Thank you for taking time to review this handbook with your child. This handbook is provided as a reference for programs, notices, procedures, and the school calendar. It will provide you with a framework for a positive working relationship with our District throughout this school year. Please also be aware that this handbook is only a summary of Board of Education policies governing the District. Board policies are available to the public at the District Office and also on our District website, www.sd925.org. This handbook may be amended during the year without notice.
Westchester Public School students must legally reside within the school district boundaries. All students must prove residency each year as a requirement of enrollment and registration. The school district conducts residency checks when residency is uncertain. Any family that fails to cooperate with the authorized District investigators to provide proof of legal residency shall be deemed a non-resident and denied the right to enroll. It is important to note that District officials may conduct random residency home visits at any time during the school year.
An official birth certificate is required for initial registration. Students starting kindergarten at the Westchester Public Schools must be five years of age on or before September 1st. Students entering first grade must be six years of age on or before September 1st of this school year.
Parents transferring their children into the Westchester Public Schools must provide an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Transfer Form and arrange for academic and health records to be sent from their previous school. (Complete health records must be received within 30 calendar days of enrollment or exclusion from school will result.) New students must prove residency before they are allowed to attend school. Further information can be obtained at the school offices.
Parents should notify the principal at least one week in advance when a student is transferring from the Westchester Public Schools. When leaving, a student will receive an ISBE Transfer Form. Student records will be forwarded only if the parent has signed a release and a request from the receiving school has been received.
Students who are absent or not arriving at school on time without notice from the parent or guardian are considered truant. The parent is advised of the truancy. Truancy cases will be referred to the Superintendent for correction of the problem. Beginning this year, all truancies will follow processes established by the West 40 Intermediate Service Center #2.
Per Policy 7:70, a "truant" is a child subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for a school day or portion thereof. A "chronic or habitual truant" is a child who is subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for 10 percent or more of the previous 181 regular attendance days. If the school determines that the student is a “chronic or habitual truant”, a review of the absences will be initiated to determine the causes and establish a plan to alleviate these absences. If invalid absences continue, the Superintendent will work with the truant office of the West 40 Intermediate Service Center #2 to intervene and assist the District.
A child may be absent from school because of illness, observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family emergency, situations beyond the student’s control as determined by the Board of Education or such other circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent for the safety or health of the student.
One of the best ways to ensure success in school is through regular attendance. The child who is frequently absent misses class instruction and discussion, even though written work is made up. Punctuality is also an important part of school training. Students who are frequently late, or who come in unprepared, may be expected to make up the time after school or have privileges taken away. Parents are urged to help their children develop punctual habits; not only to arrive at school on time, but to complete and hand in their work on time.
Students must be in school for 150 minutes for ½ day attendance and 300 minutes for full day attendance, excluding the student’s 40 minute lunch.
When a student will be absent, the parent or guardian must call the School Health Service Office before the start of the school day. For your convenience, you may call the office earlier, including the previous evening, and leave a message on the Health Office voice mail. The telephone numbers are:
You will be asked to spell your child’s name, identify his/her teacher, leave your name and a number where you may be reached, and share the reason for the absence. In cases of extended absences, you need not call each day. Rather you can advise us of the approximate length of the absence along with the nature of the illness (such as chicken pox, etc.). Following three days of absence a parent may request class assignments by contacting the Health Office. Please refer to page 36 for Procedures for Handling Cases of Communicable and Chronic Infectious Diseases. If a student becomes ill during the school day, parents will be notified to pick up their child. It is extremely important that we have up-to-date emergency information on file in the school health office for each student.
Prearranged absences and early dismissal (orthodontia appointments, etc.) must be requested in writing by the parent and submitted to the Health Office.
Students who are absent from school are not allowed to attend or participate in extracurricular activities on the day of the absence. Students need to be in attendance more that 50% of the day (five consecutive class periods) to attend or particpate in extracurricular activities on the day of the absence.
Students are expected to arrive at school on time. If the student is not in the room and in his/her seat when the tardy bell rings, he/she will be marked tardy and should report to the office prior to going to class. Students who are tardy interrupt not only their own classroom instruction, but that of all of the students in their classroom. The District will follow truancy guidelines for students who are repeatedly tardy.
Students are expected to be in their seat at 8:45 a.m. If the student arrives to school after 9:00 a.m., the parent must accompany the student to the school office and sign the attendance log. The student will receive a pass from the office to give to their teacher. Parent will be contacted if their child has multiple tardies.
