Harrison-Morton Middle School

Harrison-Morton Middle School
Address
137 N 2nd Street Allentown, Pennsylvania, Lehigh County, 18101-1916 United States
Information
Type	Public
Opened	1925[1]
School board	9 locally elected members
School district	Allentown School District
Superintendent	C. Russell Mayo, Ed.D (contract 2012-2017) $170,000 (2012)[2]
School number	(484) 765-5701
Principal	Daria Custer
Vice principal	Jacqulyn Alotta
Vice principal	Joseph LiCausi
Grades	K-12
Pupils	873 pupils (2012-13)[3] 941 pupils (2011-12) 898 pupils (2009-10) [4]
• Grade 6	285 (2012), 310 (2010)[5]
• Grade 7	287 (2012), 303 (2010)
• Grade 8	301 (2012), 285 (2010)
Website	http://www.allentownsd.org/ham

Harrison-Morton Middle School is located at 137 N. 2nd Street in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The school is a large urban middle school operated by Allentown School District. In 2013, Harrison-Morton Middle School reported an enrollment of 873 pupils in grade 6th through 8th, with 92% of the pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. Additionally, 18% of the students received special education services and 5.7% were identified as gifted.^[6] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, several of 'Harrison-Morton Middle School's teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[7]

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, Harrison-Morton Middle School employed 65 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 13:1.^[8] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 10 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.^[9]

Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit program

In July 2012, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) released a report identifying seventeen Allentown School District schools as among the lowest achieving schools for reading and mathematics in 2011 and in 2012. Harrison-Morton Middle School, as well as, the other three middle schools operated by Allentown School District were all among the 15% lowest achieving schools in the Commonwealth. Parents and students may be eligible for scholarships to transfer to another public or nonpublic school through the state's Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program passed in June 2012.^[10] The scholarships are limited to those students whose family's income is less than $60,000 annually, with another $12,000 allowed per dependent. Maximum scholarship award is $8,500, with special education students receiving up to $15,000 for a year's tuition. Parents pay any difference between the scholarship amount and the receiving school's tuition rate. Students may seek admission to neighboring public school districts. Each year the PDE publishes the tuition rate for each individual public school district.^[11] In Lehigh County, only Allentown School District schools were among the lowest-achieving schools in 2011. According to the report, parents in 414 Pennsylvania public schools (74 school districts) were offered access to these scholarships. For the 2012-13 school year, eight public school districts in Pennsylvania had all of their schools placed on the list including: Sto-Rox School District, Chester Upland School District, Clairton City School District, Duquesne City School District, Farrell Area School District, Wilkinsburg Borough School District, William Penn School District and Steelton-Highspire School District.^[12] Funding for the scholarships comes from donations by businesses which receive a state tax credit for donating.

School Performance Profile 2013

Harrison-Morton Middle School achieved 68.6 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, writing, mathematics and science achievement. In reading, just 44.33% of the students were on grade level. In Mathematics/Algebra I, only 55.92% of the students showed on grade level mathematics skills. In Science, only 17% of the 8th graders demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, 65% of the 8th grade students were on grade level writing skills.^[13] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher.

AYP History

In 2012, Harrison-Morton Middle School declined to Corrective Action II 5th Year Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status, due to chronic low student achievement in both reading and mathematics.^[14]

• 2011 - declined to Corrective Action II 4th Year AYP status
• 2010 - declined to Corrective Action II 3rd Year AYP status^[15]
• 2009 - declined to Corrective Action II 2nd Year AYP status^[16]
• 2008 - declined to Corrective Action II First Year AYP status^[17]
• 2007 - declined to Corrective Action I AYP status^[18]
• 2006 - improved to Making Progress School Improvement II AYP status
• 2005 - declined to School Improvement II AYP status

Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the school administration was required to notify parents of the school's poor achievement outcomes and to offer the parent the opportunity to transfer to a successful middle school within the District. Additionally the school administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to develop a School Improvement Plan to address the school's low student achievement. Under the Pennsylvania Accountability System, the school district must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students.^[19] The Harrison-Morton Middle School was eligible for and received special, extra funding under School Improvement Grants to raise student achievement.^[20] In fall 2010, six Allentown School District Schools were awarded School Improvement Grants totaling $2,600,000 each of the next three years for these schools: Louis E. Dieruff High School, William Allen High School, Trexler Middle School, Francis D. Raub Middle School, Harrison Morton Middle School and Central Elementary School.^[21]

• 2004 - improved to Making Progress School Improvement I AYP status
• 2003 - School Improvement I AYP status, due to low student achievement in both reading and mathematics^[22]

PSSA Results

Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs, are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations given in the Spring of each school year. Sixth and seventh grades are tested in reading and mathematics since 2006. Eighth graders are tested in: reading, writing, mathematics and Science. Beginning in the Spring of 2013, eighth graders, who are enrolled in Algebra I take the Keystone Exam for Algebra I at the end of the course. The testing of 8th grade in reading and mathematics began in 1999. Testing in science began in 2007. The goal is for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focus on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.^[23]

8th Grade Reading: 2012 - 45% on grade level (33% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 79% of 8th graders on grade level.[24] 2011 - 47% (31% below basic) State - 81.8% [25] 2010 - 54% (29% below basic). State - 81% 2009 - 57% (29% below basic), State - 80%[26] 2008 - 56% (24% below basic), State - 78% [27] 2007 - 55% (21% below basic), State - 75% [28]

8th Grade Math: 2012 - 43% on grade level (36% below basic). State - 76%[29] 2011 - 46% (35% below basic). State - 76.9% 2010 - 45% (30% below basic). State - 75% [30] 2009 - 57% (20% below basic). State - 71% [31] 2008 - 56% (23% below basic). State - 70% [32] 2007 - 62% (20% below basic). State - 68% [33]

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 16% on grade level (60% below basic). State - 59%
• 2011 - 20% (60% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 24% (57% below basic). State – 57% ^[34]
• 2009 - 21% (62% below basic). State - 55% ^[35]
• 2008 - 17% (48% below basic). State - 52% ^[36]
• 2007 - tested, but results not made public.

