The following is the Superintendent’s memo for the board vote on Wednesday, May 11 at 7:00.

i. Roosevelt School Expansion Request

Recommendation
The Administration recommends that Roosevelt School add 6th grade for the 2011-12 school year, becoming a K-6 school. The Administration wants to state clearly that this recommendation does not mean that Roosevelt will become a K-8 school in the future. Any future decisions regarding grade configurations at Roosevelt, or any other schools in the district will be made in the context of an analysis to be conducted by a Capacity/Facility/Grade Configuration committee that will study enrollment trends, existing school space and expansion options, and program demand from the community.

Pertinent Facts

RATIONALE:
The Administration wishes to acknowledge the thorough research and hard work conducted by the Roosevelt Expansion Committee, a group of parents who invested significant time and energy in studying the potential benefits and drawbacks of expanding the grades offered at Roosevelt School. In forming her recommendation, the Superintendent read all of the research compiled by the committee, as well as a Rand Corporation analysis of U.S. middle schools that was particularly helpful in providing historical context for decisions regarding grade configurations for 6-8 students.

The research on the benefits of middle schools versus K-8 schools is mixed and does not suggest a one-size-fits-all answer as to which grade configuration is best for students. Interestingly, according to the Rand Corporation study, the rapid formation of junior high schools for 7th and 8th graders around the turn of the century, and the later trend to convert the junior highs to middle schools serving 6, 7 and 8th graders, were both driven largely by the pressures of growing student enrollment. Overall, the research shows that the effectiveness of middle schools and K-8’s varies depending on local conditions, such as demographics. In considering the research in the context of our local conditions, e.g. Roosevelt School, and the current enrollment of schools within the Redwood City School District, the recommendation for Roosevelt to become a K-6 school is based on the following considerations:

* Philosophically, Redwood City School District has established itself as a “school of choice” district, offering a myriad of programs and grade configurations to local families. Research completed by the Roosevelt Expansion Committee indicated a demand for expanding the Project-based Learning (PBL) program beyond 5th grade.

* It will not cost the district additional money to operate Roosevelt as a K-6 school. Roosevelt has sufficient space to open two 6th grade classes, and still open additional kindergarten classes to accommodate the additional kindergarten enrollment from Hawes.

* The 6th grade can be offered either as two self-contained classrooms, or team-taught with 1 teacher offering language arts and social studies, and the other offering math and science.

* Roosevelt has the capacity to train the two new teachers needed in Project-based Learning.

* MIT Principal Ray Dawley has expressed interest in offering a PBL strand for 7th and 8th graders. This would allow Roosevelt students to matriculate into MIT similarly to how Adelante 7th and 8th graders matriculate into Kennedy for Spanish immersion.

* There is not a negative impact on the programs Kennedy is able to offer as there is still a substantial increase in student population. Enrollment analysis indicate that at most Kennedy will have one less teacher in 2011-12.

* The Administration has completed a thorough analysis of enrollment numbers at every school and we have concluded that this decision leaves us great latitude for other decisions.

Goals
Ensure that all students are prepared to be successful in high school and beyond.

Prepared By
Naomi Hunter, Director of Communications

Approved By
Jan Christensen, Superintendent