Towers Elementary School Achievement Report Sandy Skora, Principal October, 2015

Transition to Common Core Standards. Standards can be found at The Council of Great City Schools offers roadmaps for Common Core Standards from kindergarten through 8th grade. The documents have a great focus on Common Core and even include small examples of the continuum of math beginning in kindergarten and progressing through the grades. Go to to find these roadmaps.

Smarter Balanced Assessment Why? We do not look at scores as good or bad—rather we see them as diagnostic tools. The results provide information to help guide and shape instruction to help meet students’ academic needs. We are pleased the Smarter Balanced test measures critical thinking and analysis, two skills that are essential for success in the 21st century. By testing these new skills, this exam goes above and beyond anything we’ve ever seen in California. We’re pleased with the direction and will continue to push for examinations that provide quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Qualitative and quantitative measurements between previous student testing and this new testing platform are meaningless at this time because this testing method is completely different than we’ve ever experienced. Once a baseline has been established, we will be able to monitor student progress and intervene appropriately. It’s also important that those analyzing the scores realize that there are plenty of measurements conducted. We have local benchmarks, assessments and report cards that impact the whole student. Smarter Balanced exams are just one of many things. We want to have a collaborative process involving educators, parents, students and members of our communities.

We want questions from all involved so we can have a proactive conversation about what is best for our students. That said, we need to provide our education professionals ample time to examine this information. We’re proud of our teachers and staff for their dedication to California’s students. As we review this new data, we encourage everyone to remember that the Smarter Balanced tests are important, but they are only one piece of a large puzzle that informs great instruction and student learning.

Achievement Levels Name Subject 3rd Grade4th Grade5th Grade TUSD Not Met Nearly Met Exceeded Not Met Nearly Met Exceeded Not Met Nearly Met Exceeded ELA Math Towers Not Met Nearly Met Exceeded Not Met Nearly Met Exceeded Not Met Nearly Met Exceeded ELA Math

K-2 Cognitively Guided Instruction 3-5 CMAST (Centered Math and Science Teaching) K-5 Guided Reading Instruction English Language Arts Professional Development Professional Development Support/Coaching

School Programs Available YMCA before and after school program on campus. Music program for 4 th and 5 th grades. Variety of after school programs available (chess, dance, art, drama). Computer lab for all students. Learning Center Towers P.T.A. (Parent Teacher Association) EL Intervention Teacher

For more information on Towers, please go to This powerpoint presentation will be available on our website.