Curriculum

Taft Middle School has been transitioning to a standards based grading system. Standards-based grading is a grading system in which teachers intentionally track their students’ progress and achievements and focus on helping their students’ progress toward their learning goals and reach their highest potential. Standards-based grading allows students, teachers, and parents the ability to view student progress based on identified proficiency levels on identified standards.

Standards Based Grading

Exceeding (E): Attainment of a standard has been demonstrated to a level of extensive, consistent and profound understanding. Students who are exemplary will need to continue to demonstrate a level of excellence in their skill and knowledge in a standard as it is reassessed.

Proficient (P): Attainment of a standard has been demonstrated. Students that have demonstrated proficiency will need to continue to demonstrate proficiency as standards are reassessed and/or should work to demonstrate a level of excellence in their skill and knowledge in a standard as it is reassessed.

Developing (D): Some demonstration of knowledge and skill toward attaining a standard. Students who have obtained this performance level are making progress and demonstrating skills building toward the overall standard.

Incomplete (I): Has not shown adequate knowledge and skill/not enough substantial evidence toward attaining a standard. Students scoring this indicator equates a lack of attainment and should elicit more questions about a student’s overall skill and knowledge of a standard.

No evidence (N): Unique circumstance that has not allowed the instructor to collect any information on a student’s attainment of a standard. This may be due to extended absences, illness, transfers, etc.

Understanding my child’s grades

Taft teachers report grades in Infinite Campus using a standards based grading approach. Use the information above to understand how to interpret your child’s grades and support their learning. Click here for a more detailed look at Taft’s Standards-Based Grading approach.

Program for academic and creative talent (PACT) aims to enhance and support the educational program and experience of high-ability students. The PACT program offers a variety of academic enrichments and extensions for high-ability students both as elective, exploratory courses, and after-school opportunities. The activities focus on advanced content using high-level cognitive and affective concepts and processes.

There is a strong emphasis on inquiry, creativity and collaboration within flexible learning groups within the activities. The activities range in duration and intensity and extend students beyond the core curriculum. The PACT manager is an advocate and resource in the area of gifted education for students and families as well as a liaison among staff, students, and parents on the academic and affective needs of gifted learners.

Teacher Recommendations For Jefferson High School

Language Arts

 Teacher should recommend students for Language Arts 9 if;

• If IEP states should be in co-taught 🡪 still in LA 9, but will be in a co-taught section (please note)
• If IEP states should receive instruction in special ed classroom (please specify which program)

Student is ELL – Level 3 or above (please specify which level)

Teacher should recommend Advanced Language Arts if;

• Student maintained A or B average grades
• ISASP Language Arts Scale Score is proficient or above (494 or above)

Science:

 Teacher should recommend students for Earth Science if;

• Completed 8^th grade science 
• Teacher recommends student re-take Earth Science
• Indicate if IEP states should be in co-taught
• Indicate if IEP states should receive instruction in special ed classroom (please specify which program)
• Student is ELL – Level 1 or 2 should be in co-taught (please specify which level)

Teacher should recommend students for Biology if;

• Completed and passed Earth Science in 8^th grade

Math:

Teacher should register student for Algebra One if;

• Completed and passed both semesters of 8^th grade math
• ISASP Math Score is proficient (490 or above)
• Teacher recommends student re-take Algebra One

Teacher should recommend Algebra Prep if;

• Struggle with concepts, even with additional support
• ISASP Math Score indicates student is not yet proficient

Teacher should recommend Algebra Readiness if;

• Struggled with concepts, but successful with support
• ISASP Math Score indicates student is not yet proficient 

Teacher should recommend Geometry if;

• Completed and passed Algebra One in 8^th grade

Teacher should recommend Advance Geometry 

• Completed and passed Algebra One in 8^th grade
• Maintained A or B average both semesters and teacher recommendation
• ISASP Math Score indicates student has advanced proficiency 

Kennedy High School Teacher Recommendations:

These are suggested guidelines – not hard fast rules….

Language Arts:  Student should register for LA 9 unless…

IEP states should be in co-taught 🡪 still in LA 9, but will be in a co-taught section (please note)

IEP states should receive instruction in special ed classroom (please specify which program)

Student is ELL – Level 1 or 2 (please specify which level)

Science:  Student should register for Earth Science unless…

Took and passed both semesters of Earth Science in 8^th grade 🡪 register for Biology

Math:  Student should register for Algebra One unless…

Took and passed both semesters of Algebra One in 8^th grade

A’s both semesters and teacher recommendation* 🡪 Adv. Geometry

*Excellent work ethic, independent thinker, persevere when complex/difficult

ISASP Math Scale Score in the Advanced range… 8th grade math = 606+

(Though 8^th grade scale scores 550+ can be successful) 

Student and family are interested in pursuing advanced class, knowing that it does not receive a weighted GPA

Otherwise… 🡪 Geometry

Unless teacher thinks that the student should re-take Algebra One

Did not pass one of the semesters

Insufficient evidence of understanding concepts

Took 8^th grade math…

Struggled with concepts, even with additional support 🡪 Algebra Prep

Struggled with concepts, but successful with supports 🡪 Algebra Readiness or Alg. One

Excelled with concepts and would benefit from additional challenge 🡪 Adv. Alg. One