You probably noticed that you received a LOT more permission and consent forms than every before this year. I first want to apologize that all the forms have come home without explanation. I will work to ensure that in the future with each form that comes home is well explained. 

New legislation from the 89th Texas Legislative Session requires parents and guardians to provide annual consent for certain school-based services and activities. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) distinguishes between services that require opt-in consent (consent must be provided before service can be delivered) and services where parents may opt out (consent is assumed unless declined). Some services are always provided in emergencies or as general caretaking.

If you do not complete the form:Your child will not receive services that require opt-in. They will continue to receive opt-out services (unless you decline in writing) and services that are always provided.

These are the forms that have gone home so far:

1. Health Services Opt-in form. (this includes consent for mental health/counseling)

2. Clubs Permission forms (if we do not get these this week, your child will not be allowed to stay for clubs)

3.  Girl Scouts Permission form (Because GS is an outside entity that provides us with curriculum to deliver during the school day, and students become GS members through our partnership, a separate form is required.)  We were originally given the wrong from by the Girl Scout team which asked for a social security number.  This was not correct. We will be sending home the revised form and shredding the previous forms that were returned. 

4. Socio-economic form. This form impacts our funding and state accountability. We have to have a form to document each family's income. In order to retain our 50/50 status, we need to have forms to prove socio-economic status. You can check on the form that you prefer not to share your total income and it will automatically assume that you make over the amount listed here. In the future this form will be sent in an envelope so that you are able to return the form directly to the front office. 

As part of FERPA and DISD laws, all information shared with our staff is confidential and will not be shared with any other person or entity. We appreciate your support Please reach out to your child's teacher if you need to upate information on a form or if you need a new form. Please reach out to me directly if you have any feedback or need any more information. 

This week students in grades 3–8 will take their Standards Mastery Checks. This assessment is created by the district to check on the mastery of each standard as a whole. These assessments help us measure student learning, identify areas of strength, and determine the gaps where additional support may be needed.

Here is the breakdown by grade level:

• Grades 3, 4, 6: Reading and Math

• Grades 5, 7: Reading, Math, and Science

• Grade 8: Reading, Math and Social Studies

Help us prepare by ensuring your child:

• Gets a good night’s rest before testing days

• Eats a healthy breakfast, or gets to school with enough time to eat breakfast in the cafeteria (before 7:50)

• Arrives to school on time, no later than 8:00 a.m

These assessments are more for teachers to assess their own instruction while allowing for students to praactice the norms and build up to a longer assessment environment. This assessment will be the shortest while the ones in December will get longer and the ones in the spring should mirror the length of a full STAAR assessment. 

If grades are assigned to students for any of these assessments, it will only be for the questions on the assessment that have been FULLY covered. Please reach out if you have any questions or need any support.

PTA Spirit Wear Update: Spirit Wear orders will go home in backpacks on Tuesday & Wednesday of next week. If you ordered a yard sign, those will need to be picked up from the office.  Questions: solarprepgirlspta@gmail.com