QSI               THE QUEENS SCHOOL OF INQUIRY  DRAFT

Student Population

  Enrolment in September, 2005 at QSI is expected to be 81 6^th grade students.  Of these, 70% of students will have scored at levels 1 and 2 in the 5^th grade ELA exam, 15% will have IEP’s and 20% will be English Language Learners.  Admission to QSI will be by application by students a public and private elementary schools in Districts 24 and 30 in Region 4.  Selection to the school, should there be more than 81 applications, will be by weighted lottery combined with a student and parent interview conducted by members of the school planning team.  A weighted lottery will ensure a broad spectrum of students from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, as well as representation of the desired academic backgrounds stated above.  Preference will be given to those students whose IEP’s mandate either inclusion or mainstreaming.

   The application will include a student portfolio piece, an essay on why she or he wants to attend, and two letters of recommendation – perhaps one from an adult at the present school and one from an adult non-family member.  Admission for students will not depend solely on the student application. Both parents and students will be asked to sign the completed application. 

   The interview process will allow QSI to make clear its goals and expectations to both the students and their families, especially the need to be committed to a rigorous program of intensive preparation for college level courses.  In addition, it will offer families a chance to determine if QSI would best serve the needs of their particular child.  We will offer intensive support for struggling students, using differentiated instruction with targeted interventions, a push-in model with additional staff, before and after-school tutoring, and a summer program for acceleration and strengthening of basic skills.

   Outreach to students and families will begin upon approval of the QSI application by the NYCDOE Office of New Small Schools and will include:

· Region 4 notification of QSI opening and application process to all elementary schools in Districts 24 and 30

· Identification of feeder schools- both public and  private - and outreach to administrators, Parent Coordinators, PTA’s, and Guidance Counselors via mailings of brochures, and applications with follow-up phone calls by planning committee members. Planning Committee members may attend PTA meetings.  The QSI Director will play a major role in outreach.

· Informational meetings in spring 2005 for students and families, at Queens College and other sites selected in conjunction with Region 4.

Agenda will include:

Mission and goals

            Academic Criteria

            School Day, programs after school and summer

            Homework Expectations

            School/Family partnership

Queens College Collaboration

            College Preparation

· Newspaper ads in local papers: Queens Chronicle, Queens Courier

· Distribution of brochures and meeting notices to local community boards, CBO’s and faith-based organizations

· Attendance of Planning Committee members at community meetings

   Applications will be available after Informational meetings.