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Impact of Kilgo Research
Linda Lujan Reister, M.A., J.D.
Instructional Program Developer
Paso Del Norte Academy
I began working at a charter high school in August 2009.
We are not a "super charter"; we do not have elite students; we have a 100%
at-risk population. Our campus is located about two miles from the U.S.
border with Juarez, Mexico. Our kids work to overcome more obstacles than
average.
In January 2010, I took senior social studies retakers under my wing and tutored
them for their TAKS Exit Level Social Studies retake. They were annoyed at
failing the October retake and felt they hadn't learned anything to prepare them
for the March test. Since I am not their regular teacher, I had little time to
prepare these kids. Using the training I had gained through Kilgo, I
disaggregated their previous test data and literally set out to re-teach the
material, NOT "teach the test." I created individualized study plans for them
to maximize their exposure to the objectives.
Here are some results:
Student A (a new mom who had just had a baby by C-section the Friday
before the test) passed her TAKS and achieved a 113 point increase in her score
from the October test (1st retake) and a 135 point increase from the April test
(first time).
Student B (a student with very limited English proficiency) passed his
TAKS and achieved a 180 point increase in his score from the October test (1st
retake) and a 247 point increase from the April test (first time). Just days
before the TAKS retake, he had wanted to leave our school to return to his home
campus. He would have lost credit, delayed graduation, and MISSED MY TUTORIALS!
Thankfully, we talked him into staying despite his fears about the pending
retake. When he received the news that he'd passed the TAKS and had made a
180-point improvement, he was in total disbelief. Once we convinced him we
weren't joking, he turned to me and said, "Miss, I passed because of you!"
I helped these kids move forward in their education and their lives
because of YOU, Mrs. Kilgo. Thank you!
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