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.

 

Personalized Learning Improvement Plan (PLIP) definition for students

By the end of the first week of each school year, the ES will review the student’s Spring STAR and/or CAHSEE Math and English results in Edusoft. 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).

 

Students in 11th and 12th grade that have not passed CAHSEE must participate in a CAHSEE PLIP for the subject area not passed.

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 HQT tutor, an online vendor, or a school CAHSEE prep course. The student must take a total of at least 25 credits a semester.

 

For any 3rd to 12th grade student who does not have STAR results to view in Edusoft, Scantron Edperformance results will be used to assess if the student needs a PLIP in English or math, as each student scoring below grade level would need a plan. (Further clarification to come from the assessment department.)

 

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. 

 

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:  Use PLIP suggestions provided by Math and LA specialists for students not passing CAHSEE and Algebra and students working at basic and below.

2. Required:  In consultation with the parent, either order a standards aligned curriculum at the student’s current ability level from the suggested curriculum lists Eng K-8, Eng 9-12, Math 9-12, or California state adopted materials 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.

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

4. 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.

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 print out lessons to reteach those standards directly from either Skills Connection in Scantron or by using Edusoft tests.