Navarro Independent School District

District Philosophy

Navarro ISD is committed to the development of a school system in which all students can learn. In this student-centered system, we believe that students can be challenged to achieve their potential and develop self-esteem. In support of this philosophy, teachers and administrators will continue to train in effective practices supported by current research. We believe that the most effective way a school can enhance a student's self worth is by ensuring success in learning.

Purpose of Student Programs

Navarro ISD utilizes a variety of programs to support and enhance student achievement. These programs, which are funded through federal, state, and local sources, allow us to meet the diverse needs of our student population. Each program has specific guidelines designed to ensure that the funding is used to target a specific population or area of need. School districts are expected to work collaboratively with students, faculty, parents, and community members to develop specific objectives for these programs based on the needs of their students. These objectives are regularly assessed through the campus and district improvement committees and refined in order to provide continuous improvement in student achievement. Some of the programs offered by Navarro ISD are described below:

Title I, Part A – Improving Basic Programs

Title I, Part A

, is a federally funded program designed to provide opportunities for children served to acquire the knowledge and skills contained in the state's challenging content and student performance standards that all children are expected to meet. Navarro Elementary School and Navarro Middle School receive Title I funds to support school-wide improvement. In 2006/2007, these funds will be utilized for the following support programs:

Reading Labs – Title I teachers will provide supplemental group and individual instruction to the students who exhibit the most need in the area of reading based on their performance on reading inventories conducted at the beginning of the year. They will also collaborate with and train teachers in reading assessment and instructional strategies.

Dyslexia services – These services are individualized based on student need. Referral for dyslexia assessment is made through the Student Support Committee.

Math Lab – The Title I teacher and instructional aides will provide supplemental group instruction to students who are struggling in math. They will also collaborate with teachers on individualizing math instruction and aligning the curriculum with the state TEKS objectives.

Parent training – Parent training sessions are coordinated by the counselor and are usually provided in the evening. These may cover a variety of topics, such as student bullying and harassment, behavior management, attention deficit disorder, and providing positive support for children.

Parent nights – Several parent nights are scheduled throughout the year to promote parent involvement in student achievement. These include Family Reading Nights at the library, Family Math Nights at the library, TAKS Math Night, and TAKS Reading Night.

Waterford Early Literacy Program – This is an individualized computer-based reading program offered for pre-kindergarten students.

Professional Development – The Title I teachers use these funds to attend training in reading, math, and promoting parent involvement. The funds also support the training of all teachers through district and campus-wide professional development, such as Sharon Welles’ math program, and to provide time for the reading and math specialists to collaborate with teacher teams throughout the year.

Extended Library Hours – Evening/summer library hours allow students and their parents to have additional opportunities for sharing reading activities.

Homeless students – Title I funds are utilized district-wide to support the needs of students identified as homeless.

Supplemental instructional supplies – Supplies for supplemental small group and individualized instruction in the classroom are provided by Title I, as is enhancement of the assessment process to identify student needs (i.e. TPRI on Palms and Accelerated Math).

Parent involvement – A variety of parent involvement activities are supported through Title I, including the parent volunteer program, grade level parent meetings, and Parent Advisory Committee meetings.

Title II, Part A – Teacher and Principal Training & Recruitment Fund

This is a federally funded program providing financial assistance to school districts in order to ensure that teachers and administrators have access to intensive and sustained high quality professional development that will have a positive and lasting impact, to ensure a highly qualified and appropriately certified professional staff, and/or to reduce class size. In 2006/2007, Navarro ISD will use these funds to reduce class size at the fifth grade level, to provide high quality professional development for administrators and teachers, and to assist teachers with certification issues.

Title IV – SAFE AND DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES ACT (SDFS)

SDFS was established to provide state and local education agencies funding to develop and enhance educational programs of violence and drug prevention, early intervention, and rehabilitation referral in schools. Navarro ISD provides a comprehensive program to promote safe and drug free schools. All campuses provide character education to promote values; counseling and conflict resolution to provide positive approaches to solving problems; health and PE curriculums that focus on safe and healthy life choices; Red Ribbon Week activities, assemblies, and guest speakers that promote a safe and drug free message; and professional development for teachers. In addition, each campus has developmentally appropriate activities for their age levels.
Title IV funds will be utilized in 2006/2007 to support a variety of prevention and intervention efforts, including Red Ribbon Week supplies, guest speakers and assemblies, canine drug detection program, support for a student ID program, and instructional materials. District-wide safe and drug free goals for the 2006/2007 school year are:
Decrease substance abuse by increasing student education/awareness regarding drug and violence prevention.

Eliminate the presence of drugs and drug paraphernalia on campus.

Increase parent and community involvement in district/campus SDFS activities.

Maintain a low disciplinary incident rate by decreasing disruptive behavior.

Title V, INNOVATIVE EDUCATION STRATEGIES

This is a federally funded program which supports local school reform efforts that are consistent with the National Education Goals, and provides supplemental funding for supplies to support educational improvement, library services, and instructional or media materials. In the 2006/2007 school year, Navarro ISD will utilize these funds to purchase technology software or hardware that will enhance educational programs.

