District Curriculum Accommodation Plan

The Brockton Public Schools
District Curriculum Accommodation Plan
2020 - 2022

PDF Version

Massachusetts General Laws require school systems to develop district level Curriculum Accommodation Plans which may be modified to suit the needs of populations or individual students in schools within the district. The intent of this provision is to assist school leaders in planning and providing a general education program that will accommodate students' diverse learning needs and avoid unnecessary referrals to special education. The following section guides the development of the various components within the Brockton Public Schools District Curriculum Accommodation Plan:

Section 38Q1/2 A school district shall adopt and implement a curriculum accommodation plan to assist principals in ensuring that all efforts have been made to meet students' needs in regular education. The plan shall be designed to assist the regular classroom teacher in (1) analyzing and accommodating diverse learning styles of all children in the regular classroom and in (2) providing appropriate services and support within the regular education program including, but not limited to, direct and systematic instruction in reading and provision of services to address the needs of children whose behavior may interfere with learning. The curriculum accommodation plan shall include provisions encouraging (3) teacher mentoring and collaboration and (4) parental involvement (numbering and emphasis is that of the Brockton Public Schools).

(1) Analyzing and Accommodating Diverse Learning Styles of All Children in the Classroom

In setting annual goals to improve student achievement, the Brockton Public Schools documents progress via the following:

• The Brockton Public Schools District Strategic Plan

       The strategic planning process is currently underway. We expect completion by spring 2022.  In the meantime, we continue to use the prior plan to frame our work.  

• Sustainable Improvement plans are developed with DESE partners annually. Additionally, all other schools develop School Improvement Plans (Filed Annually)

Professional development focusing on assisting teachers in analyzing and accommodating various students' learning needs, including students who are English Language Learners (ELL), and students who have an Individual Education Plan or 504 Plan:

• Brockton Public Schools' Professional Development Plan has a process for approving professional development opportunities in the district
• The Professional Development Executive Committee meets to plan for individual schools' and departments' professional development activities
• Collaboration with Boston College’s Lynch School of Education for school leaders with a focus on instructional equity
• There are continuous ESL and Special Education course offerings for teachers and administrators
• Sheltered English Immersion coaching opportunities
• Training opportunities for paraprofessionals and monitor teaching assistants based on relevant topics

Instructional delivery options within general education (including personnel resources):

• Direct and systematic instruction in reading and math, with a focus on early literacy foundational skills in grades Pk-2
• Elementary Literacy and Stem Coaching positions in all elementary schools
•  Instructional Resource Specialists at Brockton High School
• Associate Principals of Instruction in all middle schools
• Curriculum content department heads or coordinators at the 9-12 level
• Title I support at the elementary schools
• Use of Leveled Literacy as a reading intervention in the elementary grades
• Tiered differentiated instruction through a variety of instructional formats:

     • flexible grouping
     • modified scheduling
     • adjusting the level of time and support
     • using a variety of materials and instructional supports

• Standards for instructional time allotment for all content areas
• Sheltered English Immersion and Integrated Sheltered English Immersion classrooms at all levels
• English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers at every school to support the needs of English Language Learners in the mainstream and integrated SEI classrooms
• English Language Acquisition coaches with caseloads of teachers at each school
• Additional enrichment or WINN block at the Middle School level for students to meet standards
• Academic Support Services -- School Year and Summer Programs
• After-school options such as homework assistance and academic support
• Use of both co-teaching and pullout models, K-12
• Availability of in-school, after-school, and summer remedial programs
• A variety of programs designed to address needs of students at-risk of failing
• Program for gifted and talented students in grades 4 and 5 (Angelo School)
• International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program at the Plouffe Academy
• International Baccalaureate course offerings and diploma program at the 9-12 level
• Dual Language Immersion program beginning in kindergarten

Formative and Summative Assessment / Ongoing Analysis

• STAR Formative Assessment system in Math and English Language Arts, grades K-8
• Common Benchmark Assessment system in grades K-8 with 4 cycles of common assessments in all content areas
• Warning and Intervention Student List (WISL): Early warning indicators used to identify, monitor, students needing additional academic and social emotional support
• Quarterly data meetings at each school to review STAR data, benchmark assessment data and other formative assessment data
• The use of standardized and criterion-referenced assessment data as one measure of student learning and indicator of student needs
• Analysis of WIDA ACCESS test results for classification and support of ELL students
• STAR and CogAt in grades 3 as criteria for selecting students for Talented and Gifted placement
• MCAS in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
• MCAS in grade 10
• Professional Learning structures designed to focus on instruction and data analysis
• Creation, implementation, and analysis of common assessments using EDCITE in Math, ELA, K-8
• Creation, implementation, and analysis of common assessments in Science and Social Studies, 6-8
• School-based Language Assessment Teams to facilitate placement and supports for English Language Learners

