Challenges Opportunities for the Local School System

Challenges & Opportunities for the Local School System Debra A. Maurizio Principal Clairton Middle / High School

CHALLENGES l Those four famous letters in Pennsylvania ______

Pennsylvania State System of Assessment (a. k. a. PSSA) l Four tests / year l l l Reading (grades 3 -8 and 11) Math (grades 3 -8 and 11) Writing (grades 5, 8, and 11) Science (grades 4, 8, and 11) All done in April Multiple choice and open-ended items

CHALLENGES: l Those not so famous, but need to be famous three letters in Pennsylvania: ______

Standards Aligned System (a. k. a. S. A. S. ) l The Science SAS is designed for all students to receive a sound training in the fundamentals of Science following a coherent learning progression and connections to Mathematics, the natural language of science, and technology, the application of Science and Mathematics to problems of the human-made world.

Big Ideas, Concepts, Competencies, etc. l l Go to www. pde. state. pa. us Click on Standards Aligned System on the right Click on Science and Technology Grade spans: l l K-2 3 -4 5 -7 8 -12

CHALLENGES l to Inclusion of children with special needs l l l Are the activities able to be adapted to meet the needs of all learners? Could the activities already be differentiated to meet the needs of the students? What is the reading level of the materials provided?

CHALLENGES l Professional development time for the staff l l Self-contained classrooms K-6? Money for substitutes Availability of substitutes Train in the summer? l l Money? Will they go?

CHALLENGES l Teacher buy in l l Can I do this with “my” students? Is cooperative learning already occurring in the classroom? More lecture-oriented at the secondary level? Does this fit with my district’s curriculum?

CHALLENGES l Where is the money going to come from? l l l Pay for training the staff Pay for the materials Other priorities take precedence

OPPORTUNITIES l l l Local Intermediate Units Governor’s Institutes sponsored by Pennsylvania Department of Education Staff members Local hospitals, businesses, etc. Partnerships with other organizations