Title I

The focus of Title I schools is to help students achieve proficiency on core standards, closing academic gaps that may exist. These efforts include providing targeted supports to at-risk students, building teachers' capacity through professional development, and strengthening parents' abilities in helping their children succeed.

An Introduction to Title I

• Answers to Commonly Asked Questions
• For other annual Title I parent information, Granite School District's parent engagement policy, a summary of Granite School District's Annual Title I Parent Meeting, and other information, please visit the Granite School District Title I website.

Parent Compact, Policy & Rights to Know

• Parent-School Learning Compact
• School Parent Engagement Policy
• Parents' Right to Know (opens the District's Title I website)

Other School Information

• School Annual Title I Meeting
• School Title I Goals
• School Report Card
• Sanctioned Status

Parent-School Learning Compact

Kearns Junior High School-Parent Compact

The compact outlines shared responsibilities for high student academic achievement and is developed jointly with parents, teachers, administrators, and students.

 

Kearns Junior High agrees to provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment that enables the participating children to meet the State’s student academic achievement standards as follows:

1. Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment annually and develop school related improvement goals based on the based acquired.
2. Use multiple sources of information in determining strengths and needs of the school including survey data, assessment scores, behavioral monitoring, and staff feedback.
3. From the needs assessment, establish school goals and individual student achievement standards.
4. Ensure that high quality on-going professional development activities are available to staff and these activities increase teacher capacity in making instructional decisions.
5. Ensure that educational services are provided by highly qualified teachers and paraprofessionals.
6. Promote classroom/school expectations by implementing PBIS system and review rules and policies with students frequently while reinforcing positive behaviors.

 

Regular, two-way communication between family members and school staff:

1. Hold annual Title 1 meeting during which this compact will be discussed as it relates to the individual child’s achievement.
2. Hold monthly Community Council and PTSA meetings.
3. Provide parents with frequent reports on their children’s progress.  Teachers will update student assessments at least weekly to ensure parents, students and teachers have accurate proficiency data.
4. Kearns Junior will take accurate attendance data every period, every day.
5. Provide parents reasonable access to staff. Specifically, staff will be available for consultation with parents as follows: PT conference, via email, scheduled appointment, before or after school.
6. Provide opportunities for parents to volunteer, observe, and participate in decision-making.

 

We, as students at Kearns Junior, will support our own learning by adopting the attributes of a Graduate of Granite:

1. Dependability = Attending school regularly and arriving on time.
2. Respect = Demonstrate sensitivity and understanding for others, avoid inappropriate language, and respect self, others and property.
3. Communication = Seek help and ask questions when needed, understand how comments and actions impact others and/or the classroom as a whole, work cooperatively in a group or team setting, and contribute to own learning and learning of others.
4. Hard Work and Resilience = Actively participate in the classroom, show enthusiasm and positive outlook for learning, and persevere through increasingly difficult challenges.
5. Responsibility = Come to class prepared and use time and materials effectively, follow school and classroom policies regarding use of electronics, and demonstrate accountability for actions and consider the implications of choices.

 

We, as parents of students at Kearns Jr., will support our children’s learning in the following ways:

1. Ensure that our children attend school regularly.
2. Participate in school decisions as they relate to our child’s education by serving, to the extent possible, on policy advisory groups.  This can be done by joining school community council, PTSA, and/or completing stakeholder input surveys.
3. Attend parent-teacher conferences.
4. Return school communication in a timely manner.
5. Monitor your student’s academic progress and attendance on a weekly basis.
6. Contribute to a safe school environment within and around the school. (office check in, student loading zone, etc.)

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Parent Engagement Policy

Kearns Jr. Parent Engagement Policy

Kearns Jr. is a diverse school with many students that have individual academic and social-emotional needs. It is the intent that our communication with parents, such as materials or flyers, will be written in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, provided in a language that is understandable.

• Kearns Jr. values parent feedback. During the school year, a survey will be sent to stakeholders, so we gather input relating to successes, concerns, and areas for growth.
• Each parent or guardian is highly encouraged to work directly with the teacher of the child to resolve any concerns. If concerns continue, we encourage patrons to contact school administration so we can work together to resolve the issue.
  Kearns Jr. aims to keep parents and guardians informed relating to school, district and state information which include topics such as assessments, standards, policies, decisions, school activities and events.
  Communication between our school and parents/guardians include the following forms:
  • Weekly School Email sent out to parents and guardians
  • Personal phone calls and meetings
  • Up to date school website
  • Marquee
  • Parent Teacher Conferences (translators when needed)
  • Sending home information from the school and/or District Office
  • School and District Email messages, Blackboard communication, social media.

 

Our school will continue to develop parent engagement activities and training that will be offered to parents to help them develop their capacity so they can work with their children to improve achievement, such as literacy and numeracy.

• Family Nights which support academics at home
• Parent Center classes and trainings
• Individualized help as requested or needed.

Our school maintains an active parent center that offers patrons community resources designed to help families access resources designed to help with school success. In addition, our parent center offers parents help with tutoring, before school programs or activities, parent information and resource centers, parenting classes or any other program that might be beneficial.

Communication between the school and families is a key factor in helping students be successful. Parents and staff will work together to communicate with each other concerns and successes. This approach will help all stakeholders see the value parental involvement adds to the success of the child’s school related growth and the success of the school.

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School Title I Goals

Each year, our school conducts a needs assessment, reviews student performance data, and solicits input from various stakeholders in order to develop a meaningful Title I Plan. This plan is data-driven, evidence-based, and responsive to findings from data reviews, needs assessment findings, and stakeholder input. The school comprehensive Title I plan articulates how evidence-based strategies, action steps and milestones will support the goals listed below.

Goal One

Our goal is to raise proficiency on RISE assessments by 5 percent.

Goal Two

Average teacher MGP (Medium Growth Percentile) of 40 percent in all RISE tested subjects.

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Sanctioned Status

December 18, 2023

Kearns Junior High School
4040 W Sam’s Blvd, Kearns, UT 84118
385-646-5204

Dear Parent or Guardian,

We are writing to let you know that Kearns Junior High School has been designated as an \"Additional Targeted Support and Improvement\" school for English Language Learners, Students with Disabilities, and Black/African American Students. This designation means that this student population scores among the lowest-performing five percent in Utah’s Title I schools in academic performance and growth.

The program improvement designation provides an opportunity for principals, teachers, and parents to focus on areas of school improvement. The Granite School District and the Utah State Board of Education are working with our school to improve teaching and learning, especially in the areas of reading and mathematics by providing technical assistance and professional development opportunities to the teachers and administrators within our school.

Kearns Junior High School is working to improve its academic program by undergoing a rigorous school improvement effort led by a school system of support team. We are implementing schoolwide reading strategies in our advisory classes and helping students track their data and growth throughout the year. However, parent support is essential to the success of the school improvement efforts.

Parents can effectively assist student achievement improvement in the following ways:
• Communicating frequently with your student’s teachers
• Making sure your student attends school regularly
• Monitoring your student’s screen time
• Reading aloud to your student
• Participating in school decision-making
We want to request your help as the school addresses its academic needs and will invite parents to serve on the committee that will develop a school improvement plan.
Sincerely,

Rich K. Nye, Ph.D., Superintendent

Aaron R. Wilson, Ed.D., Title I Director

Mark Ellermeier, Principal

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