Title I Reading Program Update:

Gail Kottwitz, Brad Clark, and Nancy Zimmermann reviewed aspects of the Title I reading program, including how students are benchmarked, areas of professional development, regular classroom support for teaching literacy and outreach to parents.  The Committee also reviewed current enrollments in Title I reading in both public and parochial schools in Watertown.  For the coming year, the Title I and administrative staffs will research the possibility of adopting a school-wide service model that would expand general services to students throughout a qualifying school.  Currently, our schools serve students in grade K-3 in what is known as a targeted assistance model.  

DPI Charter School Planning Grant:

Dave Vitale and Bob Logan highlighted current plans related to the submittal of a Department of Public Instruction charter school planning grant.  A resolution will be drafted for the March 18 full meeting of the Board to approve the grant application in the amount of $175,000 for planning and preparation for a high school public charter school by 2014-15. The Committee reviewed the district's previous discussions around charter schools in Watertown as well as a draft of the curricular approach and structure of the newly proposed charter school.