May 2008

with Signature of Principal

I CERTIFY that the assurances referenced above have been satisfied to the best of my knowledge.

__________________________________ ___________________________

Signature of Principal Date signed

1.1: SIP Leadership Team Composition

1.2: Subcommittee Formation and Operation

1.3 Collection of Academic and Nonacademic Data and Analysis/Synthesis

Elkton School has a long history with many changes occurring as it has adapted to the needs of the Elkton community. School students first began meeting in 1810 in a log church. This location was later replaced by a large two-story building. Here students were taught simple reading, writing, arithmetic, and spelling. The Bible was often taught as well because many of the teachers were the preachers of the town.

By 1855, school was being held in a two-room building located in the yard of the old Grigsby home. In 1870, the school was moved into the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Several years later, a one-room school was erected facing Baugh Road on the present school campus. This building was destroyed by a tornado in 1885, and a two-room building was constructed on a two-acre lot. Rooms and teachers were added as needed, and, in 1912, it became officially know as Elkton High School. In 1939, a new brick school building was erected which had six classrooms, a large auditorium, a music room, and a cloakroom. Again rooms were needed, and, by 1946, a new gym and elementary building had been added.

On August 6, 1972, fire destroyed most of the high school, leaving only the lower section, which contained the cafeteria and a few classrooms, and the upper section, which housed the agriculture shop and the gymnasium. School was held in portable classrooms for the next five years. After county-wide school consolidation, a new school was built to serve students in grades K through eight, opening in 1978.

Further construction was experienced in 1989. At this time, three new classrooms were added, enabling the science laboratory and music room to be used for their original purposes. The construction also allowed for additional special education classrooms.

A new wing was added to the school facility and opened in August 2003. The wing provided approximately 5500 square feet of new classroom space. This latest addition includes three classrooms, an art/activity room, a music room, a band room, student restrooms, and storage spaces.

The present facilities of Elkton School include twenty-four classrooms and a variety of other areas. Eighteen classrooms are used as classes for grades kindergarten through eight. Other classrooms and areas are used for two special education classes, a Title I reading class, a Title I math class, speech therapy, guidance, and a school health clinic. Other facilities used to enhance students’ academic experiences include the library, a pre-K classroom, a music room, a band room, a cafeteria and kitchen, and a gymnasium with basketball courts and a stage area.

In January 2007, one classroom was used in which to install a new computer lab. This lab consists of one teacher workstation connected to an overhead-mounted projector and twenty-four student stations. Each computer is connected to a school server and has Internet access.

The administrative offices include a reception area, the principal’s office, the bookkeeper’s office, a secured area for students’ records, and two conference rooms. Two teacher work areas are available, one on each of the two floors of the school. The building houses eighteen student restroom facilities and two teacher restroom facilities located in the upstairs work area. An intercom system and surveillance equipment are located in the hallways and at the entrance areas.

The outside campus offers tow playground areas including a track, a paved area with basketball goals, climbing equipment, and other playground equipment. An outside storage building is available as well. Two paved parking areas are available for teacher and visitor parking.

Having a safe and secure environment for Elkton student s is a top priority of the school staff and parents. The building has a security system with shock and motion sensors. Cameras film entrances and exits of the building and all hallways twenty-four hours each day. All exterior doors, with the exception of the main office door, are locked from the outside at all times. All doors can be exited at any time. Visitors must enter through the office to sign in and notify the office staff of their presence in the building.

Emergency management personnel from various local agencies regularly conduct school safety inspections. These teams prepare official reports with recommendations to enhance school safety. As a result of some of the reports, extra fire extinguishers have been placed in recommended locations, ten communication devices have been purchased, and changes have been made in protocol regarding fire drill procedures. Drills are held regularly for fire and weather emergencies.

Each school year consists of 180 days for students to be present as mandated by the State of Tennessee. The length of the student day is seven hours.

Using the plan for expenditures of instructional funds as directed by the Giles County School System and the Tennessee Department of Education, Elkton School distributes funds to several departments within the school. A minimum of $3.00 per student in grades K-3 and $2.00 per student in grades 4-12 must be spent in each of two areas: (1) library resources and (2) instructional materials/supplies. For each teacher, $200.00 is included in these funds. All funds are budgeted by the school’s Instructional Planning Committee. From county funds, there was $6,085.50 available for these departments during the 2006-2007 school year. During the 2007-2008 school year, county funds of $5,828.00 were made available to the school. The total funds allocated from all sources for 2007-2008 was $14,294.00. The principal, together with the Instructional Planning Committee, determine the distribution of the funds to different instructional areas.

