Dear Staff,

Finally, the warm weather is coming and we are in the final stretch of the school year. However, there is still a month left and we need every day of instruction. Please be sure to continue with your high expectations for teaching and learning.

I also ask that you encourage our students and parents to take ad-vantage of our academic summer opportunities.

Have a great finish to the 2012-2013 school year!

A M e s s a g e f r o m H e i d i . . .

Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction

M A Y , 2 0 1 3 Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment

NEWSLETTER 2

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Heidi Kast Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment

Common Core 2, 3

Spotlight on ELA 2

Learning Options/ESL 4

ELA 5

Summer Programs 5

K-5 Math Update

Adult Ed.

6

Academic Service Learning

7

GED Testing 7

Attachments 1—10

Early Childhood has just been successful-ly reviewed in the areas of Early Head Start and the Head Start Program.

Enrollment is currently taking place for the 2013-2014 school year.

Great Start Parent Conference

On Saturday, April 27, the Lake Orion Com-munity Schools Early Childhood Department hosted the 7th Annual Great Start parent conference and Resource Fair at the CERC building. Lake Orion Community Schools along with the Michigan Department of Edu-cation Great Parents—Great Start, the Great Start Collaborative and Oakland Schools

offered the conference FREE, to all educators and parents with children birth through five throughout the county. This all day confer-ence began with a kick off presentation and then invited parents to attend three “Breakout Sessions.” Along with the parent education sessions and tables, the attendees received breakfast treats and lunch which was provided by the Lake Orion Community Schools’ Food Service Department. Child care was provided by the Early Childhood Department for par-ents attending the conference. Over 400 parents and children attended the event this year.

Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction

P a g e 2 Common Core standards are commonsense

By Nancy Kaffer

There has been a lot or talk and questions regarding common core. In reality, there has been a steady, consistent, “buzz” surrounding education including everything from expecta-tions to teacher evaluation. This “buzz” is not likely to go away anytime soon. It is im-portant for us to stay focused. We have done a lot of work regarding common core and will continue to move forward. While the transition to common core involves a lot of change and work, most educators agree this is where edu-cation needs to go and the idea behind this initiative makes total sense. The attached arti-cle clearly reveals what is happening with the common core controversy. It is not about a student’s education. It is about the poli-tics. Do not let this controversy derail you from the common core transition. Lake Orion, as well as the rest of the state, is continuing to move forward in the best interest of our students. (Heidi Kast)

The Common Core educational standards shouldn’t be controversial.

For most folks, the grade-by-grade expectations detailed in the core standards would be things you learned back in school, and that you’d assume students today are still learning.

So why has the Michigan House of Representa-tives voted to approve a budget that doesn’t include the funding necessary to implement these standards?

Ideology, not education.

The U.S. educational system is a zig-zag of methodology and expectations. The federal No Child Left Behind Act required students to be-come proficient in math, reading and other skills, but allowed states to create their own assessments. Making a tough test wasn’t re-warded; an easy-pass test wasn’t punished. So many states created tests that weren’t reliable gauges of either a student’s educational attain-ment or the educational system itself. Compare the results of National Assessment of Educa-tional Progress with state-level tests like the

Michigan Educational Achievement Program; the national test paints a much less rosy picture of educational achievement.

That’s why, in 2011, Michigan adjusted the “cut scores” (the cut-off at which students are deemed to have passed) for the MEAP test. When Michigan made it more difficult to meet MEAP standards of proficiency, student scores plummeted.

The upshot of all of this is that a high school diploma means something different in Maryland or Massachusetts than it does in Mississippi or South Dakota, which puts American students at a disadvantage when competing for everything from jobs to slots at a university. It also makes it incredibly difficult to gauge whether the states’ educational systems are competitive globally — but all signs indicate that we’re being outperformed, internationally. The Com-mon Core Standards Initiative was an effort to change that. Developed at the state level by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the core standards are an effort to create clear, ration-al expectations for student performance. There’s a bit of a shift in assessment priorities — the core standards speak to a common criticism of American curricula, that too much material is covered in too little depth. So far, so good, right? The common core is an attempt to create rigorous, consistent standards for an American education. How could anyone have a problem with that?

