August 31, 2015

 Welcome ◦ Education Chair: Mrs. Sue Smith  Pledge of Allegiance  New 2015 PSSA Exams  Literacy Committee Update  C2BC – Cool to be Clean Initiative  Public Comment

 New Exams ◦ The new PSSA Exams were administered in the Spring of 2015 to students in Grades 3 – 8.  Exams were fully aligned to new, more rigorous PA Core Standards.  The 2015 PSSA exams measure different content than previously administered PSSAs exams.  The PSSA Reading Exam was changed to the PSSA English Language Arts (ELA) exam, which tests both reading and writing.  Some material is being tested a full grade level earlier than under the previous Academic Content Standards.

 Raising the Bar ◦ The State Board of Education approved new “cut scores” for determining student performance.  A committee of 58 Pennsylvania educators developed the cut scores in June ◦ The new cut scores have resulted in fewer students scoring proficient and advanced across Pennsylvania. ◦ Student performance on the new PSSA Exams can not be compared to performance on prior PSSA Exams.

“It isn’t useful to compare these student results directly to past results, because the tests are different. Student performance hasn’t changed, but the test has changed considerably in some grades.” -- Nicole Reigelman Pennsylvania Department of Education Press Secretary

Impact: Distribution of Student Performance in PA - ELA Exam

Impact: Distribution of Student Performance in PA - Math Exam

GradeReading ELA DifferenceMath Math Difference Avg: Impact: Fewer students scoring Advanced/Proficient in PA

 Key Dates: ◦ September 9, 2015 – PSSA Data Interaction Report will be made available to districts. This will allow the District to customize results to better understand the data and to plan professional development. ◦ September 14, 2015 – PSSA Individual Student Reports will be delivered to help better explain the new 2015 PSSA exams. A “Report Interpretation Guide” will be included. ◦ September 29, 2015 – Public Release of School Performance Profiles (SPPs).

“What appears to differentiate those who are more likely to be ready [for post- secondary education] from those who are less likely is their proficiency in understanding complex texts.” -- ACT’s Reading Between the Lines

 Background/Timeline ◦ Committee of parents, teachers, administrators, and Board members first met in September ◦ The work was postponed until 2015 – 2016 school year to:  Provide additional training to teachers on curriculum writing.  Analyze new PSSA data aligned to PA Core Standards.

 Focused Teacher Support ◦ Starting in January of 2015, the District:  Partnered with the Institute for Learning (IFL) of the University of Pittsburgh’s Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC)  Trained teachers on text selection, best practices in pedagogy and content, and unit writing to better meet the demands of more rigorous PA Core Standards.  Conducted Grade Level Trainings:  K – Grade 2  Grades 3 – 5  Grades 6 – 8

sive Reading Informational Text Reading Literature Foundational Skills Writing Speaking & Listening A necessary component of an effective, comprehensive reading program designed to develop proficient readers. Enables students to read, understand, and respond to informational texts. Enables students to read, understand, and respond to literature. Develops the skills of informational, argumentative, and narrative writing as well as the ability to engage in evidence based analysis of text and research. Focuses students on communication skills that enable critical listening and effective presentation of ideas. PA Core Standards English Language Arts & Literacy

 First Meeting is scheduled on Thursday, September 24 at 3:45 p.m. in the Board Room to review the work to date.  After first meeting, we will create two committees:  K – Grade 5 Committee/Learning to Read  Grades 6 – 12 Committee/Reading to Learn  Continue training for teachers on selecting texts, best practices and writing curriculum.  Pilot new units and novels for students.