Superintendent’s Oct. 18, 2023 Message

Dear APS Families,

Below is an update on Mathematics, along with information about Virginia’s new intensive tutoring initiative and Parent-Teacher Conferences.

Math Update: Last week, the APS Math Office provided an update on student progress data in Mathematics. The presentation highlighted our commitment to cross-office collaboration to meet the needs of every student. APS teachers, math coaches, interventionists and staff from the Special Education and English Learner offices continue to partner to deliver small-group and individual support based on each student’s strengths and needs. Here are a few takeaways from the Mathematics Update:

• We saw double-digit growth in overall grade-level proficiency over a two-year period amongst all subgroups, with the largest gains amongst the English Learner population at a 24%-point proficiency increase.
• In SY 22-23 APS students at all elementary and comprehensive middle school sites, on average, demonstrated one or more years of growth on the national Math Inventory assessment.
• Approximately half of all APS elementary students in grades 2 through 5 ended SY 22-23 at the advanced level on the national Math Inventory assessment.
• One area for improvement is that we saw slower growth in proficiency levels for Black students when compared to other subgroups, as measured by the SOL (Standards of Learning) assessments and low overall performance on the Math 7 SOL assessment (Math 7 course only).

View the full report.

All-In Tutoring Program to Launch in November: The Virginia Dept. of Education recently announced a new initiative to provide high intensity tutoring for students in grades 3rd – 8th who meet certain criteria. VDOE continues to share updated guidance, and the Office of School Support and Academics are working closely with principals to finalize staffing and resources. We aim for tutoring to begin for eligible students by mid-November. Please note that tutoring will supplement the existing intervention plans our schools have in place for students who need extra support. As a next step:

• Schools are identifying students currently receiving intervention or remediation in school that meet the All-In Tutoring requirements.
• The Elementary and Secondary Directors of School Support are working with principals to develop tutoring schedules.

Additional information will be shared as plans are finalized.

Supporting Teachers During Parent-Teacher Conferences: Elementary and middle school Parent-Teacher Conferences are taking place this week and are an important foundation for a successful school year. Our teachers care deeply about the education of students and rely on strong partnerships with families to achieve the best possible outcomes. Conferences provide teachers the opportunity to share your student’s progress, learn more about their needs and tailor their instruction accordingly. I encourage any family who has not scheduled a meeting with your student’s teacher to reach out and arrange a time.

I am also working with our leaders and meeting with staff across the school division to gather feedback and ensure we are doing everything we can to support our teachers, and in turn, student success and well-being. I will continue to share updates on ways we are working – and can all work – to foster a more collaborative, supportive climate and culture in APS.

Thank you for your partnership!

Sincerely,

Dr. Francisco Durán
Superintendent