Well, President Barack Obama has endorsed it. At the same time, the power of right-wing in-terests in Michigan seems to be waning.

Because the federal government has incentiv-ized adoption of the core standards with grant money, through its Race to the Top program and waivers from some provisions of No Child Left Behind, right-wing ideologues claim Com-mon Core is a federal “takeover” of education, that the federal government is dictating educa-

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tional standards to local school districts.

This is patently untrue. The Common Core Standards Initiative created a set of expectations, not a curricu-lum. Its adoption is entirely voluntary; states that don’t adopt the core standards won’t be punished.

(It’s worth noting that this is same kind of tactic Re-publican Gov. Rick Snyder has used to incentivize cost-saving behavior in municipal governments and school districts, through his Economic Vitality Incentive Pro-gram, which requires local governments to compete for revenue-sharing dollars.)

Michigan adopted the core standards in 2010; the state is set to begin implementation in 2014. A bill introduced by Republican Rep. Tom McMillin of Roches-ter Hills — of the ongoing state-level effort to bar cit-ies from adopting human rights ordinances — would make the core standards verboten. McMillin and others who oppose common core say the standards take control of education out of local hands. (I guess McMillin is for local control when it comes to schools, but against it when it comes to local communities’ ability to pass ordinances?)

Keep in mind that in my home state, Alabama — not notably more progressive than Michigan — lawmakers rejected an effort to boot the common core. And the American Legislative Exchange Council, the right-wing, anti-tax, anti-regulatory legislation mill, voted against making common-core-exit model legislation available to its members.

But ideologically diverse groups and individuals like Business Leaders for Michigan, a group rep-resenting CEOs, support the core standards. The head of that group, Doug Rothwell, wrote to the chairmen of the state House and Senate appro-priations committees to urge acceptance of the common core. So does John Austin, president of the state Board of Education. And so does Edu-cation Trust-Midwest, a Royal Oak-based educa-tion advocacy group. And so did Snyder, when the core standards were first introduced. His spokespeople didn’t respond to requests for an update on Snyder’s position.

Having performed poorly in the last election, the right wing of the state Republican Party is eager to make Common Core a litmus test for their political power, Austin says, and the more main-stream members of the party are concerned about placating those extreme members.

All of which could have tragic consequences for Michigan students. Will implementation of the core standards fix all that ails public education in Michigan, or the U.S.? Of course not. But if you can’t define the playing field, you’ve got no hope of competing. Speaking of competing, email Heidi Kast by 8:00 p.m. Thursday to be en-tered in the CIA Newsletter drawing.

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COMMON CORE RESOURCE

Check out the website below. It has Common Core “checklists” that can be used to aid in keeping track of standards being taught. It includes activities and tracking sheets for various subject areas. “I can” checklists for students can be found under the “Management” tab. http://www.thecurriculumcorner.com/2012/08/18/common-core-checklists/

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The Lake Orion Community Schools’ ESL program hosted an International Evening on April 25th. The evening was a huge success in celebrating traditions and cultures from many of the countries represented in our school district.

There were games, student made posters, food and dancing, representing the heritage of all!

LEARNING OPTIONS RELOCATING TO CERC

The Learning Options program will be moving from the high school to CERC begin-ning this fall. This move will allow more space at the high school while giving the district an opportunity to slightly ex-pand Learning Options.

Drew Towlerton was appointed to oversee the Learning Op-tions Program at CERC. Drew has been in the district for 7 years and has served as the Learning Options department chair. CONGRATULATIONS DREW!!!

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Kate DiMeo, ELA consultant and Curriculum Coach is recommend-ing the website below as a resource.

http://www.fisherandfrey.com/

Literacy for Life / Fisher and Frey is highly recom-mended, covering areas including reading compre-hension, collaborative learning, 21st Century Literacy, tools for teachers, helpful hints for classrooms and Common Core, and offering workshops and re-sources. Frey and Fisher are both PH.Ds and profes-sors of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University. They have both published numerous arti-cles on improving student achievement and books including Text-Complexity: Raising Rigor in Reading, Checking for Understanding and Common Core Eng-lish Language Arts in a PLC at Work.