Students who arrive late must have a note signed by their parent and report to the Health Office for a pass before proceeding to class. Students will be considered tardy to school if they report to their 1st period class after 8:00 a.m. Students with notes receive an excused tardy. Students without notes receive an unexcused tardy and are considered truant. After three (3) unexcused tardies, students will be required to attend one (1) 45-minute detention.
When a student is tardy to class without a pass from the previous teacher, the teacher will issue a red card to the student. Every two (2) red cards will result in a detention. In addition, the student will be removed from participation in school sponsored activities for that day.
A student who has been excused by the principal to leave school early will be dismissed only to his/her parent or an adult assigned by the parent. If it is known in advance that an early dismissal is absolutely necessary, parents must send a written notice to the office. Children who leave school early must be picked up at the school office. For safety reasons, they are not permitted to wait outside or walk home alone.
ILLINOIS LAW MANDATES STUDENT ATTENDANCE IN SCHOOL ON ALL CALENDAR ATTENDANCE DAYS. Absences due to vacation are unexcused. Parents should not plan vacations while school is in session. The nature of our curriculum necessitates teacher assistance in making up work following a child’s return to school. Teachers are not responsible for providing student work prior to a planned vacation. The students will be given one day for each day absent to make up the work which was missed after they have returned from their absence. After a student is absent for 12 consecutive days and the absences are considered unexcused, the District will drop the student from its rosters.
The cooperation of everyone, parents and students, regarding the arrival time at school is important for the safety of all children. Students should not arrive more than 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the school day. The school provides no supervision and cannot accept any responsibility for the safety and welfare of children who arrive on the school grounds prior to the designated time.
At the close of the school day, all students are to depart the building and go home promptly unless they have a supervised activity or they are staying to see a teacher. The school is not responsible for the supervision of children who return to the school grounds after the school day.
When students and/or parents attend evening activities held at the schools, the main entrance doors should be used. In general, the building is open 30 minutes before an activity begins. School conduct rules are in effect for all school programs. These include compliance with the school dress code. When evening activities conclude and students are released from an event, parents are responsible for transporting their children or otherwise arranging for their safe return home.
Parents and other visitors are welcome in our schools. Immediately upon arrival, all parents and visitors must report to the school office. Classroom visits may be made with prior arrangement with the teacher and approval of the principal. Same day appointments will not be able to be accommodated. All parents and visitors must sign in and out through the school office and wear a visitor’s badge while they are in the building. It is important to realize that visitors can disrupt classroom instruction and may cause an individual student’s rights to be violated. Consequently, the principal is authorized to deny access to any visitor whose presence in the school is harmful or disruptive.
Parents must leave items that the student may have forgotten in the school office with the child’s name on the item. The school office staff will see that items are delivered to the classroom.
A fee is charged to each student to partially cover the cost of textbooks, consumable supplies, and activities. The fee is due at the time of registration. Credit card payments are accepted.
Students whose parents are unable to afford student fees may receive a waiver of fees as provided under Board policy. However, these students are not exempt from charges for lost and damaged books, locks, materials, supplies and equipment. Applications for fee waivers may be submitted by a student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) on an application form available from the building principal. Questions regarding the fee waiver request process should be addressed to the Principal. A late fee of $25.00 per student will be assessed to families of currently enrolled students who do not register and pay fees during Registration Days. This fee does not apply to new students who are enrolling in District 92½.
Textbooks are provided by the District. Students are asked to take the best possible care of their books. Books must be covered for protection during the school year. No covers with adhesives are permitted and paper covers are recommended. Parents will be charged the replacement cost for lost books and severely damaged books that cannot be reissued. Fines are charged for damaged books. The fee is determined by the age, condition, and replacement cost of the book.
Westchester Primary and Intermediate School
Students are responsible for their classroom supplies such as notebooks, notebook paper, pencils, pens, folders, crayons, etc. Students are provided with a list of supplies at the close of the school year and lists are also available at student registration so they may come prepared on the first day of school. Parents are asked to replace supplies during the year as the need arises. Those students will be notified by their classroom teachers.
Westchester Middle School
Supplies needed include pencils, pens, calculator, notebook paper, notebooks and folders. Students will be notified when specific materials are needed for trimester classes. Parents are asked to replace supplies during the year as the need arises. Book bags and/or athletic bags can be used to carry books to and from school. Students will NOT be allowed to carry book bags/athletic bags during the school day.
At the beginning of the school year, each student at the Westchester Middle School is assigned to a hall locker for his/her coats and books. Lock combinations should not be shared with other students. All items of value should be kept in a locked locker. Students should report damaged, broken, or lost locks to the office. Students who lose locks will be charged for the replacement cost. Students are required to have a combination lock for their gym locker. Locks fees are included in student fees.
