Stu-dents are tested upon entering the school and placed in groups matching their ability level. Every eight weeks students are re-assessed to make sure they are progressing. All certified staff teach a daily 90-minute reading block. Coupled with this is the expectation that families will read for 20 minutes a night at home with their children. Staff members strive to narrow the gap be-tween school and home.
Many teachers telephone or journal regularly with parents of focus students.
Most boast 100 percent turnout at parent-teacher conferences. As a service to the school's ESL families, key documents are translated in three other languages. The Student Advocate interviews, photographs and takes new students on a tour, while the Parent Advocate assists with registration and discusses concerns with parents, includ-ing recommendations for community services if necessary. An effort is made to give new students a reading test before entering school so they can be in an appropriate reading group from the start. Because the advocates take the time to see children a day before they enter class, teachers also get ad-vance information and are better prepared to welcome them and to provide a buddy.