San Bernardino City Unified School District

Special Education students benefit from Standards Plus Direct Instruction

Challenge

Arroyo Valley High School is part of the San Bernardino City Unified School District, the seventh largest district in the state of California. Located in the middle of the Inland Empire, Arroyo Valley High School serves students from the city of San Bernardino and the unincorporated area of Muscoy. The California Department of Education designates 91% of the students Socioeconomically Disadvantaged, 31% English Language Learners, and 13% Students with Disabilities. Many students engage in a daily struggle to achieve academic success.

Solution

Principal Karen Craig is respected by students, staff, and parents for her passionate involvement in student achievement. A strong proponent of consistent, rigorous curriculum for all students, Mrs. Craig believes that all students can learn and become successful members of society.

Mrs. Craig trusts the expertise of her staff, and engages in collaborative leadership. Finding the most effective tools to help teachers is one area where this collaborative spirit makes a difference. Lillie Motley, English Department Chair, shared the same belief as Mrs. Craig in the potential for Standards Plus lessons to positively impact student achievement in English. Therefore, a decision was made to supplement instruction in all core English and Special Education classes during the 2007-2008 school year. Special Education teachers embraced direct instruction as the means to deliver both Standards Plus mini lessons and core curriculum.

Results

Special Education students achieved a 24% gain in passing scores on the CAHSEE, and teachers attribute this success to the direct instruction of Standards Plus mini lessons. Ryan Harsch, a Special Education teacher, believes the “repetitive action” and format of the daily lessons increased student confidence and achievement scores. “These students need test taking strategies,” says Mr. Harsch, “[and] they are learning them with Standards Plus.” Ms. Motley agrees, and says, “There is power in consistency.” The results of their efforts are to be commended. The pervasive belief at Arroyo Valley High School that all kids can learn, and teachers choosing to deliver rigorous academic content using direct instruction, has resulted in significant gains for the Special Education students.