Gifted & Talented Education (GT)

GT is a state funded program designed to provide enrichment beyond the regular education program for students who function at remarkably high levels when compared to others of the same age and equivalent experiences. The program gives these students opportunities to develop and expand critical and creative thinking, increase reasoning and problem solving abilities, and to develop the ability to assimilate old and new knowledge and present it in innovative ways. Students are instructed by teachers who have certification in gifted and talented education. At Navarro Elementary School and Navarro Middle School, qualifying students from kindergarten through eighth grade are served in a pull-out program. At Navarro High School, students are served through pre-AP and AP classes, and through the Distinguished Achievement Program.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Special Education programs are provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and are funded through state, federal, and local sources. Under these programs, a student must be formally identified as having a specific qualifying disability and must demonstrate an educational need that requires the provision of special services, in place of or in addition to instruction in the regular classroom, in order to make educational progress.
The purpose of IDEA is to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that provides the services needed to meet their individual needs, while allowing them the opportunity to participate in educational programs and activities with their non-disabled peers to the greatest extent possible. Navarro ISD offers a continuum of special education services designed to meet the individual needs of these students, including inclusion in general education classes, resource classes, content mastery support, and speech therapy. The district is a member of the Caldwell County Special Education Cooperative, which supplies assessment services, related services (such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, audiological management services, and visual services), life skills classes, special equipment, staff development, and assistance with residential placement when necessary. The district also participates in the Regional Day School for the Deaf Program.
Referral for special education assessment is made by the Student Support Committee, which meets to determine appropriate interventions when a student is struggling academically or behaviorally. Counselors on each campus can be contacted to set up a Student Support Committee meeting.

Career and Technology Education

Career and Technology Education (CTE) is a state funded program allowing students the opportunity to apply academic skills while providing highly transferable technical skills and knowledge in order to reach their maximum potential in higher education or in the work force. Navarro High School faculty provide a variety of career and technology courses in Business, Marketing, Agriculture, and Culinary Arts.

Through cooperative arrangements, our high school students also have the opportunity to enroll in a variety of vocational courses at Central Texas Technology College and Seguin High School.
Through a federally funded consortium with the Region XIII Educational Service Center, our students have access to an internet-based based service (careercruising.com) in order to explore further education and career opportunities. The consortium also provides professional development for CTE teachers and supplemental equipment for the CTE program.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

ESL is a required state program offering students who have limited proficiency in English the opportunity to receive support in the development of competency in the comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing of the English language. Students who are identified as Limited English Proficient receive instructional services from a certified ESL teacher. The amount of ESL instruction provided and the method of service delivery (pull-out services or in-class support) is based on the student's level of English proficiency and academic needs.

Accelerated Reading Instruction

Accelerated Reading and Math Instruction is a state initiative designed to support early literacy. Over the past several years, this program has provided intensive summer reading and math institutes for our teachers.. If funds are approved at the state level for the 2006/2007 school year, we will use those funds to provide additional reading and math assistance and supplies at Navarro Elementary and Navarro Middle School.

State Compensatory Education

State Compensatory Education is a program designed to improve and enhance the regular education program for students in at-risk situations. The purpose is to increase the achievement of identified students in at-risk situations and reduce the drop-out rate. At Navarro ISD, students are determined to be at-risk based on the following criteria:

Students in grades PK-3 who do not perform satisfactorily on a readiness test in the current school year

Students in grades 7-12 who are failing in two or more subjects during the current or previous semester

Students who have been retained for one or more grade levels

Students who do not perform satisfactorily on TAKS, or who have since failing TAKS not been able to obtain a level equal to at least 110 percent of the passing level

Students who are pregnant or are parents

Students who have been placed in AEP during the current or preceding year

Students who have been expelled during the current or preceding year

Students who are currently on parole, probation, deferred prosecution, or other conditional release

Students who have returned to school after dropping out

Students who have limited English proficiency

Students who are in the custody of Child Protective Services, or have been referred to that department in the current school year

Students who are homeless

Students who are residing in a residential placement facility, or who did so in the preceding school year

Students who have not passed benchmark assessments in core subject areas

State compensatory education funds support the following programs:

PLATO Lab – This is an alternative learning system that allows students to recover or earn course credits through individualized computer-based instruction.

Learning Lab – Both the junior high and high school offer open learning labs where any student can receive academic assistance. These labs are supported through compensatory education, special education, and regular education funds. The services target the at-risk and special education population, but may be utilized to assist any student who is struggling academically.

After School Tutorials – Students at the high school level who are failing core courses are required to attend after school tutorials two days a week for one hour. These sessions are conducted by the core class teachers (English, Math, History, Science).

Counseling – Both academic and personal counseling for at-risk students is available on all campuses. The counselor may request to see particular students, or a student may request an appointment with the counselor.

Saturday School – Students with excessive absences or those who are academically at-risk may be required to attend Saturday School in order to complete work.

Summer School – Summer school courses are offered based on need. The decision about which courses will be offered will be made in May, and information can be obtained by contacting the school principal.

Section 504 – Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504 is a civil rights statute that prohibits discrimination or exclusion based on disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. This is not a funded program; it is a law, which requires that appropriate accommodations be afforded to students with disabilities so they can progress appropriately through the educational system. A disability under this law does not have to be formally identified, and is defined as any physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities. While all students who qualify for special education services under IDEA are automatically covered under Section 504, there are other students who may not require special education services, but who require some accommodations in order to fully participate in an educational program. For instance, a diabetic or asthmatic student may require some accommodations in order to fully participate in the athletic program, or a student with Attention Deficit Disorder may require some modifications in classroom routines or TAKS administration.