To maintain order and security in the school, school authorities may inspect and search all lockers owned or controlled by the school, as well as students’ personal effects left in lockers, without notice to or the consent of the student. School authorities may request the assistance of law enforcement officials for the purpose of locker searches. Evidence produced as the result of a search may be seized by school authorities and disciplinary action may be taken against a student. Evidence may also be turned over to law enforcement authorities.
A student accident insurance program will be available to students of all grade levels. Even though participation in this program is voluntary on the part of the parents, it is strongly urged that each child be covered. Inexpensive basic coverage is available for all students. Twenty-four hour coverage is also available for an additional charge.
We encourage all parents to carefully read the insurance brochure which you will receive at the beginning of school as to the coverage provided under this student package. This is not an all-inclusive policy.
Student Appearance
(Board Policy 7:160)
Students’ dress and grooming must not disrupt the educational process, interfere with the maintenance of a positive teaching/learning climate, or compromise reasonable standards of health, safety, and decency. Procedures for handling students who dress or groom inappropriately will be developed by the Superintendent and included in the Student Handbook.
Revised: December 6, 2001
Appropriate dress and grooming for school should demonstrate self-respect, discourage negative peer pressure, reflect the dignity and seriousness of the learning atmosphere, and not present a health or safety concern. Cleanliness is expected of students and their clothing.
The following guidelines for acceptable school attire and grooming are given:
The following guidelines indicate unacceptable school attire and grooming:
These Dress and Grooming Guidelines will be in effect every school day and for all school activities, except if determined otherwise by the administration.
Parents may be contacted if student dress or grooming does not comply with the District’s Guidelines and Policy. The student may be kept from class until arrangements for appropriate clothing or grooming are made. Alternate clothing for the day may be provided. Continued non-compliance with the Dress and Grooming Guidelines and Policy will be treated as any other insubordinate behavior subject to the District’s Discipline Policy. See page 43 of the Parent Handbook.
Articles of clothing, books, shoes, book bags, and lunch boxes should be marked with the child’s name so they may be returned if lost. Each school has a “lost and found” box. Articles which are found should be brought in immediately and children should check this box as soon as they lose an item. Parents are also encouraged to go through the “lost and found” box to reclaim lost items.
It is strongly urged that any items of value NOT be brought to school. Students who bring in valuable electronic equipment, jewelry, and other personal property do so at their own risk. The school is not responsible for their loss, nor does the school carry insurance for lost, damaged, or stolen property at school. School district time will not be spent on investigating theft issues regarding electronic devices.
Objects which create a safety hazard or which interfere with school procedure should not be brought to school. Parents are urged to help children understand which items are undesirable and why. If inappropriate objects are brought to school, they will be placed in the main office and parents will be notified.
To promote safety in our schools, we also ask parents to be aware of the items their children are bringing to school. Parents are urged to check backpack contents daily. Students should not bring toys, stuffed animals, electronic devices, iPods, clip-on toys, pocketknives, skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, or any other unnecessary or potentially dangerous items to school.
Students are encouraged to carry only the amount of money needed for lunch and specific school activities and must assume responsibility for its safe keeping. Purses should be locked in students' lockers at all times. Purses or money found should be turned in to the office immediately.
To insure that communication devices (e.g. cellular phones, PDAs) would not be a disruption to the educational setting, the Board of Education created a policy to provide guidance to those students that choose to bring a cell phone to school. The Board of Education clearly states in Policy 7:190, #10, that during the school day, on the bus, and during any school sponsored activity, cellular phones, “must be powered off, out of sight, and off the student’s person.” If students are not following the rule of keeping their cell phones powered off and in their lockers, the cell phone will be taken and parents will be required to pick the phone up in the Principal’s Office. Chronic offenders will be suspended from school as stated in the Board policy. These rules apply to students in all of our schools.
2. Students will take part in a monthly celebration with the principal. Students will eat lunch with the principal during the month of their birthday. Students with a summer birthday will eat lunch with the principal during a designated month. Students will bring or order lunch as they normally do. Students will be offered a treat at the time of the celebration.
3. Parents may elect to purchase a Birthday Book from the library for $10.00. The student's name is placed in the front cover of the book and donated to the library. Books are on sale during Open House.
4. If students elect to bring in a treat to share with classmates, they have two choices:
A. They may bring in a school related item for each student in the class. Items to consider are pencils, pens, erasers, or a highlighter.