ELA Department

See ATTACHMENT 1

2013 LOCS Literacy Institute registration

See ATTACHMENT 2—RE: MACUL

The elementary summer school program is an en-richment program targeted for our students who are struggling in reading and math. It is a free 6 week program that will run from July 9th through August 15th. The students will attend Tuesdays through Thursdays for 3 hours each day. Transportation is provided to students who need it. Also, there is a shortened 3 week program for Carpenter students.

For middle school students summer school will run from July 8th through July 26th at Scripps Middle School. Classes being offered include ELA, math, math Enrichment, Science, and Social Studies. See ATTACHMENT 3 for additional information.

Students entering 9th grade are being offered Alge-bra Readiness in July, a Ceramics Studio class is being offered to both students and adults. ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Modern Language and various electives are being offered, 9-12, as well. Another summer offering is the LOHS Virtual Learn-ing Courses. See ATTACHMENTS 4—10.

See ATTACHMENTS 3—10 for additional Summer School Program information.

LOCS SUMMER PROGRAMS ~ 2013

CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT CONTACTSAND ASSESSMENT CONTACTSAND ASSESSMENT CONTACTS

Heidi Kast……...Asst. Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment

Marysue Schwartzmiller….Administrative Assistant 248-693-5409 or Ext. 3908

Linda Glowaz….Assessment Coordinator...Ext. 6410

District Department Chairs…………..Listed on LOnet

District School Improvement Chairs………..Listed on LOnet

ADULT EDUCATION AND LEARNING OPTIONS

GRADUATION

The graduation ceremony for Adult Education and Learning Options will be held at 7:30 p.m. on

Monday, June 10th in the Lake Orion High School

Auditorium.

UPDATE K - 12

MATH Elementary pilot teachers are getting ready to be trained to implement their third pilot in the fall. This year they piloted Investiga-tions and Every Day Math. In the fall, they will pilot Math Expressions. A decision is expected around January as to what pro-gram will be purchased for K—5.

Middle School piloted Big Ideas this year. They are currently training to implement their second pilot, CMP3, in the fall. A deci-sion is expected around December as to what program will be purchased for 6—8.

For Geometry, Honors Geometry, Algebra and Algebra 2, 3 and Honors Advanced Algebra, the High School Piloted

The Discovery Series

CME

Pearson

For Pre-calculus:

two Pearson products

Brooks/Cole Cengage

For Calculus:

McGraw Hill

Brooks/Cole Cengage

Pearson while McGraw Hill

Piloted for AP Calculus:

two Brooks/Cole Cengage products

The Discovery Series was chosen for Algebra, Algebra 2, 3, Honors Advanced Algebra, Geometry and Honors Geome-try. Pearson was chosen for Pre-calculus and McGraw Hill was chosen for Calculus and AP Calculus.

The math department will receive train-ing prior to the end of the year with support provided all of next year.

Many teachers have committed a lot of time to pilot and be a part of this im-portant decision for our district. All efforts, time and dedication are greatly appreciated.

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ACADEMIC SERVICE LEARNING 2012-2013 Below are some of the really great projects happening this school year within our district being funded through United Way designation funds:

$400 Sharing Memories with Elders Project ~ Pine Tree Elementary

$150 Grid Murals ~ Lake Orion High School

$400 Veterans’ Visit ~ Oakview Middle School

$400 Literacy Day ~Oakview Middle School

$400 Land Use Decision Effect on Water Quality ~ Scripps Middle School

$400 Clinton River Stream Monitoring ~ Waldon Middle School

$400 Sharing with Elders/Assembly Line ~ Stadium Drive Elementary

There are still funds available for your end of year project.

LOCS is now an authorized testing site for Pearson Vue, a secure test-ing site offering GED testing. Adults wanting to take the test electronically can go to the web-site: www.GEDcomputer.com to sign up. Our computer testing site is currently open for testing on Tues-days and Wednesdays at 9 a.m.—3 p.m. and 5 p.m.—9 p.m.

The written GED test will be availa-

ble through December, 2013. The next scheduled testing dates are June 6th and 7th.

GED PREPARATION

Our GED preparation program pre-pares our students well to success-fully pass the GED. Our GED testing site had an 84% successful passing rate on the GED exam for 2012. The state average rate is 70%.

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