Contents
New Items
Grading English Learners and Special Education Students – for All Administrators
Previous Items
EC5 ESL PL on October 4th – for EC5 Administrators
Family Advocacy – for All Administrators
Ticket Offer – Brian Stokes with the KC Symphony – for All Principals
Special Ed Special Day – October 4 – for All Principals
National Bullying Prevention Center E-News Bulletin – for All Administrators
PTA Play – for K-5 Administrators
New Items
Grading English Learners and Special Education Students
From Kristen Scott
This communication is to clarify grading of EL and SPED students in our system.
The information below can be used for Early Childhood through 5th grade in reference to the grade card system at that level:
- The purpose of the grade card is to be a communication tool with parents.
- If the student is not performing on grade level, the parent should know that ahead of time.
- If the accommodations do not change the level of the standard achievement and the student achieves the standard, ???Meets Expectations (M)??? would appropriately communicate their achievement. With accommodations, if the student is performing at the level for which the teacher has taught to??the standard, then the student would receive a “meets expectation”.
- If the student’s work is aligned to the standard but not at grade level, ???Progressing Toward Expectations (P)??? would appropriately communicate their achievement.
- If the accommodations change the level of the standard achievement and the student is successful, ???Progressing Toward Expectations (P)??? would appropriately communicate their achievement.
- If the student is given modified work which has adjusted the standard and even with multiple prompts, examples, etc is still only somewhat successful, then ???Not Progressing at this Time (N)??? would appropriately communicate their achievement.
Success cannot be defined with a percentage. You must know your students as a learner. ESL and SPED staff should be involved in the creation of scales with those they co-teach with to show how to meet the needs of the diverse learners. It is the charge of the teacher to utilize strategies and supporting materials (graphic organizers, visuals, adapted text,e tc.) that will make it possible for the student to access the standard/content/information at the language level they are at. It is the teacher???s responsibility to make the accommodations in the delivery, adaptation of materials, (not having a student translate for the child, or giving the student low level activities because they do not speak English).
The report card is NOT a punishment to students for receiving ESL or Special Education services. ????It is, in fact, an accurate representation of the supports that the student is receiving and their level of achievement with those supports in place. ??If a parent questions the supports given, then as teachers, we ought to be able to clearly define what those supports are, and explain our work with the student, through progress monitoring and work samples.
The same information that is listed above can be used at the Secondary level as general education teachers modify and accommodate EL and SPED students through the use of the scale. Understanding that at Secondary the terms ???not progressing at this time??? and such are not part of the grading system. The information above can guide a general education teacher around how to provide the necessary supports for EL and SPED students around the standards.
We want to draw special attention to the information ???Criteria for Grading English Learners??? document was put out to Secondary administrators last week; we do want to clarify that this is only in place for EL students who receive the direct ESL services in EL1 and EL2 courses; it is not for any other teacher/course. The service delivery model for EL students is different from EC5 to Secondary; therefore, this criteria for grading at Secondary cannot be compared to EC5. Our EL students at the secondary level receive their English language services through an actual course (EL1, EL2, EL3); based on the English Language Proficiency Standards with scales to show the progression of learning around English proficiency.
We hope that this answers any questions you may have around grading our EL and SPED students. If you have further questions you may reach out to Dr. Michelle Colvin, Kristen Scott, Alan King, or your Executive Director.
Previous Items
EC5 ESL PL on October 4th
From Kristen Scott
Just a reminder that we will have our EC5 ESL professional learning the afternoon of October 4th from 1:00 to 4:00 at Schlagle High School.
Family Advocacy
From Rosie Rodriguez
It’s time to begin gathering your building needs for interpreter requests. To facilitate this process, please fill out the form below;
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScj1sFV6uZHTklnCOuu7yGLhfhJP_b4zIz7cNjXBdG9jlqbyA/viewform
Ticket Offer – Brian Stokes with the KC Symphony
From Jodie Lin
Please share with all staff in your building.
Kansas City Young Audiences (KCYA) is offering educators from school districts connected with its programs a special opportunity to participate in its upcoming Benefit Concert for Arts Education on October 7th.
The concert features the Broadway and Tony-award winning star, Brian Stokes Mitchell, with the Kansas City Symphony, and will be presented in the wonderful Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. KCYA invites you, your teachers and staff to join us for this exciting event. Please note below the details giving educators an incredible 2-for-the-price-of-one ticket offer.
More information at this link:
https://kcya.org/full_content.php?article_id=400&full=yes&pbr=1
Special Ed Special Day – October 4
From Michelle Colvin
As a reminder, the special education teachers who serve students with mild to moderate disabilities mostly in general education settings will engage in professional learning unique to them on Wednesday, October 4, according to the following schedule:
High School Special Ed Teachers – Central Office Rm 131 from 1:00-3:00
Middle School Special Ed Teachers – Central Office Rm 132 from 1:30-3:30
Special Ed Teachers in 8:30 to 3:30 Elementary Schools – Central Office Rm 333 from 2:00-4:00
Special Ed Teachers who work in 9:00 to 4:00 Elementary Schools – Central Office Rm 133 from 2:30-4:30
Early Childhood Teachers and Paras – Central Office East Wing from 1:30 to 3:30
Paras who work in Secondary SLC/Collab settings and Bridges Central Office – Rm 253 from 1:00-3:00
Paras who work in 8:30 to 3:30 Elementary Schools – Children???s Campus of Kansas City 3rd Floor Conference Room from 2:00 to 3:30
Paras who work in 9:00 to 4:00 Elementary Schools – Arrowhead Library from 2:30-4:00
Special Education Teachers and paras who work in Life Skills, STEPS, or ED classrooms will be in their buildings for professional learning on October 4.
National Bullying Prevention Center E-News Bulletin
From Tina Richardson
PTA Play
From Stephanie Dickson
PTA Play is once again around the corner. This years??? performance by Theatre for Young America is a brand-new musical based on Doreen Cronin???s latest book in the wildly popular series that began with Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type (performed by TYA last season). It???s Halloween time at Farmer Brown???s farm and the literate farm animals want an old fashioned Holiday Celebration. One problem: Farmer Brown does not like scary things???no haunted house or creepy ghosts for him. But the clever, well-read cows, poultry and pigs create a party more fun than fright with apple-bobbing, costume parades and hilarious musical performances. This performance is suitable for all K-5th graders.
Curriculum Connections: Musical theatre adaptation of award-winning literature, farm life, personification of animals, holiday customs, humor.
Dates are Tuesday, Nov. 14th 9:45 showing will only be for early schools and 11:15 open to all.
Wednesday, Nov. 15th one showing at 9:45 open to all schools.
The show will run about an hour. The cost will be $2.50 per student.
Please contact Teresa Kloiber at IARC 627-6850 or Teresa.kloiber@kckps.org to schedule your school.
Any questions call or email Stephanie.dickson@kckps.org 913-627-6862.