Casa Grande Union High School District

The district held off submitting its ESSER III application in order to complete extensive self assessment and initial planning for the three year period in order to more effectively address the impacts of lost instructional time. The district has developed internally and purchased externally platforms for accessing real time data on student academic progress (using other funding). This is particularly important for assessing the needs of our identified student subpopulations since the application of annual state testing data is somewhat limited. The district identified the need for more informative data at all levels of the organization to better address student needs and in particular the needs of our special populations. The CGUHSD will continue to support the personalized learning of each student to improve performance and post-secondary readiness skills. Staff will receive professional development to strengthen mastery-based learning strategies which support systems of instruction, assessment, grading, and academic reporting based on student demonstration of learned knowledge and skills. This will be particularly important for our struggling students identified in our subpopulation groups. Continuity and quality of services will be supported through a process of review/analysis of data elements related to student academic success and implementation of educational programs. Emphasis will be placed on monitoring student academic performance and the efficiency and effectiveness of current programs. The district will be looking at changes or enhancements to current educational programming as we progress through the grant. For example, the "unit of study" inquiry-based instructional framework might be considered to support students' development as writers. The district is in the process of enhancing its ability to implement its Multi-Tiered System of Supports and is providing additional tools to meet diversified student needs. Teachers will be registering for professional development each year through Modern Classroom Projects to develop innovative, blended, self-paced and mastery-based instructional models that help serve students with highly diverse learning needs. This is a research-based instructional model that responds to each student's individual academic needs. This expenditure is specifically to address learning loss by enhancing teacher instructional practices. The district will also be investing in leadership training through the purchase of books (to be used in a book study) to support the professional growth of school leaders (superintendent, directors, principals, assistant principals and academic coaches) towards implementing a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) across the school district. The district wishes to create and maintain a multi-tiered system of supports for all students to address learning loss and accelerate the academic achievement of all students. The district will be using funds to accelerate and enrich learning for students through the purchase of an evidence-based curriculum (Edgenuity). Students will also have access to Concept Coaching provided through Edgenuity which provides real time academic assistance from a live teacher. While students are working in the program on academic content, they may access immediate assistance by clicking a link on the page to receive help completing their academic assignments. Students can access the program regardless of whether they are in-person learning or in a remote learning situation. The district will be using funds to accelerate and enrich learning in Mathematics (through ALEKS) for students through the purchase of an evidence-based curriculum to address learning loss due to the impacts of the pandemic on student achievement. The district will be piloting this program during the winter months of the 2022 school year to determine whether they wish to continue/expand using this software. Many of our subpopulations scored poorly on state testing in the area of Mathematics. This software is able to assess whether a student has mastered a level of math content (or not) and create a completely individualized academic program to address their needs. This software also provides detailed information for the teacher to monitor progress. The district has already purchased the Wi-Fi hot-spots for the 16 longest bus rides and would like to pay for the connectivity charges for each year of the grant. Students have their own devices and would be able to work on their schoolwork and/or receive tutoring services while traveling to and from school. Many students who live in remotely do not have reliable access to the Internet at home (Native American & Migrant students in particular). This strategy will help students complete their daily assignments and promote student educational success as many students are behind in credits due to the negative impacts of COVID. The district will be placing highly qualified tutors on the six longest bus routes home (3 at each school site). The buses will be Wi-Fi enabled and the tutors will be working in conjunction with the school Interventionist and student's classroom teachers to identify students needed assistance and arrange tutoring in a targeted manner. The district will conduct summer school with a focus on both credit recovery and credit enrichment at both CGUHS and VGHS to provide high quality instruction/address learning loss and ensure the continuity of educational services for students. Tuition for summer school will be paid for identified student subpopulations to support their participation. Reading Intervention programs will continue to be provided (with particular emphasis on ELL and incoming 9th graders) supported through other grant funding. The district is requesting annual replacement of lost or damaged headphones so that the program can successfully be implemented in the classrooms. Purchase of access fees for EdPuzzle instructional software as an instructional aid for teachers to create and share video lessons and create formative assessments to determine student learning. Purchase of access fees for Kahoot instructional software as an instructional aid for teachers which is a game-based learning platform that makes it easy to create, share and play learning games to increase student engagement and can also be used as part of a formative assessment of student learning. Finally, the district will be purchasing Bark for Schools which is a digital safety service to keep students safe online and through real time monitoring of school issued accounts for potential dangers and mental health concerns. Bark for Schools will be incorporated into each school's plan to address mental health, safety, and social and emotional learning.