Updates
STAR STEM Teacher Grant
The Foundation for EBR Schools is now accepting applications for the STAR STEM Teachers Grant, offering 20 grants of $2,500 each to support hands-on, classroom-based math and science projects for grades 4–12. Projects will be reviewed for innovation, alignment, impact, and feasibility, with winners announced by February 2.
If you’re passionate about creating engaging, inquiry-based STEM experiences for your students, this is the perfect opportunity to bring your ideas to life.
STAR Stem Teacher Grant Application
ZEARN Updates
As a reminder, K–8 educators should ensure that students are completing three on-grade-level Zearn lessons each week. Consistent Zearn usage reinforces classroom instruction and helps close gaps while keeping students on track with rigorous grade-level content. Any questions around Zearn or if you are looking for support in implementing Zearn please contact our Math Supervisor, Ashlynn Cage (acage1@ebrschools.org).
We are excited to celebrate the following schools for their outstanding commitment to math learning! Each of these campuses averaged over 3 lessons per student last week.
Greenbrier, Belfair Montessori, Woodlawn ES, Merrydale, Magnolia Woods, Riveroaks, Villa del Rey, Wedgewood, LaSalle, Highland, The Dufrocq School, and Park Forest ES.
This incredible level of student engagement reflects the hard work of teachers, leaders, and students who are making math a priority. Keep up the amazing momentum—your dedication is setting the bar for excellence!
LEAP Focus Standards
The LEAP Focus Standards document is now available to support schools and teachers in strengthening LEAP readiness across all tested subjects. This comprehensive resource aligns directly to the LEAP assessment and is designed to supplement—not replace—our High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM). Inside, educators will find LEAP-aligned practice problems, targeted focus standards, and embedded support tools to reinforce daily instruction. In addition, each section includes direct links to the LEAP Assessment Guides for every subject, ensuring teachers have clear insight into test design, item structure, and expectations. Please share this resource with your teams and integrate it into ongoing lesson preparation.
EBR Benchmark and CFA Assessments
As we move into December, several key benchmark assessments will be administered across the district. These benchmarks provide important data to guide instructional planning, track student progress toward standards mastery, and inform upcoming data reviews. Please ensure that your testing coordinators and instructional teams are prepared for administration and aware of the closing dates in Illuminate.
C&I Professional Learning Videos
If you did not have an opportunity to view professional learning videos on October 17, please review over the next two weeks. Teachers will take a closer look at how our high-quality curriculum enhances daily instruction and connects to the Louisiana Educator Rubric (LER). They will explore how to internalize lessons for maximum student engagement, identify differentiation opportunities for diverse learners, and practice using text-dependent questioning stems and prompts that spark authentic student discourse. The session will highlight best practices for writing and discussion routines so that every student has equitable access to grade-level texts. Teachers will leave with practical strategies to strengthen daily instruction while saving planning time. Sessions will be broken down by cohort (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, High School).
Achievement Level Descriptors
The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) has released Achievement Level Descriptors (ALDs) to align with the current standards and assessments. These descriptors offer detailed insights into what students at each performance level (Unsatisfactory, Basic, Mastery, Advanced) know and can do based on their LEAP assessment results.
ALDs serve as a valuable tool for:
Interpreting student performance
Supporting instructional planning
Guiding targeted interventions
Communicating progress with families
Newly Released Social Studies ALDs:
Existing ALDs for ELA, Math, and Science:
Please share with your instructional teams and curriculum coordinators to support data-driven decision making and student achievement!