February 7, 2024

Dear Parents and Community Members:

We are pleased to present you with the Annual Education Report (AER), which provides key information on the 2022-23 educational progress for Brandywine High School. The AER addresses the complex reporting information required by federal and state laws. The school’s report contains information about student assessment, accountability, and teacher quality. If you have any questions about the AER, please contact Evan Winkler for assistance.

The AER is available for you to review electronically by visiting MISchoolData, or you may review a copy in the main office at your child’s school.

For the 2023-24 school year, schools were identified based on previous years’ performance using definitions and labels as required in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). A Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) school is one that had at least one underperforming student subgroup in 2022-23. An Additional Targeted Support (ATS) school is one that had a student subgroup performing at the same level as the lowest 5% of all schools in the state in 2021-22. A Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) school is one whose performance was in the lowest 5% of all schools in the state or had a graduation rate at or below 67% in 2021-22. Some schools are not identified with any of these labels. In these cases, no label is given.

Our school was not given one of these labels.

State law requires that we also report additional information.

We are focused on overcoming the challenges of post-pandemic learning loss and    trying to address those by implementing MTSS by creating a WINN time twice a week.  Another piece of data we can pull from the Accountability Index Data in the combined report is daily student attendance. As part of our school improvement planning we are implementing strategies to increase daily student attendance  ultimately impacting overall student success. It should be noted that we are  investing in teaching the whole child. We create predictable environments and  feelings of safety through relationships. Quality relationships lead to higher levels of  engagement between adults and students.

PROCESS FOR ASSIGNING PUPILS TO THE SCHOOL 

Brandywine MS/HS and Brandywine Innovation Academy are the buildings in the Brandywine district for students in 9-12 grade. Therefore, any student who registers at Brandywine in these grades can choose to attend Brandywine Middle High School or Brandywine Innovation Academy. Once a student is at MS/HS, and advances to the next grade, the counselors assign students to classrooms for the following year. Students who are not on track for graduation are encouraged to go to Brandywine Innovation Academy to stay on track for graduation.

THE STATUS OF THE 3-5 YEAR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN 

Brandywine Community Schools regularly reviews policies and practices to consider ways to improve and enhance student achievement in academics and behavior. This process, known as Michigan Integrated Continuous Improvement Process or MICIP, is an integral and necessary part of school reform.  

Recent state and federal mandates including annual testing directives and  increased accountability, have intensified the importance of this process and its  outcomes centered around supporting the Whole Child. The main goal for  Brandywine Community Schools is to implement a comprehensive K-12, student 

centered structure of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (M.T.S.S.) for both  academics and behavior. 

Since the passage of Public Act 24 in 1990, school districts have been required  to develop 3-5 year school improvement plans. These plans are used to establish  goals and objectives that will guide teaching for learning, resource allocation,  staff development, data management, and assessment. 

School improvement or MICIP meetings occur at the building level and district  level. Committee members include instructional staff, administration, and  members of the community. The purpose of these committees is to become more  data- driven to improve student achievement and well-being. Plans are reviewed  continuously as we monitor and adjust our goals seeking the best outcomes for  students. Changes or updates are based on the most current data available  pertaining to student achievement, attendance, behavior and well-being. 

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EACH SPECIALIZED SCHOOL 

Specialized schools provide educational alternatives and opportunities for  handicapped students as well as meeting their special needs. These programs are an integral part of the continuum of educational services available to special  students in Berrien County. Following is a brief description of the specialized  schools that serve Brandywine Community School District students. 

BLOSSOMLAND LEARNING CENTER 
BERRIEN REGIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE AGENCY 
BERRIEN SPRINGS, MICHIGAN 

The purpose of Blossomland Learning Center is to provide services to students  who have been diagnosed as moderate to severe cognitive impairment up to age  26 who reside within the Berrien Regional Education Service Agency. The school  assists students in preparing for entry into their respective communities.

LIGHTHOUSE EDUCATION CENTER 
BERRIEN REGIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE AGENCY 
ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN 

The Lighthouse Education Center program is operated as a therapeutic and  educational program for students diagnosed with severe emotional impairment up  to age 26 who reside within the Berrien Regional Education Service Agency.  These students exhibit a severity of emotional difficulties which prohibits them  from regular attendance within the resident district. The program’s goal is eventual re-integration into the resident district's educational system.

HEARING IMPAIRED PROGRAM 
BERRIEN SPRINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS 
BERRIEN SPRINGS, MICHIGAN 

The Berrien County Hearing Impaired Program provides educational services for  hearing impaired students from Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties, which  includes children from preschool age through 26 years. This program is operated  by the Berrien Springs Public Schools and is funded by the Berrien Regional  Education Service Agency.

In addition to classroom and teacher consultant services, the program also serves  as a diagnostic center and employs an audiologist for the purpose of assessing  severity and type of hearing loss. Some students, when determined educationally  appropriate by an Individualized Educational Planning Committee, are educated  in their resident district with the support of a teacher consultant provided by the  Hearing Impaired Program.

Niles operates center based programs for low incidence special education  students needing a full time placement. The program for the Severely Emotionally  Impaired (SEI) includes students with severe emotional or behavioral problems.  These students receive a very strict, highly structured program designed to  change inappropriate behavior patterns and allow learning to take place.  Expectations for performance are high with the goal of successful readmission to  their former school. Classroom programs serve students ages 10 through 25.  Students in the Pre-Vocational program have below average ability levels,  making success in their local high schools extremely difficult. Often their low  ability is compounded by a weak self-concept and inadequate social skills. Once  at Southside a few may pursue a Certificate of Completion, but most will follow  a curriculum designed to promote independent living. Classrooms are available  to serve ages 16 through 25.

IDENTIFY HOW TO ACCESS A COPY OF THE CORE CURRICULUM, A  DESCRIPTION OF ITS IMPLEMENTATION, AND AN EXPLANATION OF THE  VARIANCES FROM THE STATE’S MODEL 

Brandywine Community Schools follows a curriculum based on state and national  standards that defines educational outcomes to be achieved by all students. This  is reflected in the district’s educational mission and consists of power standards  selected with input and expertise of instructional staff. As mandated by the State  of Michigan, Brandywine Community Schools has developed a core curriculum at  all school levels. Copies of the core curriculum are available upon request at the district office. 

THE AGGREGATE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT RESULTS FOR ANY LOCAL  COMPETENCY TESTS OR NATIONALLY NORMED ACHIEVEMENT TESTS

THE NUMBER AND PERCENT OF POSTSECONDARY ENROLLMENTS (DUAL ENROLLMENT)

2021-2022:   32 students 9% (based off total enrolment of 355)
2022-2023:  28 students 7% (based off total enrollment of 355)

THE NUMBER OF COLLEGE EQUIVALENT COURSES OFFERED (AP/IB)

2021-2022: 1 class
2022-2023: 1 class

THE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN COLLEGE EQUIVALENT COURSES (AP/IB)

2021-2022:  7 students
2022-2023: 7 students

THE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS RECEIVING A SCORE LEADING TO COLLEGE CREDIT

2021-2022: 0 students
2022-2023: 0 students

IDENTIFY THE NUMBER AND PERCENT OF STUDENTS REPRESENTED BY  PARENTS AT PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

Brandywine staff works hard to provide an education to our students that is evidence based, developmentally appropriate, and delivered in a supportive environment. We are fortunate to have strong community support. We are excited about the work we are doing with MTSS.  Brandywine Middle School is a wonderful place to grow and learn, and our staff remains  committed to engage, educate, and empower our students.

Sincerely,

Evan Winkler
Principal, Brandywine MS/HS

Evan Winkler
Principal
269-683-4800