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