B. They may bring in individually wrapped treats for students in the class. Families are encouraged to bring in healthy treats. The item must have ingredients listed on the box so that our school nurse can check the ingredients for food related allergies. Treats will be sent home with the students. Treats cannot be eaten on the bus. Parents are encouraged to approve of the treat prior to the student eating it.
5. Party invitations may be passed out at school only if all students in the classroom are invited.
Many students are allergic to animals. For this reason, students or parents may not bring animals to school for show and tell, star of the week, etc. Teachers will provide parents written notification if there is an animal kept in the classroom.
Pets are not allowed on school property/sidewalks before or after school for the safety of all of our students.
Students will not be called to the telephone during school hours nor can message be delivered to the student except in the case of an emergency. However, emergency messages will be taken and delivered to the students by the end of the school day.
Teachers are not called from their classes to answer the telephone. If you would like to talk with a teacher, it is suggested that you call after school is dismissed or leave your name and phone number on the teacher’s voice mail and have the teacher call you when time permits.
Individual student pictures are taken near the beginning of each school year. A packet of pictures may be purchased by the student if he/she so desires.
Occasionally we include photos of students in the District newsletter or in local newspapers. You must give permission to us through the photo permission form if you do or do not wish your child photographed for local publications.
During the year, the school may videotape or arrange to have various activities/programs videotaped. Videotaped activities/programs may include, but are not limited to, music performances, class activities and 8th Grade Commencement. Videotaped activities may be shared with the local cable channel and/or displayed on the Internet and/or sold to parents as is the case with the professionally recorded 8th Grade Commencement video. You must give permission to us through the photo permission form if you do or do not wish your child videotaped.
For the safety and privacy of our students, please DO NOT post any pictures of students other than your child on social networking websites. It is imperative that we protect the identity of our students.
Throughout the year the school may distribute fliers from local organizations. However, the administration tries to keep the number of fliers sent home to a minimum. All materials sent home will have the prior approval of the Superintendent. Some fliers not approved for general distribution, i.e. those announcing special activities and programs in surrounding communities, are available for pick up in the school offices.
The District will post appropriate fliers on each school’s “Virtual Backpack” webpage. The link to the “Virtual Backpack” can be found under the “For Parents” tab located on each school’s website.
We frequently seek parent and student input through surveys as part of our planning process. We value opinions and appreciate timely inquiry responses. Most surveys will be posted on the District website. Copies are available in the school offices. If, for any reason, you do not want your child(ren) to participate in a survey, please contact the school office.
The District’s website is to provide timely information about school and District activities. The website can be found at www.sd925.org. From the District homepage, links to the individual school web pages are provided.
The Westchester Public Schools are primarily used in educating the children of the district, from early childhood through eighth grade. Non-profit community organizations that are authorized under Board policy to use school facilities and grounds may request and file an application for use at the District Office, 9981 Canterbury Street and must follow all Board policies and administrative rules when using any of our facilities.
We encourage all residents to immediately notify the Police Department upon witnessing any damage to school buildings and/or grounds. Your assistance will help us in keeping the schools free from vandalism. With the cooperation of the Westchester Police Department and other agencies, full restitution will be sought from those parties responsible for any vandalism involving school property.
Constructive comments regarding the schools are welcome whenever they are motivated by a sincere desire to improve the quality of the educational program or to help the schools do their job more effectively. Comments and suggestions are best handled and resolved as close to their origin as possible. The Board of Education should only be involved when a problem cannot be resolved through consultation with staff members.
Comments or suggestions should be channeled according to the subject involved.
Subject: Instruction, Discipline, or Learning Materials
Subject: School Personnel
Subject: Transportation
Subject: Special Education
Subject: Board Operation or Policies
Every effort will be made to reply promptly to questions and comments. Matters referred to the Superintendent and Board of Education should be in writing and sent to the District Office.
The District lunch program will be provided on a daily basis. Students may also bring a lunch from home and they have the option to purchase white or chocolate milk. The prices for lunch and cartons of milk are determined annually. Families qualifying for free or reduced lunch may pick up the application form in the school offices. Free or reduced lunches are provided under the National School Lunch Program.
Menus for the lunch program will be available monthly for students who wish to purchase a school lunch. There is one menu for the Primary and Intermediate Schools and one for the Middle School. Lunch menus will be available on the website during the second week of each month. When lunch menus are posted, an AlertNow message will be sent home informing parents that the menus are posted along with the due date for return. In addition, lunch menus will be available for parents without Internet access in the school offices. Parents should print the lunch menu and order form. The completed order form and payment must be returned in a sealed envelope displaying the student’s name during the third week of each month. Checks are accepted for the purchase of school lunches and should be made payable to the "Board of Education, District 92½".
