A review of Litchfield’s Strategic School Profiles shows class time decreased significantly last year and the number of students receiving reduced price lunches continues to rise, according to Superintendent Deborah Wheeler.
Wheeler highlighted changes in the district’s 2008-2009 profile compared to previous years during Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting.
The number of students who qualify for free or reduced price lunches has increased more than 50 percent in the last two years, from 60 students in 2006-2007 to 92 students in 2008-2009.
“This is a pretty significant number,” Wheeler said, referring to the latest figure. It reflects how the economy has affected local families, she said.
The new profile also shows that high school teaching time decreased by 29 hours last year. The hours of instruction dropped from 1,004 hours in 2007-2008 to 975 hours in 2008-2009, Wheeler said.
The decrease comes from a new policy of dismissing students early one day per month so teachers can attend professional development sessions. Previously, professional development was limited to a couple of all-day workshops per year.
“I really have a problem with the early dismissals the first Tuesday of each month,” said board Member Gayle Carr. “I don’t see how we can continue to see the students excel if we cut their instruction time.”
Board Chairman James Katzin said the hope is that regular professional development will have a positive impact on student achievement.
Wheeler said administrators will review student performance data to see how the new schedule affects achievement levels.
The new profile also shows the Class of 2008 had a dropout rate of 7.8 percent. Five of the 96 students in the class left school between 2004 and 2008.
“This year, we’ll begin focusing on the senior class earlier than we ever have, and we’ll widen that net as we go forward,” Wheeler said. In February, the guidance department will discuss dropout prevention with the board’s Curriculum, Program and Personnel Committee, she said.
Class size has increased in several grade levels and benchmark courses that include: kindergarten, fifth grade, 10th grade English, Biology 1, and American History. District enrollment has declined by nearly 12 percent since 2005.
