‘No Child Left Behind’ Gaps Worry Educators

COURT HOUSE — One of the funding holes in the No Child Left Behind law became apparent at Middle Township Board of Education’s July 19 meeting.
As the district prepares to embark on a Balanced Literacy Pilot Program with three days of teacher training Aug. 7-9 under the guidance of internationally recognized expert Kouder Mokhtari, board member Daniel Money expressed concern about high school students who aren’t reading at grade level.
He cited last year’s figures (September to June) at the high school “when we lost 19 students.”
“If we talk about No Child Left Behind, these kids are left out, and that concerns me. Are we not targeting any funds to address the student population at the critical time when they are reading on the third or fourth grade level?” Money asked.
“We can only address language arts and literacy in K-8 grades,” replied Superintendent Michael Kopakowski. “We have to submit a plan for K-8,” he added.
“I have the same concern,” added board member Andrew Melchiorre, chair of the board’s Curriculum Committee.
“We have $400,000 that appears to be obligated. I’m concerned of the lack of curriculum at the high school,” Money added.
He said many of those students “are struggling.”
“Are we offering any help at the middle school for kids moving to the high school?” he asked.
“Clearly, they are not prepared to function at the high school level,” Money said.
Melchiorre noted the pending hiring of a literacy coach to aid the sixth through eighth grades.
There will be similar coaches in Elementary No. 1 and 2, and middle school.
How will the pilot program for balanced literacy “intertwine with at-risk students?” Money asked.
That aid will come from Targeted at Risk Aid for Low Income Students, commonly known as TARA, stated Theresa DeFranco, director of curriculum and instruction.
DeFranco was responsible for researching and hiring Mokhtari to assist with the balanced literacy program, as one way to address the present status of Middle as a “District in Need of Improvement,” which resulted from unsatisfactory overall student achievement scores in state-mandated tests.
At the same meeting, the board approved the application to the state for that TARA funding in the total amount of $413,250.
By school that breaks down to:
Elementary No. 1, $142,500
Elementary No. 2, $173,250
Middle School, $77,993
FICA (employee benefits), $19,507.
The following teachers will participate in the Balanced Literacy Pilot Program presented by Mokhtari at $30 per hour for six hours, for a total of $180 each:
Pre-school, Christine D’Antonio; kindergarten, Mary Engiles; first grade, Lisa Ludman, Kathryn Wynn (reading recovery, support teacher); second grade, Gabrielle Gandolfo; third grade, Tory Magnusson, Roberta Hoffman (support teacher); fourth grade, Mary Pat Gleason, Denise Badders (support teacher); fifth grade, Karen Ermelin, Joseph O’Connell (support teacher); sixth grade, Susan Roselli; seventh grade, Maudo Rodriguez; sixth, seventh and eighth grades, Lisa Mericle; sixth grade and eighth grade, Toni Johnson.
For an additional $450 each, the following teachers will participate in the Balanced Literacy Pilot Program curriculum writing training: preschool, Christine D’Antonio; kindergarten, Mary Engiles; first grade, Lisa Ludman; second grade, Gabrielle Gandolfo; third grade, Tory Magnusson; fourth grade, Mary Pat Gleason; fifth grade, Karen Ermelin; sixth grade, Susan Roselli; seventh grade, Maudo Rodriguez; eighth grade, Sean Gimeno; sixth and eighth grades, Toni Johnson.
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 ext 28 or e-mail: al.c@cmcherald.com