Progress Report Ombudsman Educational Services Program

1. Progress Report Ombudsman Educational Services Program School Board Committee Meeting Presentation May 17, 2010 Mack H. Bullard, Ph.D. Assistant Superintendent for School Administration Mac Petit Ombudsman Operations Manager Improving Student Discipline: Bibb County Schools Board Goal # 3

2. Research Surrounding Successful Alternative Schools • All students can learn if provided with the right educational environment to meet students’ needs • Flexible alternative school program approach that includes a non-traditional delivery model

3. Rationale for Implementation of Ombudsman Educational Services Program Two Major Objectives of Improving Discipline Board Goal: • Objective 3 – Restructuring the current disciplinary alternative school program • Objective 4 – Providing instructional support for students who have been suspended or expelled from school

4. Rationale for Implementation ofOmbudsman Educational Services Program • Data From 26 Georgia Districts with Ombudsman Program: • Graduation - graduated 67% of eligible seniors attending the program • Attendance - experienced a three year average attendance rate of 84% • Credits Earned - earned 82.2% of academic credits attempted • Remained in School - over 83% of the students enrolled have remained in school

5. Rationale for Implementation Ombudsman Educational Services Program • Ombudsman provides an alternative education program in an office campus business like setting for students who • Have behavioral problems that have led to suspension or expulsion • Have experiences of academic failure in core subjects • Need to recoup credits due to truancy and non attendance problems • Are unmotivated and socially disengaged

6. Rationale for Plan to Implement Ombudsman Educational Services Program • Ombudsman provides • Students with a low student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1 • A cadre of dedicated professionally qualified teachers and assistants in a technology enhanced learning environment • State-of-the art computers and individualized work stations • Flexible Scheduling - Three 3 hour sessions daily for high students (4-5 hour sessions for middle school students) • Supported through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools • Curriculum is aligned with the Georgia Performance Standards • Cost effective, turn-key alternative learning solution

7. Rationale for Implementation ofOmbudsman Educational Services Program Examples of students served through Ombudsman Program: • Selected Neel Academy students who were suspended or expelled from school • Students who are at-risk of not graduating due to family issues, economic need, and child care needs • Selected overage secondary students who are at-risk of not graduating due to entering high school after being retained multiple times in either elementary or middle schools • Students returning to secondary education after having dropped out • Students enrolling into Bibb high school from county with 6 or 7 period day • Students who are struggling in the traditional high school setting due to various factors • Selected students transitioning from RYCD or YDC

8. Learning Center Locations Site 1 – Riverside Drive Learning Center 1200 Riverside Drive Macon, GA 31201 Director: Becky Maddox Capacity: 60 Students Current Enrollment: 63 Students Move In: September 29, 2009 Site 2– Eisenhower Pkwy. Learning Center 3750 Eisenhower Parkway Macon, GA 31201 Director: Yvette Pirtle Capacity: 75 Students Current Enrollment: 87 Students Move In: November 2, 2009

9. Progress Report Overview • Bibb County Program Overview • Performance Data • Q & A

10. Breakdown by Grade Level • 9th – 60% • 10th – 19% • 11th – 9% • 12th – 12%

11. 2nd Semester Enrollment Summary • 2nd Semester - 187 students served • 13% Special Needs students. • 88 % of total students enrolled are on target to meet personal and program goals.

12. Attendance Data Average Success Rate Average Attendance Rate Average Truancy Rate 15% -2 % from Fall 2009 88% +6 % improvement from Fall 2009 79.5% +4.3 % improvement from Fall 2009 * Of 187 students served, 11 students returned successfully to district;19 students eligible to graduate. 150 students are currently enrolled in the Ombudsman program, 22 students removed for lack of attendance

13. Academic Performance Data BASI Spelling Growth BASI Vocabulary Growth BASI Math Computation Growth BASI Math Application Growth N/A N/A N/A N/A *Growth is reported in years of progress made during semester

14. Academic Performance Data BASI Language Mechanics BASI Reading Comprehension N/A N/A Growth is reported in years of progress made during semester

15. EOCT Average Scores(Passing Score is 70) Algebra I N/A Economics N/A N/A Amer. Lit N/A Biology Math I N/A Math II N/A 9th Grade Lit N/A Phys. Science N/A US History N/A Geometry N/A

16. “Student Testimonials” Becky Maddox, Director Ombudsman – Riverside Drive • Bryant Brinson, 12th Grade, Hutchings HS • Parent - Veronica Brinson, Attorney, Bryant Brinson’s mother • Nikita Thomas, 12th Grade, Northeast HS Yvette Pirtle, Director Ombudsman – Eisenhower Pkwy. • Brittany Poole, 10th Grade, Westside HS • Parent - Jessie Ellis, Brittany Poole’s grandmother • Bria Jones, 9th Grade, Southwest HS

18. Expansion of Services at Ombudsman Educational Services Program • Team envisions: • Both day and evening classes; Researching 5 hour On-Site Middle School Ombudsman Program • Opportunities for students to matriculate through Ombudsman evening program • Greater opportunities for credit recovery, acceleration and working toward a high school diploma from home or at the Ombudsman learning centers • Job training/placement and professional skills training for students through partnership with Macon Office of Workforce Development

19. Q & A