To determine Benton’s priorities for improving student learning, the Student Learning Committee used input from faculty, administration, parents, students, and the Benton community. The Student Learning Committee reviewed the school profile, beliefs and mission statement, Bossier Parish instructional objectives, and the state content standards and benchmarks. The committee also reviewed the NSSE Schoolwide Goals for Student Learning and Performance Indicators and the Louisiana Content Standards Foundation Skills (pp.5-3...5-4). In addition, the committee reviewed information gathered from ACT Student Profile reports, GEE 21, and IOWA test results. Finally, we reviewed the results of the NSSE School Beliefs Inventory survey of the Benton faculty (see appendix), which was conducted by the Priorities for Improving Student Learning Committee.

The committee found the following two areas as those in need of improvement: communication with parents and problem solving through improving math skills. These findings were based on the analysis of the results of the Louisiana Department of Education School Analysis Model (SAM) survey, ACT, GEE 21 and IOWA test results.

Communication with parents (This is based on Principal #10 [Organizational Effectiveness] under CommunityBuilding, page 32 of the Louisiana School Improvement Process Handbook, Fourth Edition 2003.): According to the results of both surveys, communication, specifically with parents of Benton High School students, is a significant area for improvement for the school. Everyone—Benton High School students, parents, faculty and administration—rated this area lowest on the opinion survey conducted by the School Profile Committee.

Benton High School personnel believe that this is an area worthy of focus, as a number of recent studies sponsored by the NEA (National Education Association) have documented that increased parental involvement in school activities translates into enhanced achievement by students. Some of the most recently published research cited by the NEA includes:

“When schools, families and communities work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more.” A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family and Community Connections on Student Achievement by Anne T. Henderson and Karen L. Mapp (supported by 51 research study results)

“The evidence is beyond dispute; parent involvement improves student achievement. When parents are involved, children do better in school.” Los Angeles Annenberg Metropolitan Project

“The most accurate predictor of a student’s achievement in school is not income or social status, but the extent to which the student’s family is able to . . . become involved in their children’s education at school and in the community.” San Diego (CA) County Education Department

Problem solving through improving math skills (This is based on the Louisiana Content Standards Foundation Skills.): One of the core beliefs of Benton High School is that the curriculum offers students a variety of opportunities to demonstrate and apply their problem solving skills. According to indicators of strengths and weaknesses on test scores, specifically math scores, this area requires attention to align student learning with Benton’s basic beliefs.

It was determined that both of these priorities must be addressed, practiced and woven into lessons across the curriculum to maintain the excellence that the Benton administration, faculty, students and parents demand.

The results of the committee’s analyses were presented to the faculty and administration in both written and oral form. The feedback received confirmed the necessity of prioritizing communication and problem solving as skills to address while seeking to improve the education of Benton’s students.