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Challenges & Opportunities for the Local School System. Debra A. Maurizio Principal Clairton Middle / High School. CHALLENGES. Those four famous letters in Pennsylvania ______ ______ ______ ______. Pennsylvania State System of Assessment (a.k.a. PSSA). Four tests / year
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Challenges & Opportunities for the Local School System Debra A. Maurizio Principal Clairton Middle / High School
CHALLENGES • Those four famous letters in Pennsylvania ______ ______ ______ ______
Pennsylvania State System of Assessment (a.k.a. PSSA) • Four tests / year • 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: • Those not so famous, but need to be famous three letters in Pennsylvania: _____ ______ _____
Standards Aligned System (a.k.a. S.A.S.) • 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. • Go to www.pde.state.pa.us • Click on Standards Aligned System on the right • Click on Science and Technology • Grade spans: • K-2 • 3-4 • 5-7 • 8-12
CHALLENGES • Inclusion of children with special needs • 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? to
CHALLENGES • Professional development time for the staff • Self-contained classrooms K-6? • Money for substitutes • Availability of substitutes • Train in the summer? • Money? • Will they go?
CHALLENGES • Teacher buy in • 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 • Where is the money going to come from? • Pay for training the staff • Pay for the materials • Other priorities take precedence
OPPORTUNITIES • Local Intermediate Units • Governor’s Institutes sponsored by Pennsylvania Department of Education • Staff members • Local hospitals, businesses, etc. • Partnerships with other organizations