Here are some of the decisions...
Here are some of the decisions coming out of Tuesday’s school
board meeting:
ASSESSMENT TESTING
WHAT HAPPENED
Peggy Anatol, the district’s director of assessment, presented the
board with results from assessments, including the STAR testing
program, the high school exit exam and the Academic Performance
Index.
WHAT IT MEANS
The board received encouraging news about the high school exit
exam. After the March test, 83% of the class of 2004 has passed the
English-Language Arts portion and 67% has passed the math portion.
For the Stanford Achievement Test, while grades 2 through 6 show
improvement every year, grades 7 through 10 have mostly stagnated.
WHAT THEY SAID
“[For the eighth grade], we looked at that class looking backward
and there have been changes in the state programs. We are looking to
help them move forward. [The scores] will be different this year,”
Supt. Robert Barbot said.
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
WHAT HAPPENED
Barbot gave a brief summary of the district’s compliance with the
federal education act.
WHAT IT MEANS
In many areas, the district already meets or exceeds the standards
set forth in the act. There are some key areas that district
officials are waiting for clarification on from the federal
government, including teacher qualifications and sex education. Of
the $8 billion by which the act increases the federal budget, the
district expects to receive an increase of about $394,000, said Susan
Despenas, assistant superintendent of elementary education.
PRE-KINDERGARTEN LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES
WHAT HAPPENED
Barbot provided a brief summary of the guidelines. The California
State Department of Education has revised its approach to child care
and developmental services from a process-oriented compliance model
toward a focus on desired results. The goal of the guidelines is to
provide the guidance needed by preschool directors and teachers to
build high-quality programs that prepare children to arrive in
kindergarten well prepared for the new learning and curriculum
content they will encounter there.
WHAT IT MEANS
The district’s preschool program will be expanded to almost 500
kids in January at three sites: Whittier and Wilson elementary
schools and the Harper Center. Desired results are that children are
personally and socially competent and that families support their
children’s learning and development.
-- Deirdre Newman
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