Class Notes 08.20.15

+ School Board reviews assessments

During an Aug. 13 work session, the Orange County School Board discussed state and district assessments and how they will change for the 2015-16 school year with information available at this time.

 For the statewide assessment, the board reviewed the four large areas of assessment and accountability and how these areas will change for 2015-16. There were some reductions in statewide assessments for the 2015-16 school year. Postsecondary Education Readiness Test assessment will not be required for selected students. Grade 11 English/Language Arts assessment was eliminated, and FAIR assessments are neither required nor available.

The required statewide assessments are:

• English/Language Arts (grades 3-10)

• Mathematics (grades 3-8)

• Science (grades 5 and 8)

• EOCs (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra II, Biology, Civics, United States History)

• WIDA (replacing CELLA)

• FSAA (replacing FAA)

 Regarding district assessments, because of changes in state statutes, more flexibility is allowed in the assessment of some courses. This allowed the district to eliminate many elementary assessments. District benchmark assessments will not be required for all schools, and schools will have the flexibility to choose how to monitor student progress.

The Iowa Assessments will be replaced with the Measures of Academic Progress assessments for kindergarten through second-grade students. In the 2014-15 school year, 22 schools administered the MAP K-2 assessments created by NWEA as a pilot. Surveys of teachers and administrators found significantly stronger support for the use of the MAP assessments and more appropriate parent reporting for scores

The MAP assessments cost significantly less than the existing K-2 assessments, even with the Grade 3 option. The cost to the district will be reduced from $863,000 to $463,000.

+ School aims high with new club

A new archery club is starting this fall at Montessori Winter Garden Charter School, and registration is open to all community members in kindergarten through 12th grade. Aug. 31 is the final day to register.

The school is located at 855 E. Plant St., Winter Garden.

To register or for details, call (352) 874-4363.