7th Grade Reading: 2012 - 42% (36% below basic). State – 76% 2011 - 45% (29% below basic). State – 76% 2010 - 41% (30% below basic). State - 73% 2009 - 42% (29% below basic). State - 71% 2008 - 39% (34% below basic). State - 70% 2007 - 46% (% below basic). State - 67%

7th Grade Math: 2012 - 57% (27% below basic). State - 80% 2011 - 57% (27% below basic). State - 78.6% 2010 - 57% (24% below basic). State - 77% 2009 - 58% (20% below basic). State - 75% 2008 - 51% (24% below basic). State - 71% 2007 - 53% (24% below basic). State - 67%

6th Grade Reading: 2012 - 36% (41% below basic). State - 68% 2011 - 33% (39% below basic). State - 69.9% 2010 - 34% (40% below basic). State - 68% 2009 - 35% (35% below basic). State - 67% 2008 - 37% (37% below basic). State - 67% 2007 - 57% (31% below basic). State - 63%

6th Grade Math: 2012 - 50% (25% below basic). State - 77% 2011 - 50% (31% below basic). State - 78.8% 2010 - 56% (19% below basic). State - 78% 2009 - 48% (26% below basic). State - 75% 2008 - 57% (23% below basic). State - 72% 2007 - 65% (18% below basic). State - 69%

Tuition

Students who live in the Allentown School District's attendance area may choose to attend one of Pennsylvania's 157 public charter schools. A student living in a neighboring public school district or a foreign exchange student may seek admission to Allentown School District. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each school district. It is the amount the public school district pays to a charter school for each resident student that attends the charter and it is the amount a nonresident student's parents must pay to attend the District's schools. The 2012 tuition rate for Harrison-Morton Middle School is $9,858.67.^[37] Roberto Clemente Charter School is a local charter school (grades 6 through 12) available to children in the Allentown School District.

School safety and bullying

The Allentown School District administration reported there were forty two (42) incidents of bullying at Harrison-Morton MIddle School in 2012. Additionally, there were 22 incidents involving local law enforcement including: 23 assaults on students, 96 incidents of harassment, with 19 being sexual harassment. There were six events involving the possession of a weapon.^[38][39] Each year the school safety data is reported by the district to the Safe School Center which publishes the reports online.

The Allentown School Board has provided the District's antibully policy online.^[40] All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the District must conduct an annual review of that policy with students.^[41] The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.^[42][43]

Education standards relating to student safety and anti harassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.^[44]

Wellness policy

Allentown School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006.^[45] The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 – 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006." Most districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.^[46]

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.^[47] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Harrison-Morton Middle School offers both a free school breakfast and a free or reduced-price lunch to children in low income families. All students attending the school can eat breakfast and lunch. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are provided a breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level can be charged no more than 30 cents per breakfast. A foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household is eligible for both a free breakfast and a free lunch. Runaway, homeless and Migrant Youth are also automatically eligible for free meals.^[48] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.^[49]

In 2013, the USDA issued new restrictions to foods in public schools. The rules apply to foods and beverages sold on all public school district campuses during the day. They limit vending machine snacks to a maximum of 200 calories per item. Additionally, all snack foods sold at school must meet competitive nutrient standards, meaning they must have fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein in them or contain at least 10 percent of the daily value of fiber, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D.^[50] In order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 all US public school districts are required to raise the price of their school lunches to $2.60 regardless of the actual cost of providing the lunch.^[51] In 2014, President Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.^[52]

Allentown School District's Harrison-Morton Middle School provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. Nurses are available in each building to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and state Department of Health) and to dispense prescribed medications to students during the school day. Students can be excluded from school unless they comply with all the State Department of Health’s extensive immunization mandates. School nurses monitor each pupil for this compliance.^[53] Nurses also monitor each child's weight.

Highmark Healthy High 5 grant

In 2011, the Allentown School District received funding through a Highmark Healthy High 5 grant. Harrison-Morton Middle School received $5,662 which was used to implement in-school SPARK program.^[54] Beginning in 2006, Highmark Foundation engaged in a 5 year, $100 million program to promote lifelong healthy behaviors in children and adolescents through local nonprofits and schools.

Extracurriculars

The Allentown School District offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, costly sports program for pupils attending Harrison-Morton Middle School. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA).^[55] Students must be passing at least four full-credit subjects, or the equivalent, as of each Friday during a grading period to be allowed to participate in sports (practice or play).^[56] The school is in PIAA District 11.

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.^[57]

Sports

Boys Basketball Cross Country Indoor Track and Field Soccer Swimming and Diving Volleyball Wrestling

Girls Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Softball Swimming and Diving Track and Field Volleyball

References

Coordinates: 40°36′28″N 75°27′37″W / 40.60791°N 75.46022°W / 40.60791; -75.46022