New initiatives greet UCS students for 2015-2016 school year

Important changes aimed at increased student achievement will be in place when the doors to Michigan’s second largest school district open for the 2015-2016 school year.

When doors open on September 8, Utica Community Schools students will benefit from the implementation of program enhancements, particularly in the area of language arts, changes in state assessment programs, a series of facility and technology upgrades and a new parent communication system aimed at college readiness and future jobs.

“UCS continues to prepare our students for success through a college culture that promotes the importance of continuing their education once they leave our schools,” superintendent Dr. Christine Johns said. “This college culture ensures our students are successfully prepared for these post-secondary experiences, whether that includes a university, community college, trade school or service to our country.”

Some of the changes that will greet students in the new school year include:

• English/Language Arts Curriculum – UCS early elementary students are on the road to demonstrating full mastery of reading and writing skills, thanks to a new English/Language Arts curriculum.
  The curriculum, implemented in grades 3-6 during the past school year, is being expanded to include all elementary grades with this new school year. The new curriculum provides student access to high quality digital content in addition to print materials and integrates five key elements: phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.
  The implementation of early elementary English/Language Arts program complements the district’s nationally-recognized personalized blended learning model.
• College Board Instructional Pilot – The district is expanding its partnership with the College Board to encourage students to increase the rigor of their curriculum choices.
  All four UCS high schools will be piloting an instructional model with the College Board in Algebra and English courses that focuses on developing skills necessary for advanced content.
  The model is designed to increase achievement levels for students in Advanced Placement programs and college entrance exams, such as the SAT.
  In addition to the instructional model, UCS is introducing the College Board’s “AP Capstone” program at Utica High School. The program equips students with skills to conduct independent research, work collaboratively, and enhance communication skills as the foundation of two courses: AP Seminar and AP Research.
• Coding – UCS is expanding computer science instruction through a greater integration of programming skills. Computer programming is one of the fastest growing major occupational careers, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  In elementary schools, media center specialists have received professional development. The work has been focused on integrating programming skills through math and science.
  Programming skills are also integrated in computer science and engineering courses at the secondary level.  
• Family Connection - All parents of students in grades 9-12 in Utica Community Schools will have a new tool for their child’s post-secondary experiences.
  Family Connection is a comprehensive website that parents can use to help prepare their children for colleges and careers.
  The tool is part of Naviance, a college and career readiness tool for middle and high schools that helps connect academic achievement to post-secondary goals.
  Family Connection allows families to: research colleges; research and apply for scholarships; identify their strengths; research careers; prepare for the SAT test; set academic and career goals for the future; and build a resume.
• Transition to SAT - This year more than 2,000 Utica Community Schools juniors will transition from the ACT to the SAT as part of the Michigan Merit Examination.
  The transition will be guided for UCS students through several college and career readiness initiatives that have already been established in the district.
  UCS students have traditionally been administered the SAT precursor known as PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) as tenth graders. This year – as a result of state assessment changes for ninth and tenth graders – UCS will administer the PSAT to all juniors in the fall.
  UCS students will also have access to on-line support and study guides through the Naviance system, an online academic planning tool.
  In addition, the College Board also administers the highly respected Advanced Placement program – including the 29 rigorous AP courses offered to UCS secondary students. The district has more than tripled the number of exams taken by UCS students over the past ten years.
• M-Step - The Michigan Department of Education has announced that it is cutting the length of the M-STEP assessments by reducing portions of the exam.
  High school students will no longer have to take a state-developed exam in English language arts and math. This past year, Michigan juniors took the ACT exam in March, followed by the M-STEP.
  The state will only include a performance task for English language arts in Grade 5 and Grade 8, instead of each grade 3 through 8. The performance task requires students to complete an in-depth project during the course of the exam that demonstrates their analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Bond Issue Improvements - Utica Community Schools continues to implement projects approved by voters through the $112.5 million 2009 bond issue. The district completed more than $5 million in infrastructure improvements, new technology and the purchase of 20 new buses.
  Infrastructure projects this summer include improvements such as replacement of roofs, replacement of doors, and lighting upgrades at select schools across the district.
  Technology enhancements have included the purchase of additional laptops for secondary students and an upgrade to the district’s high speed internet network.
• UCS Bus Stops - Parents of UCS students eligible for transportation services recently received an e-mail from the district with their bus stop locations for morning pickup and afternoon drop off.
  While locations change annually, the district made a comprehensive review of stops this summer to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the transportation system.  The review impacted locations throughout the district.

“We look forward to another strong year of teaching and learning in our district,” Dr. Johns said. “Utica Community Schools has a stellar reputation and a tradition of academic excellence thanks to a caring community that supports children and families, a dedicated and competent staff, and loving and supportive parents.”