Cambridge Academy East, Inc

Summer school program implemented by 7 teachers for 5 weeks to work with students addressing learning loss through implementation of evidence-based interventions throughout the summer and ensure that such interventions respond to students' academic disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on the student subgroups. Our staff effectively analyzes and utilize all benchmark assessments to identify targeted students, inform intervention, and instruction. Identify specific learning gaps and then organize targeted students' intervention groups for each grade level based on findings, develop a student-centered data informed system of intervention to support at-risk students in meeting the State's Academic Standards. The average teacher to student ratio is 1:10. Cambridge will focus on students who receive and require specialized services including students that are not meeting state standards and falling below grade level. This includes students who are identified as needing special education services and English language learners who have not yet developed English language proficiency along with each major racial ethic groups, children from low income, gender, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness and children in foster care. We are also focusing on the bottom 25% of students who struggle to demonstrate grade level proficiency in reading and require strategic interventional student performance and progress regardless of grade level or individual capability are measured and monitored formatively using quarterly benchmark assessments. The LEA will be implementing a math and reading intervention using Beyond Textbooks as their evidence-based program. Stipends will be paid out for 7 teachers to run the summer intervention program plus the cost of Beyond Textbooks. Student progress reports are uploaded regularly, so parents can monitor learning development, growth, and progress. All teachers administer in-class assessments once a week and conduct daily quick checks that serves as formal and informal checks for understanding. The summer school program will be Monday-Friday for 4 hours each day for 8 weeks. Students will be required to register for the program and sign in every day before the session to ensure attendance is being tracked and students are addressing their learning loss caused by COVID-19
Understanding the challenges that our students have faced over the last two years has driven the decision to budget $25,000 for the salary of a SEL teacher for the 2021-2022 school year. Cambridge recognizes the strong connection between a student's social and emotional status and the ability to learn. For many of our students their learning loss may be directly tied to the struggle of 2020 and beyond. This position will address the social and emotional needs of the students, work on and provide strategies to support students in unique living circumstances that impact their adjustment to school, develop and run SEL groups for students identified as having life circumstances that impact academic or social well-being within the educational environment, and work alongside other school mental health staff and school administration to provide crisis supports as deemed necessary at Cambridge in grades K-5. This includes students who are identified as needing special education services and English language learners who have not yet developed English language proficiency along with each major racial ethic groups, children from low income, gender, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness and children in foster care. The SEL teacher meets with students 4 days a week for 2 hours a session. The student to teacher ratio is 1:7 and students are selected though a referral basis. Students will be required to register for the program and sign in every day before the session to ensure attendance is being tracked and students are addressing their mental health caused by COVID-19. Positive Action evidence- based curriculum will be implemented during sessions.