Connecting Waters Charter School

Curriculum/Plip Policy

Policy

According to the school charter, CWCS 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 first learning record meeting of each school year, each ES will review and explain the previous year’s STAR/CST and/or CAHSEE 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 lower in ELA or math, until the passage of Algebra 1, on the STAR/CAHSEE assessments, then the ES must provide a Personalized Learning Improvement Plan (PLIP) (Task 1B).

Personalized Learning Improvement Plan (PLIP) Steps for Basic, Below Basic and Far Below Basic 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):

Determining Placement : PLIP and PLIP Intensive (See below for CAHSEE PLIPs)

Grade 2

Students in Grade 2 will be required to have a PLIP if their standard WRAT score is between 80 - 89 (check FRED View/Testing) and will be required to have a PLIP Intensive if their standard WRAT score is 79 or lower. Use Reading and Writing scores for ELA; if either is low a PLIP is needed. For students in Grade 2 with a PLIP Intensive, it is highly recommended the ES discuss a PLT referral with the parent.

Grades 3 – 8, or until the passage of Alg. 1

Any student in grades 3 - 8 (or until the passage of Algebra 1) scoring Basic on CST in ELA or Math will be required to have a PLIP. Any student scoring Below Basic or Far Below Basic will be required to have a PLIP Intensive.

Grades 9 - 11 ELA

Students in grades 9 - 11 will have PLIP only in ELA (unless they are in the above math category). Any student in grades 9 - 11 scoring Basic on CST in ELA will be required to have a PLIP. Those scoring Below Basic or Far Below Basic in ELA will be required to have a PLIP Intensive.

Required: PLIP (all Basic Students):

1. Goal Setting: The ES and Parent will choose one strand to improve on this school year in the subjects of English and Math using student’s STAR score. This strand should be heavily weighted on current year CST using STAR blueprints: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/blueprints.asp

ELA Strands

● Word Analysis, Fluency, and Systemic Vocabulary Development

● Reading Comprehension

● Literary Response and Analysis

● Written and Oral English Language Conventions

● Writing Strategies

Math Strands (Grades 2-7)

● Number Sense

● Algebra and Functions

● Measurement and Geometry

● Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability

● Mathematical Reasoning

Algebra 1 (Algebra 1 only)

● Number Properties, Operations and Linear Equation

● Graphing and Systems of Linear Equation

● Quadratics and Polynomials

● Functions and Rational Expressions

● Using Blueprints, choose two standards that will serve as learning objectives. Using the objectives, write TWO measurable goals stating how the objective will be measured and met (per subject area of PLIP). (powerpoint on goal setting)

● The ES and parent will decide on a strategy to achieve each goal (goal setting worksheet)

● The ES will write the goals and the plan to achieve each goal in the learning record as part of the student’s PLIP, following the Learning Record procedure..

2. Intervention and Test Preparation:

Grades 2 - 8, or until the passage of Algebra 1:

Students will be required to enroll in and use Study Island daily to work towards grade level proficiency. Each student must work a minimum of 15-20 minutes per day (or 1.25 hr week) PER PLIP SUBJECT in Study Island until proficiency is achieved in the targeted PLIP goal strand. (ES accounts can be created to monitor daily student activity on Study Island). Once proficiency is achieved, students will continue to work in Study Island for the required time on a new targeted goal (standard) based on their CST results. When proficiency is achieved in all targeted areas, students will continue to work in Study Island, pacing the material to complete the test prep before their STAR exam. ESs will check the student’s account before each LR meeting and discuss the progress with student and parent. Students who do not have access to the Internet may use school approved test prep only with the approval of their ES advisor.

Grades 9 - 11, ELA Only:

Students will be required to purchase test prep (such as Buckle Down) and use it daily to work towards grade level proficiency. Each student must work a minimum of 15-20 minutes per day (or 1.25 hours per week) PER PLIP SUBJECT until proficiency is achieved in the targeted PLIP goal strand.

3. Progress Monitoring:

Pre and Post Scantron tests will be administered by the ES or approved proctor at the beginning of the year and again before STAR testing. ESs may instead administer the WRAT for low-level readers in Grades 2 and 3. Students only need to complete Scantron and WRAT in the area they are not proficient. Scantron is optional for students scoring proficient and advanced.

Once developed, students will also participate in Schoolwide Benchmark Assessments

● Benchmarks will be administered by the parents to all grade 2-11 students who scored Basic, Below Basic, and Far Below Basic and students who have not yet passed Algebra 1 and CAHSEE.

● Benchmarks will be completed by all PLIP students according to the Benchmark time table.

● ESs will document the results of the Benchmark in the corresponding Learning Record.

Required: PLIP Intensive (all Below Basic and Far Below Basic Students):

Required:

Note: Standard specific goal setting is not required for PLIP Intensive students. The overall goal is to help these students achieve proficiency in all areas through the PLIP Intensive Process.

