Failure is not an option

We want all students to succeed.  As the title suggests, we want to create an environment where failure is not an option.  All teachers, counselors, support staff members, and administrators must be on the same page.  The goal is to keep high academic expectations and not allow students to fail.  Therefore, supports need to be put in place so that students can succeed.  Here are some of the changes we have made, mostly in the 2010-2011 school year and some at other times in the last 6 years:

• Arlington adopted a Middle School philosophy in the 2010-2011 school year.
• An interdisciplinary team was created with a common team plan time.
• Student issues are discussed during team plan.
• A “No Zero’s” policy was implemented in 2007.
• Meaningful and valuable assessments
• The Eagle Success Program (ESP) was developed in March of 2007.
• Differentiation and individual plans for students
• Living Above the Line is the new approach to discipline.
• High expectations have been stated and students are constantly reminded of important dates.
• High Ability Learner Program
• Student Assistance Team
• Math Lab
• Reading/Writing Lab
• Study Skills class

Each of these will be addressed in later blogs with the subtitle of "Failure is not an Option."

A full article on "Failure is not an Option" is available to members of Nebraska Association of Middle Level Educators (NAMLE) at namle.org .