Curriculum and Materials

• Massachusetts Frameworks Common Core aligned standards-based report cards at the elementary level
• Utilize the CURATE process to identify high-quality evidence-based curriculum in all content areas
• Availability of a wide variety of curricular and instructional materials including 1-1 tablets, Smart Boards, LCDs, digital resources including, Lexia, RAZ Kids, Imagine Learning & ST Math
• Developmentally appropriate, culturally, and linguistically sensitive curriculum
• Student choices in assigned reading materials
• Scientifically research-based core text in grades K-5 Reach for Reading & Math
• Discovery Education Techbook used for delivery of science content, K-8
• Scientifically researched visual instructional program, ST MATH in preK-5

Instruction and Learning

• A variety of teaching approaches, including teacher modeling, teacher-directed instruction and practice, group discussion, problem solving, cooperative learning, and research projects
• Strong partnership with the DESE statewide systems of support liaisons focused on guiding and supporting school teams to develop effective sustainable improvement plans
• District leadership support team designed to collaborate and coordinate with state and school leaders
• Multi-year district initiative in collaboration with Research for Better Teaching focusing on High Expectations Teaching
• Emphasis on differentiated instruction/checking for understanding and formative assessment strategies in the classroom
• Implementation of districtwide learning management system (Schoology and TEAMs) and targeted professional development on instructional strategies for remote learning
• Immediate and specific feedback about student performance
• Instructional coaches provide job-embedded professional learning and support for classroom teachers
• Co-teaching, team teaching and push-in model by instructional service providers
• Active and varied learning activities across subject areas
• Both oral and visual directions for assignments, along with visual, auditory, and tactile prompts
• Writing Rubrics to assess student writing in a variety of modes, K-8
• Opportunities for collaborative lesson planning emphasizing activating and summarizing activity
• Homework assignments that further student learning and reinforce it
• Implementation of Math Workshop Model in K-5
• On-going coaching cycles in math and ELA K-5
• Additional PRK classes targeting 4-year-olds

(2) Services and Support within the Regular Education Program
(Including services to address the needs of students whose behavior may interfere with learning)

• Instructional Support Teams (IST) in all schools for addressing students who need additional instructional supports
• Utilization of the Massachusetts Tiered System of Supports model (MTSS) at several schools
• Regular meetings of instructional support teams or student support teams with the purpose of setting interim goals and assessing progress
• Guidance Services Handbook
• Helping Traumatized Students Learn training and implementation at multiple sites
• Second Step Program in all elementary schools
• Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) in elementary and middle schools
• Morning Meeting component of Responsive Classroom implemented at 8 elementary schools
• School and Community Mentors
• Clinical Consultation Team to provide building level support for students with significant social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties
• Functional Behavioral Assessment and Behavior Support Plans
• School discipline codes, annually revised and disseminated/translated for families

     o Elementary School Student/Parent Handbook
     o Middle School Student/Parent Handbook
     o Brockton High School Student/Parent Handbook

(3) Teacher and Leader Mentoring and Collaboration

• Teacher Mentoring Program
• New Teacher Orientation
•  Mentor Teacher Handbook
• New Teacher Survival Guide
• Annual Internship Program
• Course offerings and workshops for teachers in their first few years
• New teacher full day math training k-5
• Building based PLC
• Leadership Academies

(4) Parental Involvement

• Title I Parent Involvement Program Materials
• Title I Breakfasts
• Title I Bingo
• Parent Academy offerings
• Parent Advocacy Centers with native language support reflective of dominant languages in the community
• Community and Family Engagement offerings
• “My Child Can…” parent resource companions for the elementary standards-based report cards “Welcome to Kindergarten” parent resource guide
• PREK and kindergarten showcases (virtual and in-person)
• Strategies for use of community agencies and volunteers to assist students and teachers
• Partners in Excellence Handbook: Brockton Public Schools Volunteer Program
• Services of the Community Schools' Adult Learning Center
• Family Learning Program
• Providing information for parents to understand school programs and options available for their children through bpsma.org (multiple languages)
• Annual open houses and two parent conferences at all levels
• Multiple curriculum nights at the elementary level
• Monthly parent newsletters from all schools
• Information regarding testing programs provided in a variety of formats to District and school parent advisory groups
• Coordinated School Wellness Programs
• Educational Access