December 2009/10 ES Meeting Compilation

(A compilation of questions and answers from the all ES meeting this month)

ES Specific Info:

Why aren't our benefits prorated per student number?

There are many ways this could be done, but since we have such a large movement possible constantly in your student loads, we determined it would most benefit those with a steady movement of students to have set "tiers" instead of never knowing each month how much would be contributed towards an ESs benefits.

For the new PO "reminder" button, can it only appear when we are placing a service PO instead of a product PO?

No, sorry!

If a Student’s name is spelled incorrectly on a SA, who should be contacted?

Student records at stuchange@ieminc.org.

Is it possible to extend the length of the description field or add more lines to the PO Request layout?

No, sorry, it is not possible--it must fit the faxed form that goes to the vendor. Skip down to the next line and use as needed.

Educational Info (POs, Curriculum, Vendors, LRs, etc )

Does the new LR tab feature go back a few years or is it only for the current year?

This is only for the current school year.

If an 8^th grade student is taking all high school classes, should she only have a high school report card?

Yes

In the Agenda about PE, it seemed to say that we need to be recording PE for students K-10 each month. Is that something that is now required or should be done for every LR?

This is not new and should be done for every LR. What is new is that some ESs thought PE was not important and they began to leave it off of their LRs and discussions with their students.

If the student is doing dance under special interests, do we need to document PE (Lifeskills) or VAPA (special Interests)?

Great question, which the state cannot even answer. Therefore, it is your choice, as either one will work. Look at what your student needs to determine the correct placement for a dance class.

Do all 9th and 10th graders need to take PE or can they take it in 11th and 12th grade?

They are free to take it anytime they want in our school, BUT, it is harder to motivate a student who does not want to do PE to do it the older they get, so don't wait! Get them started on these requirements ASAP!

Portfolio Questions: (Some portfolio questions were too specific and need to be directed individually to your ES Advisor.)

Is a printout of an online quiz that a student took an acceptable portfolio sample?

Yes--it shows a snapshot of the student's work, therefore it is good. A printout of the grade they received on that online quiz, though, is for usage in the report card, not the portfolio.

Please clarify the time value that should be written on a portfolio sample label when the sample is a photo. Is it the time for preparing the photo and student comment? Or is it the time for the activity captured in the photo?

The time value should be the time spent doing the activity in the photo. The photo is the snapshot of the activity, not the activity. But, there may be times when a collection of photos is the assignment (instead of "showing" an assignment), and then the time preparing that assignment would be the time value listed. Ask your advisor if in doubt on your specific sample.

Will a PE contract without a PE log pass?

No. That would be an assignment given by the teacher, not student work.

Does a student statement need to be included with photos even if the activity is clear?

If in doubt, please ask your advisor!

Samples with answers from a book, but not the questions—if it’s obvious from the answers what the question was (as in the case of a math problem), does that work?

Probably, yes. If in doubt, ask your advisor!

Must all US history 1A and 1B samples as well as World History 1A and 1B samples demonstrate a standard?

Yes. This is true for all high school core courses with standards.

Is an envelope label okay with a one written through the extra zero on the date? Or does the label need to be replaced?

Yes, that will work if it is the correct label. But, no white out is allowed.

Can students do a cross curricular activity, such as writing about a sport?

Absolutely! But you may only count that sample for either Reading/Writing or PE, not both.

Is it mandatory that the lower grades have to be working in and have a sample from the four core areas?

No. They must be working in 5 growth areas.

Why can’t the student write about what they learned?

A student may write about what they have learned. Then the ES would collect that writing, and record what they learned in the LR and choose appropriate standards. This is one prong of our compliance, the LR. The sample collection of an activity that facilitated that learning is another prong, the portfolio sample, and is not shown by this writing.

OK if a student has a team logo on their shirt in a photo for the portfolio?

A shirt with a logo is fine for a picture of a student engaging in an activity, as we do not have a dress code for our students. What is not allowed is if it is a sectarian logo and it is clear that everyone playing in that activity (group shot, not just one of our student) is also wearing that sectarian logo shirt. The same is true for extracurricular groups that all parents would pay for themselves for their students after school hours.

Assessment Info (Scantron, Writing assignment, state assessments, etc):

Once we fill out the info in ES Webfiles for the STAR test, should we keep the letter from the parents on file?

Yes.

Do students have 30 days, or 30 school days to complete the testing for Scantron/Wrat?

30 school days.

The parent assessment letter mentions that we will let our parents know the date for testing by the holidays. Where is that info?

Posted on our school websites under Assessment.

Does a student need to complete 100% of STAR test for it to count?  ES's are concerned with a couple students with Autism as it is difficult for them to focus.

Students must complete the whole test at their test session unless they are special ed and are allowed more time.  Then they have the entire testing window month to complete it. Contact Becky for any specific concerns you have.

What is the final date the parent can opt out of STAR testing?

They need to complete a waiver prior to the start of the testing window indicated on the school calendar.

For the writing sample, it seems like there are different modifications offered to students who cannot write the sample themselves (those without a 504 plan) Can the modifications be standardized?

No. Modifications are individualized based on the specific needs of the individual child. Contact Shelley with your student's specific needs.

Guidance Info:

Do we mark grades and credits for City College classes if it is an ROP class taught on their campus?

No. Any ROP class gives their own grades and credits and a transcript must come directly from ROP to our office, where we will transfer in those grades/credits.

Could the high school syllabi be put into a more readable and easily copied form and posted on the website? This could be used by those students who are not using an SME, so slight variations from year to year would not require a change.

No, due to the large number and changing nature of these documents, this would be too large a project for anyone to handle. Any ES can access any class they are interested in from the CP file, and print out a syllabus from ES Webfiles.

Parent Specific Info:

Can one copy of the parent checklist form be kept from year to year?

Yes.