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Recommendations
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From an analysis of the data, observations of schools, and interviews with school district officials, the SchoolMatch Audit team makes the following recommendations:
- The dropout rate of 14.6 percent is considerably higher than the effectiveness level of 10.4 percent and the mean of 11.6 percent. Efforts should be re-doubled to reduce the dropout rate through increased analysis and intervention. Evidence reviewed by the Site Visit Team also suggests individual schools are making concerted efforts to reduce the academic performance gap between high performing and low performing students.
- Surveys of parents and teachers indicate a desire for involving more stakeholders in decision-making. The Board of Education should review the administrative decision-making process to insure that appropriate input from all stakeholders can be considered.
- The District should continue to implement a technology plan to provide equity for all students, with priority actions identified to address the learning needs of the lowest achieving students. The Site Visit Team believes the District should establish District guidelines intended to reduce the disparity between low- and high-income student access to computers and other new technologies. For example, consider the District-wide implementation of programs such as “ET (Educational Technology) Goes Home,” personal computer loan programs, and school district supported staff computer purchasing programs, particularly for low income students.
- At the middle school level, the District should increase efforts to enhance skill development and test preparation skills for seventh and eighth grade students.
- The Site Visit Team recommends the Oxford School District provide all students in Grades 4, 6 and 8 with norm-referenced testing opportunities, even if state standards require such testing only in the 6th grade.
- The Board of Education should require all high school students, including seniors, to be on campus in scheduled learning activities for the entire school day.
- It is evident that the Board of Education and Administration need to continue to be vigilant in preparation for the projected enrollment growth. Such preparation would include, but not be limited to, analysis of financial, facility and programmatic resources necessary to sustain a larger student body.
- It would be helpful to institute a nationally-recognized structured interview procedure for staff selection and employment. The Site Visit Team further recommends current teachers and administrators be included in the professional staff selection process which currently varies from school to school.
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