D181 Rising Stars - BoardDocs, A Diligent Brand

2022-2023 Pilot

District 181 A Tradition of Educational Excellence We are committed to the D181 mission to provide a premier educational experience that teaches students to be critical thinkers and enables them to achieve their full potential – academically, socially, and emotionally. Because learning is best achieved in an environment where individual student needs are at the forefront, it is our goal always to ensure we successfully combine an ideal and safe learning environment with appropriate academic challenge. Our staff and students work together to cultivate collaboration, respect, reflection, empathy, innovation, critical thinking, perseverance, strong communication skills and advocacy among our students throughout their educational journey.

District 181 Rising Stars Extended Day Kindergarten The D181 Rising Stars Extended Day Kindergarten is for students from our seven elementary buildings identified as having a need for additional academic support. The purpose of Rising Stars is to provide an intense language/literacy and numeracy based environment for eligible students. Rising Stars classroom teachers will focus on: numeracy, language development, academic vocabulary, emergent literacy skills, working independently, gross/fine motor development and socialization to ensure students are prepared for entry into first grade. Students will be assigned to attend a half-day kindergarten session at their home school in a general kindergarten classroom and attend the extended day program for the other half of each day in one of the Rising Stars classrooms. All incoming kindergarten students will be screened by our staff members in the spring prior to starting kindergarten in D181. This will provide teachers with areas of strength and areas of need or focus for all students, not just those who qualify for the Rising Stars Extended Day Program. Rising Stars

Rising Stars Screening Screening Dates: May 31 & June 1 for preschool and registered kindergarten. Through the summer for newly enrolled kindergarten students. Screening Components: Letter names (upper & lower), letter sounds, number identification, counting, color identification, shape identification, sight word recognition, writing/reading name & sentence/word reading Screening Participants: Teachers and related service providers will complete screening. All incoming kindergarten students will be screened prior to fall.

Rising Stars Proposed Locations & Student Enrollment School Selection / Geographic Coverage (3 classrooms, 6 sections) Elm (Oak, Elm, Madison) Monroe (Monroe, TLS) Prospect (Prospect, Walker) Student Enrollment & Enrollment Numbers Enrollment will be determined by student assessment results (screening) 8-12 students per sections 60 student capacity (all 60 seats will be filled)

Growth & Achievement Monitoring Student Progress All students in the D181 Rising Stars Program will be closely monitored at multiple times throughout the year using classroom, local, and state assessments. Kindergarten screener administered spring/summer KIDS Assessment administered in fall BAS Reading Benchmark assessment administered in winter and spring AIMSweb literacy and numeracy assessments administered fall, winter, and spring Intervention data collected and analyzed at benchmark periods

Schedule Kindergarten Session Start Times End Times Morning (A.M) Kindergarten 8:40 a.m. 11:25 a.m. Lunch, Recess & Travel 11:25 a.m. 12:20 p.m. Afternoon (P.M.) Rising Stars 12:20 p.m. 3:05 p.m. Morning (A.M.) Rising Stars 8:40 a.m. 11:25 a.m. Lunch, Recess & Travel 11:25 a.m. 12:20 p.m. Afternoon (P.M.)Kindergarten 12:20 p.m. 3:05 p.m.

Program Cost 2022-2023 Transportation estimated at 200,000 Furniture 15,000 per classroom (3 classrooms) Instructional Resources 8,000-9,000 per classroom (3 classrooms) Salary & Benefits for 3 full-time teachers 240,000 ( 80K/ teacher) Instructional Aides (TBD) estimated at 30,000 Total Cost: 542,000

Recommendation & Next Steps Recommendation: The Department of Learning is recommending the pilot of Rising Stars Extended Kindergarten Program during the 2022-2023 school year. Next Steps: Once approved, work with principals for fall implementation Develop instructional targets within interventions Order classroom furniture & instructional materials Finalize kindergarten screening tool Send information to incoming kindergarten families Set screening appointments for all incoming kindergarten students Post 3 full time positions and hire for fall

The D181 Rising Stars Extended Day Kindergarten is for students from our seven elementary buildings identified as having a need for additional academic support. The purpose of Rising Stars is to provide an intense language/literacy and numeracy based environment for eligible students. Rising Stars classroom teachers will