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Our district has adopted and implemented a comprehensive core curriculum
for all students at all grade levels. Our elementary school students
(K-6) are taught in self-contained classrooms. Our fourth through
sixth graders are part of a “continuous progress” mathematics
program that culminates with grade 6 pre-algebra for qualified students.
At the intermediate schools, our seventh and eighth graders have
a rich departmentalized program of core academic subjects and self-selected
electives. Our teachers use a variety of teaching techniques and
methods and specialized materials to meet the instructional needs
of all students. The core curriculum for our students is in the
areas of language arts and reading, mathematics, history and social
science, and science. All students receive instruction in physical
education, music, and art.
The district complies with all state standards
regarding the curricular areas. State approved textbooks are used
at all grade levels. We comply with state requirements for longer
day and longer year funding – i.e., the number of minutes
of instruction in the student year meets or exceeds state standards.
The School Board approved Homework Policy:
Download Current Homework Policy
(PDF)
Homework Survey Results:
Download Homework Survey
(PDF)
In October 2006, the State Department of Education released the
Academic Performance Index (API), which ranks all public schools
in California. The new API is based on the norm-referenced test
(NRT), the California Achievement Test (CAT/6), California Standards
Test (CST) for English/Language Arts (ELA) scores and mathematics.
The component “weighted” parts of the new API are:
• Mathematics CST 32%
• Mathematics NRT 8%
• ELA CST 48%
• ELA NRT Reading 6%, Language Arts 3% & Spelling 3%
Each school and district in California received
an index number between 200 and 1,000 with 1,000 being the highest
possible score. The state target is a score of 800. All Los Altos
School District schools far exceed that target. This index number
is in turn divided into a decile, with all schools divided into
groups of ten, based on their index. The decile serves as a rank,
with 10 being the highest and 1 being the lowest.
Index scores are also broken down into deciles
among schools that are similar. Factors that indicate a similarity
are parents’ level of education and class size. The API ranked
all six of the district’s elementary schools in the 10th statewide
decile.
Information reported to the Board of Trustees
by Patty Weisman, Assistant Superintendent
There are two main sections to the STAR assessment, and thus, two
different presentations of data in this report. One part of the
state testing system is the California Achievement Test / 6th Edition.
Students in grades 2 through 8 were tested in reading, writing,
and mathematics. Students in grades 2 through 8 were also tested
in spelling. As part of the STAR program, sutdents were given additional
test questions that match state-adopted content standards for reading,
writing, and mathematics. This is called the California Standards
Test. The purpose of this test is to better align the STAR program
with the state standards that specify what students should know
and be able to do at every grade. Teachers at each school administer
the tests which take about seven hours and are spread over a period
of days during the spring testing window identified by the State
of California.
While state testing originated as a response
to a cry for accountability, it can be a valuable tool in evaluating
the instructional program and in diagosing areas of improvement.
It is worth noting, however, that the STAR program is only one data
point. Teachers in Los Altos School District use multiple measures
to evaluate student work, inlcuding observataions, checklists, portfolios
and grades. District-developed assessments, writing samples, math
assessments, criterion-referenced tests and assessments linked to
instructional materials are also used to evaluate student progress
and the relative strengths and weaknesses of the instructional program.
Standardized tests, publisher's norm-referenced tests, and other
formal assessments provided by the state are just part of the mosaic.
Download STAR 2006 Results (PDF)
California Standards Tests assess student
performance on questions that reflect California's content standards.
There are five performance standards (levels) in relation to the
California content standards for English-Language Arts and Mathematics:
Advanced, Proficient, Basic, Below Basic, and Far Below Basic. Group
scores are reported as the percent of students that scored within
each performance standard.
The bar graph illustrates the district's ranking
across the grades. For English Language Arts and Mathematics, over
89 percent of LASD students consistently demonstrate proficient
or advanced performance ranking. The individual grade level information
is also presented by school, as well as the district, on the following
charts that provide a more detailed analysis of the student ranking
and, in turn, the district's instructional program.
The following graphic representation show the
achievement of district students in relation to state performance
standards.
For additional information regarding Los Altos School District's performance,
you may want to refer to http://www.www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ap or http://www.jftk-ca.org.
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