Forest Park, IL...Proviso Township High Schools is implementing new strategies and improving alliances in an aggressive campaign to support students and raise overall academic achievement.

Prep Academy, SRA Reading, benchmark assessments, Target Teach, free tutoring services, increased teacher training and additional learning materials have been put into place in order to create a strong foundation for school improvement. Also beginning second semester, the District is also planning to implement test prep and an after school program.

“The PTHS 209 Board of Education has clearly identified goals for improving our schools in every area,” said PTHS 209 Superintendent Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart. “Our recent test results were also indicators of where we need to improve. We know our challenges. We know that there is no magic button that will help us gain instant results. But, we also know that we have great teachers, we have eager students, and we have some great things in place to help us increase student achievement.”

This year PTHS began with revised curriculum and improved teacher materials to help align the schools’ educational programming with state testing standards. PTHS implemented the school improvement model, Target Teach, which helps clarify curriculum standards and gives teachers resources and support to assess and follow-up on students’ individual needs. PTHS also implemented Prep Academy to accelerate freshmen and prepare them for rigorous high school curriculum, testing, and higher academic achievement. Plasco, an attendance tracking system, has been implemented at Proviso East to help reduce tardiness and truancy. Proviso East and Proviso West have begun to offer supplemental educational services to students who need additional tutoring. PTHS has also increased efforts to collaborate with feeder districts.

As testing standards increase across the state, all three PTHS schools are on an intensive improvement track.. Along with all of these strategies, there is a heightened emphasis on student engagement in class, time on task, and principals’ instructional leadership role.

“These are aggressive efforts to address some of the areas where we need improvement,” said Collins-Hart. “There are many factors that impact test scores and student learning. Internally is where we have the power to create a strong foundation and culture of excellence. We’ve raised standards for our students, our teachers, and our administrators. Along with raising standards, we’ve also increased our level of academic support. We’ve charted the course that will lead to improvements at every level.”

PTHS officials say they will continue to evaluate student assessments, strengthen educational collaborations, continue parent outreach, and offer teachers and students the support they need to excel. All of those things have been identified as critical components in PTHS’s school improvement efforts.

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