Title 1

Ossipee Central School is a Pre-K through 6th grade school located in Ossipee, New Hampshire. According to the 2021 census the town of Ossipee has a population of 4,349. Ossipee Central School is one of six elementary schools in the Governor Wentworth Regional School District with an enrollment of 310 students. The Governor Wentworth Regional School District has one middle school with grades 7-8 and one high school grades 9-12. The Ossipee Central School (OCS) has a diverse economic population with 53% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. 8% of our student population are considered homeless and 23% are identified with an educational disability. OCS has 41 professional educators, 37 paraprofessionals, and 1.6 administrators. The principal is beginning her 6th school year at OCS. The school district also has a district Director of Curriculum shared by all the schools.

The Ossipee Central School staff continues to analyze the information obtained through Parent Evaluations and Parent Surveys. In addition, student achievement data as measured annually by the state assessment for grades 3-6 and the Edmentum Diagnostic Assessment for grades 1-6 are collected and analyzed. Grades 3-6 will administer the NH SAS interims and grades 1-6 administer the Edmentum Diagnostic Assessments throughout the year. Based on the results students are placed in tiered intervention. Results of these assessments have a direct impact on student instruction. All exiting Kindergarten students are administered the Acadience Assessment by a Reading Specialist to determine if they are at risk of dyslexia. At risk students will receive interventions at the start of their first-grade year.

Ossipee Central School uses Guided Reading to meet the diverse needs of students. Guided reading is small group reading instruction designed to provide differentiated teaching that supports students in developing reading proficiency. Given that 63.1% of students in grades K-6, were reading below grade level in June 2023, OCS will continue to implement the Fountas and Pinnell Guided Classroom resource with fidelity to supplement our reading curriculum for students grades 4-6 in the Fall of 2023 and some students grades K-3. Some classroom teachers and reading specialists will be piloting the IMSE Science of Reading program. Professional development is ongoing and will continue to strengthen teachers reading instruction. Some students in grades K-3 also utilize the Fundations program to help strengthen phonics skills. Professional development is ongoing to enhance the instruction of phonetic skills. Reading Specialists are also Reading Coaches. They assist and train teachers in best practices in reading to provide differentiated instruction and interventions to assure student success.
Given that 59% of the students in grade 1, 49% in grade 2, 30% in grade 3, 50% in grade 4, 37% in grade 5, and 44% in grade six were at or above the 50th percentile for their grade level in Mathematics (Edmentum Spring 2023 diagnostic) and, 22% of third graders, 48% of fourth graders, 15% of fifth graders, and 36% of sixth graders were proficient or above on the NH SAS Mathematics summative assessment Spring 2023, OCS will implement the newest version the Eureka Math program, called Eureka Squared to address the mathematics standards at each grade level K-6. Hopefully, OCS will be able to hire a mathematics specialist to provide intervention to students as well as training and modeling for teachers in grades K-6. Students are immersed in methods that promote understanding and mastery of math concepts and applying these to problem solving. Instruction is individualized for each student with pre, and post testing done on a regular basis. Staff meetings and in-service professional development sessions often focus on best instructional practices in reading and mathematics. The plan is to hire one Title I mathematics specialist and one instructional assistant to provide additional support to students in the classroom that are identified by the data team to have significant mathematical needs. The OCS data team will also continue researching specific mathematics progress monitoring tools in addition to Edmentum to help inform the research-based intervention programs being utilized to meet the needs of students.

Each teacher is expected and required to use student learning and demographic data when planning their instruction for each child. Upon entering Ossipee Central School, Reading Benchmarks are taken on each student including those who may be homeless, from migrant families or those in foster care. This is done repeatedly to assure progress over time. Students are also evaluated using the Acadience Assessment, Edmentum diagnostic assessment, and/or NH SAS interim assessment. Using the results of diagnostic assessment, Benchmarks, Progress Monitoring and other classroom assessments, students are placed in schoolwide tiered system to prevent and address areas of need. The data team, comprised of classroom teachers, special education teachers, Title I specialists, counselors, and administration meet quarterly to ensure all students are receiving tiered instruction with interventions facilitated by classroom teachers or specialists.

During Open House, teachers and specialists are available to meet with families to discuss and answer questions about the Reading and Math programs at OCS. Each year a Title I Annual Meeting is held. A Title I Parent Advisory Group, which is integrated into the Parent Teacher Organization at OCS, meets throughout the year to review survey and evaluation results, review and revise, as needed, the required forms and gather input for the Title I program for the following year. The group plans parent involvement activities for the year based on parent input. Required forms are included in the Parent/Student Handbook. Parent Surveys and the Learning Compact are included in the Handbook and sent home with students for easy return back to school. Student progress is communicated to parents at least six times during the year via Progress Reports and Standards Based Report Cards. Parents and students in grades K-6 have access to progress via the Jump Rope Portal. Parents are encouraged to attend Title I and school events. Parents will be invited to participate in Title I nights such as math night to learn how the math curriculum is taught at OCS and suggestions for parents to help their children at home. Other nights in the past have included reading, writing and emotions nights. These are always very well attended and informative.