For the 2007-2008 school year, the following distributions were made:

K-3 4-8

Library Resources $ 904.50 $1,201.50

Instructional Materials/Supplies $1,466.24 $1,943.76

Health $ 134.00 $ 178.00

_____________________________

Total Funds Budgeted $5,828.00

Teacher Accounts (available at Central Office) $5,200.00

Fee Allocation $2,370.00

_____________________________

Total $7,570.00

Discretionary Funds 896.00

_____________________________

Total funds Allocated From All Sources $14,294.00

In referring to the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) Report Card for Giles County for 2007, the per pupil expenditures per average daily attendance (ADA) was $7740.00 within the county. This money was funded locally by 34.7%, was funded at the state level by 54.6, and at the federal level at 10.6%.

At the school level, pupil expenditures are about $43.00.

Elkton Elementary School employs 45 faculty and staff members.

All teachers meet the standards of federal regulations for being considered “highly qualified.” Therefore, 100% of all courses are taught by highly qualified teachers.

No teacher is teaching outside of his or her area of certification. Therefore, the percentage of teachers teaching outside of their area of certification is 0%.

Total enrollment for the 2007-2008 school year is 338 students.

A full curriculum is taught at Elkton School. Students in grades K-2 and grades 4-5 are self-contained classes, covering the subjects of English, reading, spelling, math, science, and social studies. Students in grades 3 and 6-8 exchange classes for those same subjects. Special area teachers are responsible for instruction in library skills, guidance, computer skills and technology, and physical education. All grade-level teachers are responsible for art instruction.

For eighth-grade students, an Honors Algebra I class is offered to eligible students.

Students in first-, second-, and third-grade take part in a program called “Second Step.” It is led by a trained social service worker and lasts for one semester. The program continues in the fourth- and fifth-grades as “Conflict Resolution.” Students in the fifth grade participate in the D.A.R.E. program designed to promote abstinence from the use of drugs and alcohol. A county sheriff’s deputy staffs this twelve-week program. Third-grade students participate in the Tennessee Nutrition and Consumer Education Program (TNCEP) through the UT Agriculture and Extension Service. Beginning in the 2006-2007 school year, a school-wide sustained silent reading (SSR) program was implemented.

For eligible eighth-grade students, an Honor Algebra I class is offered.

Algebra I for eligible students is the only Advanced Placement class offered at Elkton. Students must pass the Gateway Exam during the last six-weeks to receive a high school credit.

Parental involvement is very important to the overall success of the school. Some of the services parents provide include serving as room parents, volunteering during book fairs, organizing the yearbook, serving as trip chaperones, assisting in field day, organizing numerous Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) events, sponsoring an annual talent show, and helping teachers with a variety of classroom projects.

During 2006-2007, there was one alcohol-related incident.

Community support for Elkton School is also essential to the success enjoyed by the school. Funding assistance through the Adopt-a-School program has supported monetary awards for student achievement in programs such as the science fair, the spelling bee, and essay contest. Community members and local business people serve as judges for many of the student activities. Local banks award savings bonds and other monetary awards to honor roll students and eighth-grade students with the highest grade point averages. In the last school year, over one hundred local and county businesses made donations to support activities of Elkton School. During the 2006-2007 school year, two community churches encouraged reading literacy among the student body by purchasing books at each of the school’s two book fairs for students who would have otherwise been financially unable to purchase a book.

Teachers at Elkton Elementary are very committed to the school and the community. More than half of the teachers have taught at Elkton School for more than fifteen (15) years. The average of the total years experience is 21 years.

During the most recent years, no faculty members of Elkton School have applied for any grants.

Elkton School paraprofessionals are all “highly qualified,” according to NCLB requirements. All paraprofessionals have passed the necessary exams and/or have at least an Associate’s Degree.

While no teachers have been trained officially as mentors, each new teacher is assigned to work with an experienced teacher. The two teachers often teach the same grade level together. This does give the new teacher a qualified mentor with whom to work.

