Lack Of Funding To Cancel Successful MAP Program

The Woonsocket Middle School Alternative Program (MAP) is an online instructional program designed to assist students in recovering credit for courses which they previously failed.  This program is an extension of the successful e-Learning Academy at the Woonsocket High School/Woonsocket Area Career Technical Center.  The e-Learning Academy was highlighted in the Education Spotlight for the week of as a program that helps students graduate High School and was also mentioned in the . The MAP program was developed to help students get to high school before they get too frustrated and drop out.

The MAP program allows students to avoid being retained in the same grade level for multiple academic school years.  Students are able to remain with more age-appropriate peers and the school district avoids the cost of educating these students for additional years.  There are several models within the MAP Program to help students with varying challenges.

The first model allows students who would have been retained due to failing only one or two courses to advance to the next grade level and concurrently enroll in the MAP Program to complete the courses which they had previously failed.  This allows the student the opportunity to attend the next grade level courses with their peers while making up the credits they missed the previous year. 

The second model allows students who would have been retained because they failed most of their classes to repeat all of the failed classes in a traditional classroom, while the student takes core courses at the next grade level on-line.  Under this model, students complete two years of core coursework in one year.  While this is a great challenge, we have had motivated students accomplish this, if they originally had the academic ability to pass those classes but failed for other reasons.  Often they realize that they miss their age appropriate peers and then they are willing to work hard and ultimately jump back into an age appropriate program the following year.

Finally for a small number of students, MAP provides a transitional setting upon return from home-schooling or out-of-district placements and has also been used to provide remedial courses for students exhibiting academic difficulties.  While these situations are not as prevalent as the first two models, MAP does provide individualized solutions for students in need.

In order to enroll in one of the first two models of the MAP program, students must make a commitment to attend regularly, follow school rules, and respect the computer equipment.  The curriculum for each course is tailored to meet the needs of the individual students.  Credit is offered in English, Math, Science, and Social Studies courses that are aligned to the state standards.

Eligibility requirements for the program include academic failure in a class and chronologically appropriate age for promotion.  Some students are also accepted into the MAP program during the middle of the year if they are at-risk for failing courses at that time.

A team consisting of school counselors, administrators, and MAP teachers determine acceptance into the program based on recommendations from staff persons and input from core teachers.  Following a referral, students and their parents are interviewed.  If accepted, a contract and individual academic plan is created by the MAP teacher and signed by staff persons, students, and parents/guardians.

During the 2008-2009 academic year, fourteen students enrolled in the MAP pilot program.  At that time, the program was housed in the guidance department.  Even with very limited resources, eleven out of the fourteen students were able to complete the program successfully and advance a grade level.  Two of the students were motivated enough to attend school during the summer under the supervision of Mike Ferry in order to complete their MAP requirements and be promoted from WMS to WHS in September, 2009.

This year, the program has expanded and is now providing services to a total of seventy-seven students.  The program has two teachers and two teacher assistants.  A MAP classroom is housed in each of the WMS buildings.  In addition to these settings, a small number of students take their courses in the e-Learning Center, located at the . 

I was fortunate to visit the Woonsocket Middle School Hamlet MAP program.  I met with Teacher Christie Ray Zabbo, assistant Pricilla Lemire, and several students who were working on the computers.  The students were all grateful for the program and were promising to make the best of it so that they could pass the courses they needed.   

Unfortunately, this program was funded with ARRA funds this year.  With the tight budget that was passed this month, we have not yet found the resources to continue this program next year.  We will continue to look for savings in other areas so that we can reinstate this invaluable program next year. This is one of those situations where the money that is spent upfront, is returned with savings and individual success stories in the long run.

 Sincerely,

Robert J. Gerardi, Jr., Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Woonsocket Education Department

"Penny wise, pound foolish"
Robert Burton