ( )
Shares with others inumber). 5. Private lessons taken by child: Kind How long taken Frequency 85 6. Trips child has taken: Place Age 7. Things the family does together 8. Child's recreational choices 9. Choice of friends (ages, sex, numbers, etc.) 10. How does he/she get along with his/her friends? 11. What does the child like to do when he/she is alone? 12. Child's membership in out-of-school clubs or groups 13. Child's reading interests (favorite books -types, titles, authors) 14. Amount of child's reading per week (estimate) 86 - 15. Child's hobbies and collections 16. Child's special talents or skills 17. Child's special problems or needs at home 18. How does the child get along with others in ths home? 19. Child's home responsibility 20. Does the child have an allowance? Yes ( )No( )Amount per week( 21. Discuss the attitude of the child toward school 22. Child's school needs as you see them 23. Describe the child as you see him/her (personality, attitudes toward home, work, friends) 24. Please feel free to attach any additional information that you feel is pertinent. Prior to the referral conference, the resource teacher for the Gifted and Talented will administer an appropriate interest inventory and creativity test to your child. 87 SECTION 9: SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND INADEQUATE FACILITIES The North Little Rock Sc~ool District was established in 1901 with all students housed in. a single building. As the population increased during the next several years, schools were added to accommodate student growth. The District made an early commitment to neighborhood schools as evidenced by the relatively small size and geographic location of school buildings. Such commitment prevailed until recent times. Constructed in the 1950's, the Belwood Elementary School, for example, contains only seven classrooms and small spaces for library, offices, and cafeteria. Most elementary schools were originally designed to house two hundred or less pupils. Almost all of the existing school facilities have been expanded since their original construction. Although facility expansion has increased pupil capacity in most North Little Rock Schools, the neighborhood school concept has remained evident in the location of elementary schools. No elementary pupil within the District is assigned to a home school which is located two or more miles from his place of residence. From its inception in 1901 until the 1969-70 school year, student population grew at a steady rate until reaching the all-time high of 14,000. Since the 1969-70 school year, 88 student population has consistently declined. The October, 1986, enrollment was 9
This project was supported in part by a Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives project grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Council on Library and Information Resoources.