EDUCATION SNAPSHOT
Kona parents help meet goals

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Education Writer

Parents are part of the team that has helped elevate Honaunau Elementary School to good standing after years of missing the federal No Child Left Behind Act targets.

As the school's staff members revised their curriculum and teaching methods to help the children achieve the state academic standards, they also called on parents to come to the school to read with their children and learn strategies to continue the learning at home.

With the entire school community looking for ways to boost student proficiency, the school that once struggled to meet the standards has now done so two years in a row.

"I can't put my finger on what it is that has helped us sustain these achievement scores. The teachers have been working really hard and the parents are becoming real partners in the children's learning," said principal Faye Ogilvie.

What made the difference: "Very focused and targeted action" helped the school improve its status, Ogilvie said. Teachers analyze data and identify the greatest needs, and design lesson plans to address those areas.

How they did it: Pupils are given various writing and reading assessments, which, coupled with previous test data, can be used to identify the areas in which pupils do not perform well.

The school also looks at each pupil's oral reading proficiency and tries to provide extra instruction in the areas the child is most behind. Because children lose out on other instruction if they are given extra help during the day, teachers try to work with pupils before and after school, if possible.

Other factors: "We tried to get our parents really involved with children's learning as well," Ogilvie said.

Parents are invited to the school, where they learn about the data and test results. "It's pretty much a community effort in helping boost our scores," Ogilvie said.

While scores did not rise much, the school has fewer pupils scoring below proficiency levels.

"I think that's something real good that teachers can be pleased about," she said.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8014.