1. Intervention and Test Preparation:

Grades 2 - 8, or until the passage of Algebra 1: Students will be required to enroll in and use Study Island to work towards grade level proficiency. Each student must work a minimum of 15-20 minutes per day (or 1.25 hours per week) PER PLIP SUBJECT in Study Island until proficiency is achieved in the targeted PLIP goal strand. Once proficiency is achieved, students will continue to work in Study Island for the required time on a new targeted goal (standard) based on their CST results. Students who do not have access to the Internet may use school approved test prep only with the approval of their ES advisor. ESs will check the student’s account before each LR meeting and discuss the progress with student and parent. Students who do not have access to the Internet may use school approved test prep only with the approval of their ES advisor.

Grades 9 - 11, ELA Only: Students will be required to purchase test prep (such as Buckle Down) and use it daily to work towards grade level proficiency. Each student must work a minimum of 15-20 minutes per day (or 1.25hours per week) PER PLIP SUBJECT until proficiency is achieved in the targeted PLIP goal strand.

2. Progress Monitoring: Pre and Post Scantron tests will be administered by the ES or approved proctor in the beginning and again before STAR testing. ESs may instead administer the WRAT for low-level readers in Grades 2 and 3. Students only need to complete Scantron and WRAT in the area they are not proficient. Scantron is optional for students scoring proficient and advanced.

Once developed, students will also participate in Schoolwide Benchmark Assessments

● Benchmarks will be administered by the parents to all grade 2-11 students who scored Basic, Below Basic, and Far Below Basic and students who have not yet passed Algebra 1 and CAHSEE.

● Benchmarks will be completed by all PLIP students according to the Benchmark time table.

● ESs will document the results of the Benchmark in the corresponding Learning Record.

3. Parent Training:

All parents with student(s) scoring Below Basic or Far Below Basic will be required to respond to a CWCS online parent training module http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDPK1xXqGQE or attend an in person parent training or participate in the PLT process. After viewing the online training module, the Parent will provide their ES a copy of their feedback sheet (Feedback from the Direct Instruction Training Module), which must have a score of 100%. Use the Answer sheet for the Feedback from the Instruction Training Module to review your parent's answers. DO NOT GIVE THE ANSWER SHEET TO YOUR PARENT. Using the template guidelines, ESs will document the date Parent Training was completed in the student’s LR by the PLIP due date. (Due the 45th school day.)

4. Assessments / Instruction:

Student must have daily instruction in area of PLIP. All PLIP Intensive students must have a form of periodic assessment built into their curriculum (i.e.: Chapter End Tests, Unit Assessments, etc.). Students will complete the assessments and parents will modify instruction or re-teach areas in which students are not proficient. ESs will review assessments at each LR.

5. PLIP Intensive Options:

Students must participate in an individualized learning plan including one or more of the following support options. ESs will document the chosen option(s) in the student’s Learning Record:

● Tutoring (minimum 1 session per week per subject), or

● CWCS class(es), or

● Developmental Corrective Reading Course, or

● ES develops remediation plan with Study Island http://www.ieminc.org/handbook/curriculum/cresource/Study%20Island/mainind.htm

Students who have not made adequate progress in Study Island may be referred for the PLT process. Students can be referred to PLT for Math and/or ELA.

Procedure:

1. ESs will review each of their student’s STAR/WRAT/CAHSEE scores. If no STAR scores are available (i.e., the student attended a private school last year or came from out of state) the results from the Scantron test can be used by comparing this year’s Scaled Scores with the previous grade level’s values on the CST Regression Chart. Please remember to use Scantron’s Reading for ELA comparisons, not Language.

2. Place students in the appropriate PLIP, if needed, according to the above policy.

3. The ES will then carry out the requirements for the appropriate PLIP plan according to the above policy (order curriculum, enroll in classes, assign tutoring, etc.).

4. Learning Record: Use the wording PLIP or PLIP Intensive and include all information from the Learning Record PLIP Template. Use the words "CAHSEE PLIP" for students that need a PLIP for CAHSEE prep. (See below.)

5. Each of these students will take the Scantron Post-test (or WRAT) 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.

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 desired curriculum to the CWCS Math Specialist for approval.

CAHSEE PLIP / CAHSEE PLIP Intensives

CAHSEE Prep Courses may be done independently (11th graders)..

CAHSEE Intensive Plans involve direct instruction from approved CAHSEE Intensive Options.

Required:

1. Students in 10th grade who score Far Below Basic or Below Basic on their 9th grade STAR test for Math (general or Algebra 1) or English-Language Arts must participate in a CAHSEE PLIP Intensive.

2. 11th grade plan: Students in 11th grade who have not passed CAHSEE must participate in a CAHSEE Prep Course for the subject area(s) not passed. They must enroll in eKnowledge and complete either the online or paper/pencil version of the Diagnostic Test for their CAHSEE PLIP.

3. Students in 12th grade who have not passed both sections of the CAHSEE must participate in a CAHSEE PLIP Intensive.

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 still take a total of at least 25 credits a semester.