Professional staff within the Governor Wentworth Regional School District set professional goals and Student Learning Objectives that are directly linked to district goals and student needs. Each year, professional staff is expected to reflect on their progress on meeting their goals twice during the year. Every three years, the professional staff is required to share their portfolios with a colleague and/or building administrators. Ongoing professional development focused on reading, math, social/emotional learning, Responsive Classroom Management styles and book talks are tied to the District Master Plan. These professional development opportunities are developed based on staff survey responses regarding professional development needs and evaluated via staff input.

Ossipee Central School is the home base for students enrolled in the District's Integrated Preschool Program. Students from the district preschools, as well as those attending private preschool programs in the area, are encouraged to visit the school/kindergarten classes in the spring. Transition meetings continue to be held with parents as necessary. The Kindergarten registration process is completed in the spring with an in person registration process where students and parents will be invited prior to school this year to be screened and limited tour of the school building. Typically, all students entering Kindergarten in September are invited to attend a transitional summer program, however this was not offered this year due to staffing and funding. The program would meet three half days per week for five weeks during the months of July and August. Transportation is provided. The local Headstart Program invites staff from the elementary schools to attend a parent meeting regarding the transitioning of their students and families to the public-school environment.

All the core academic teachers and instructional paraprofessionals working at OCS meet the highly qualified requirements. Each staff member hired is required to have three written letters of reference and then checked with a follow up phone call. They also have to provide the district with their college/university transcripts and certifications.

Students have the opportunity to attend a well-structured after school program each weekday that includes academic support, enrichment activities and transportation. Ossipee Central School also offered an educationally based Summer School Program, meeting three days per week from 8:00 to 11:30am for five weeks. Students received services in reading, writing, and mathematics as identified through the data team. OCS is always continuing to identify ways to meet the needs of students and families. Additional time for tutoring either before or after school is a way to enhance academic growth. Currently our Outreach Counselor provides outreach services to families to help assure that the basic needs of students are being met and provides online support to parents when needed. This will continue to occur and OCS will offer a series of parenting classes to enhance the basic needs of students and support to parents. The district’s Homeless Liaison works with families of students who are considered homeless to assure they are afforded the support necessary to benefit from all educational opportunities. Those students continue to receive priority academic and social emotional services at OCS through Title I and counseling services.

These parent/guardian engagement guidelines were developed by the Title I Parent Advisory Group at Ossipee Central School.  This information will be made available annually to all parents and guardians.

Yearly, through surveys, program evaluations, and parent feedback, Ossipee Central School will:

• involve parents in the development of the school-wide Title I program.

• encourage strong parental involvement in school improvement efforts.

• coordinate Title I parent events that overlap other school activities.

• develop and carry out, or present, educational events for parents.

At Ossipee Central School we will:

• hold an Annual Meeting each year to inform families about the school-wide program, explain their parental rights, and ask for their involvement.

• encourage a partnership between home and school to support student achievement.

• ensure that all parents receive the “Parents Right To Know” document outlining the process for parents to follow while obtaining information about the qualifications of school staff.

• encourage parents and students to sign the Learning Compact on an annual basis.

• notify parents in advance of meetings or events in writing, by telephone and/or by School Messenger.

• provide childcare and/or transportation to families as needed.

• send home program evaluations annually to parents and guardians.

• assure that parents have input into the program for the following year.

• provide access to curriculum and assessment information on an annual basis.

• educate staff on the importance of parental involvement.

• ensure that information is sent to parents in an understandable format.

Reviewed 1/23

The Title I Learning Compact found below was developed by Ossipee Central School parents and staff as mandated by federal requirements associated with Title I.  Title I provides Ossipee Central School with federal funds which are used to support your child’s education.  Research shows that in successful schools, students, families and staff communicate and work together to help ensure the success of each student.  

Please review this Learning Compact with your child(ren) and return the signed copy to your child’s classroom teacher.  Thank you for helping to create a balance between student motivation, parent involvement, and solid academic instruction.  

We value your opinion!  Please contact Andrea Fournier, Ossipee Central School Principal at 603.539.4589 or Linda Perrow, Title I Project Manager at 603.569.0221 with any input you have regarding this Compact.

reviewed 1/23

To be added when complete. 

NH DOE Report Card