REVISED 8/2008

Connecting Waters Charter School

Curriculum Policy

 

Policy

According to the school charter, CW students must use curriculum that will enable the students to meet the California state standards framework.  The standards must all be covered by the chosen curriculum, however the curriculum does not have to be state adopted. Writing prompts & rubrics must be provided to every family for all grade levels, all grade levels should have a curriculum that teaches writing, but those students in 4th and 7th grade, and those students preparing for the CAHSEE, must have a writing curriculum that is standards aligned.

 

By the end of the first week of each school year, each ES will review and explain the previous year’s STAR/CST and/or CAHSEE (for student who did not pass) report data with each parent for each student (Task 1A) according to the Using Data to Drive Instruction policy. If a student scores at “basic” or below in an overall subject area on the STAR/CAHSEE assessments, then the ES must provide a Personalized Learning Improvement Plan (PLIP) (Task 1B according to the Using Data to Drive Instruction policy.

 

 

CAHSEE PLIP:
(CAHSEE Intensive Plans involve directed instruction with an instructor, CAHSEE Prep Courses may be done independently.)

1) Students in 10th grade who score Far Below Basic or Below Basic on their 9th grade STAR test for math or language arts must participate in the CAHSEE Intensive plan for their CAHSEE PLIP.

2) Students in 11th who have not passed CAHSEE must participate in a CAHSEE Prep Course for the subject area(s) not passed for their CAHSEE PLIP.
3) Students in 12th grade who have not passed either section of the CAHSEE, must participate in the CAHSEE Intensive plan for their CAHSEE PLIP.

4) If a student has completed all other graduation requirements, except for the CAHSEE, the student must take at least 10 credits per semester in each subject area still needed to pass through a CWCS HQT tutor, an online vendor, or a school CAHSEE prep course. http://www.ieminc.org/handbook/NCLB/HQTCAHSEE.htm The student must take a total of at least 25 credits a semester.

 

Personalized Learning Improvement Plan (PLIP) Steps for “Basic” and below STAR results and a CAHSEE “fail” score

Complete the required items below, and use the optional steps as needed (Reminder: these steps are only for those requiring a PLIP as stated above—not all students):

 

1.Required:

*The ES and Parent will focus on 1-2 goals to improve on this school year in the subjects of English Math using the PLIP Checklist.
*The ES and parent will decide on a strategy to achieve each goal
*The ES will write the goals and plan to achieve each goal on the PLIP document and in the learning record under the student’s PLIP.

(Here are sample goals and strategies written by other ESes for your reference.)
2.Required:  Use PLIP suggestions provided by Math and LA specialists for students not passing CAHSEE and Algebra and students working at basic and below.

3. Required:  In consultation with the parent, either order a standards aligned curriculum at the student’s current ability level from the suggested curriculum lists on the CWCS Curriculum website/Curriculum Suggestions for English and math units for identified areas of weakness or complete a PLIP Curriculum Checklist declaring that the material the parent is choosing to use covers all of the standards for that subject. If the student’s curriculum does not cover all of the areas listed on the checklist, you may “fill in any gaps” with supplemental material. PLIP Curriculum Checklists:   Language Arts: K-3, 4-8, 9-12. Math: K-7, Algebra, 9-12. Keep signed completed checklists in your student’s file, ready to provide to the school if needed.

4. Optional, but recommended:  Edusoft Benchmark exams should be used to show mastery of the standards.

5. Optional:  Additional Scantron Ed performance tests can be taken at any time to determine expectation of performance on the upcoming assessments.  Standard specific lessons are available on the website after the test to relearn the standards that have not been mastered. 

 

Procedure

1. ESs will review each of their student’s STAR/CAHSEE scores for math and English in Edusoft prior to the first learning record meeting each school year and identify those students who require a Personalized Learning Improvement Plan (PLIP) based on school policy.  If no scores are available for 3rd graders and above, the results from a Scantron Edperformance test will be reviewed as each student scoring below grade level would need a plan.

2. By the first LR meeting, the assessment scores and their meaning will be professionally discussed with the parent and a PLIP will be chosen for the subject areas where they are needed.  This discussion should focus on recommendations from the ES to the parent that will benefit the students, not on the fact that the student tested below grade level.

3. The ES will then order curriculum and/or enroll student in the selected courses as needed. The learning record needs to contain information monthly on what Personalized Learning Improvement Plan is being tried with this student in the required areas, and how it is working. (Use the word “PLIP” in the learning record, then document what was worked on that month. It is the responsibility of the ES to document the PLIP, and not the parent. Use the words "CAHSEE PLIP" for students that need a PLIP for CAHSEE prep.)

4. In second semester (date to be given to you by school), each student will take the Scantron Post-test to be used as comparison data to the pre test.  The post test should provide evidence of the student’s growth and predict how the student will test on the CST assessments. After the test, the ES will select the weakest essential standards for each student and will reteach those standards using either Scantron, Edusoft, and/or test prep materials.

 

All HS students taking an algebra 1 course must use a textbook from our school approved Algebra 1 list or submit findings of standards alignment of curriculum that they choose to use to the CW Math Specialist for approval.