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.