October 18, 2018

Dear Parents and Guardians of K-8 Students,

In striving to provide a rigorous, student-centered, and engaging learning experience for every student, our five schools are working together to revise the manner in which we report on student progress.

For several years, teachers have used curriculum standards to identify what every child should know and be able to do in each subject area and grade level. Teachers have been using these “priority standards” to guide their instruction and assessment of student learning. They work with their students on a daily basis using these priority standards, which are detailed, specific standards for students’ essential learning in each content area.

This year we have adopted a new trimester reporting format for all five schools. Using a limited number of overarching Parent Standards (the standards we report to parents), we will report to families on these major standards in each of the content areas. Our newly adopted standards-based reporting system describes where each student is in relation to the standard and what a student should know and be able to do at the end of each grade level in Language Arts (Reading and Writing), Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Fine and Performing Arts, and Physical Education.

We firmly believe that the standards-based report card is a significantly more effective tool for communicating student growth within the grade level learning standards. Instead of a single grade in each content area at the end of each trimester, parents and students will be able to see more specific information about how a student is progressing in several standards within each content area.

In addition to this new academic reporting system, we will now provide information in the Habits of Work section. Included in this section are reports on each student’s engagement, responsibility, and respect, behaviors that support students as they are learning new and challenging material as they interact with adults and peers. Our goal is to develop productive Habits of Work within all of our students from Kindergarten through 8th grade. We believe it is important for all students to learn the content of the curriculum and also to learn how to develop a critical, flexible, and thoughtful mindset while learning.

Standards-based reporting allows teachers the opportunity to clearly communicate with students and parents. In the coming months, we will make every effort to clearly communicate with you - continuing to provide information about standards based reporting at your child’s school, including frequently asked questions and additional background information, a description of proficiency levels, a sample report card, further detail on the content area standards included on the report card, and a list of additional resources for parents and guardians. Please feel free to contact your child’s school or get in touch with me at 563-3044, extension 103 or at ahassett@aos93.org if you have questions or concerns.

Best regards,

Ann Hassett