There are 338 students enrolled for the 2007-2008 school year.

During 2006-2007 and 2007-2008, Elkton students have been 100% English proficient.

For the 2007-2008 school year, 241 of the 338 students participate in the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. The free and reduced lunch rate is 71%.

Using information from the 2006-2007 state report card, there were six students suspended. Of the six suspended, five were males (2.8%), one was female (0.6%), five were white (1.6%), and one was black (3.1%).

In May 2007, 98.9% of all students were promoted.

For the 2006-2007 school year, Elkton School ended the year with 322 students. Throughout the year, 355 students were enrolled, with the difference being 33 students.

For Giles County High School, the 2007 graduation rate was 76.5%. The cohort dropout rate was 12.7%. The event dropout rate was 2.5%

In this category, there are 50 students identified in the special education program, with 7 students in Quest/Gifted, 10 students receiving services for speech and other students with language impairments, functionally delayed, and autism.

Of students in the 2007-2008 kindergarten class, 12 of 23 attended a pre-school program.

Extracurricular activities are available to students who are interested and meet the academic and conduct requirements. Sports programs offered to sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students include the South Giles Eagles football team, made up of students from both Elkton and Minor Hill School, and the South Giles Eagles soccer team, made up of girls from both schools. The sports program also offers both a boys’ and girls’ basketball team, the Elks and Lady Elks, and the Elkton cheerleading squad.

Academic opportunities offered to students include the Scholastic Bowl team, for seventh- and eighth-graders, and the Beta Club, Student Council, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes for those in grades six through eight. Students in grades three through eight can enter the school Spelling Bee with winners advancing to the county-wide competition. Seventh- and eighth-grade county Spelling Bee winners advance to a statewide contest.

Regular 4-H meetings are held at the school, with all fourth- and fifth-grade students joining the organization. Sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students may also join 4-H and participate in the meetings at the school.

From past survey and interviews, students feel safe at Elkton School. For the most part, the students have positive attitudes toward their school and the activities in which they are engaged while there. They feel as if they could receive help from most any teacher.

Parents and guardians were asked to complete a survey concerning demographic information. The amount of surveys returned was very good. The following information was gathered: 79% are married; 21% are single; 14% have some high school but no diploma; 35% have a high school diploma or GED; 20% have some college; 26% have a college degree; and 6% have advanced college degrees.

Elkton is a small community out from Pulaski, Tennessee. The economic level is low, and there are no major employers in the area. There are no private schools, group homes, or homeless shelter in the Elkton area.

The latest SIP for Elkton School was revised and developed in May 2007. This was done in order to coordinate with a five-year review for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Since that time, the SIP has often been reviewed and referred to by the Elkton faculty and staff. Many other school-level reports and documents are used by the faculty. Academic and non-academic data sources are reviewed regularly by the faculty and school administration. Those sources are listed in section 1.4.

The collected data and an analysis of that data are given in section 1.5. Information concerning disaggregated data is given in section 1.6. A synthesis of all data is given in section 1.7. Prioritized goal targets are listed in section 1.8.

In assessing the academic and non-academic needs of Elkton School, many sources of data were utilized. These sources were used to conduct careful examination and further interpretation of student events. Extracted data from these sources is presented in this component. Included in the inquiry were the sources listed below:

Students in the Giles County School System participate in the achievement assessment program as prescribed by the State of Tennessee Department of Education. Even though the TCAP test is not required by the State of Tennessee for grades K-2, the Giles County Board of Education has for many years required TCAP testing for all students in grades K-8. Beginning in 2006-2007, the decision was made that kindergarten students would not be tested using the TCAP test but would instead use the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) for assessment purposes.

Because K-2 testing is not required, little information concerning test scores is available for K-2 students. As a result, teachers at Elkton School have always studied the reports provided to them to help draw conclusions and prepare for the next school year. On the TCAP report entitled “Objectives Performance Summary,” the percent of students mastering tested objectives can be useful information

schoolwide. To help put the information into a more concise and useable form,

charts have been developed. To arrive at a score for reading/language, all subtests concerning those subjects have been averaged. The same has been done to calculate scores for math, social studies and science. This type of calculation gives a comparison across all grade levels.

Percent of Students Mastering Reading/Language

(Advanced or Proficient)