If a student forgets to bring a lunch, a one-time energency phone call home no later than an hour before the student's scheduled lunch can be made. After that, the school will provide a lunch and the parent/guardian will be charged a hot lunch fee.
Each principal has a basic plan for the protection and overall security of the students and faculty during a tornado warning or watch. Students are instructed in safety drills in the event it becomes necessary to evacuate a building.
In addition, each school has a weather alert receiver to inform the administration of severe weather conditions in the immediate vicinity. If a tornado or a severe storm is in progress just prior to, or at dismissal time, children will be kept in school until the building principal or superintendent has determined that it is safe for them to leave.
Every effort will be made to keep the schools open. However, in cases of extreme emergency, such as severe weather conditions or mechanical failure in the school plant, the superintendent will take the action necessary to protect the health and safety of all personnel. In the event it is necessary to close the schools, the district will post an emergency closing message on the District website (www.sd925.org) and utilize the phone emergency system, Alert Now, so that all district family homes should receive phone calls. It is imperative that you keep the school offices informed of any phone contact changes. The Superintendent will then notify the following of the closing:
TV Stations
Radio Stations
Emergency Closing Center
Westchester Primary School
Westchester Intermediate School
Westchester Middle School
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Computer Science/Library Skills will be integrated in the content areas.
*Per Illinios School Code, 5/27-13.2, no pupil shall be required to take or participate in any class or course providing instruction in recognizing and avoiding sexual abuse if the parent/guardian submits written objection. Refusal to take or participate in such class or program after the written objection is made shall not be reason for failing, suspending or expelling the student. Written notice will be sent to the parent/guardian at least five (5) days prior to the start of the class or program.
The student’s total education is dependent upon a cooperative working relationship between the home and the school. The aim of the Westchester Public Schools is to provide such a working relationship in its method of reporting pupil progress. The reporting program attempts to give an understanding of the student and set up a process of parent-teacher planning. The school is primarily interested in the academic progress of the student but fully realizes academic growth is difficult or impossible if the physical, social, and emotional aspects are not taken into consideration.
Parent-teacher conferences will be held in October. Scheduled conference appointments will be conducted this year at Westchester Primary School and Westchester Intermediate School. Westchester Middle School will have open conference times, as well as scheduled appointments. Extended conference hours will be planned for kindergarten based on enrollment. Specific plans for all conference times will be provided from each school.
We encourage all families to take advantage of the opportunity that conferences provide for direct, focused communication between parents and teacher. We also invite you to visit classes to become familiar with our total educational program.
If at any time you have a question or a concern about your child’s program or school progress, please initiate a conference with our staff at your earliest convenience. Just call the school to set up or schedule a conference appointment. We also encourage parents to track their child’s progress through our online grading system.
Students are given report cards three times per year. Parents are able to access PowerSchool to monitor their child’s progress at any time. Reminders to view mid-trimester progress checks on PowerSchool are listed on the monthly calendar. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have questions regarding grades.
Schools in the District utilize a consistent grading scale to provide a uniform standard for grading student performance at all grade levels where letter grades are used. The District’s grading scale is as follows:
A special comment sheet may be sent home when more information is necessary. The student’s report card will indicate the number of comment sheets which are included in the envelope. The report card envelope has a provision for parent signature and may also be used for sending parent replies or comments back to school.
District 92½ is committed to ensuring that each student is placed at the instructional level that will most benefit the individual’s academic, social and emotional growth. The administration and professional staff shall determine if a student shall be promoted to the next grade level based on: A) successful completion of the curriculum; B) attendance, and C) performance on district assessment program tests.
Please note that this criterion is based on the minimal standard for promotion and is not the acceptable student performance standard for a student at any grade level.
In compliance with Illinois law and to implement District Policy 6:280, criterion has been established for all students requiring:
The following notification schedule will be used annually. Additional details will be provided with the early warning notification.
Note: Any student failing to meet the criterion for promotion will be assigned an Individualized Remedial Plan (I.R.P.) to determine progress benchmarks for the next school year.
All schools within the State of Illinois are required to distribute a Report Card to the public by October 31 of each year. District 92½ provides this Report Card on our District website at www.sd925.org. The Report Card contains information regarding student characteristics, instructional resources, district financial information, student academic performance, and planned improvements.
The Westchester Intermediate School and the Westchester Middle School operate under two academic honor rolls - honors and high honors.
Students in grades 4 and 5 are recognized at the conclusion of the grading period. Students who have achieved honor roll all grading periods will be awarded special recognition. Additionally, the B.U.G. (Bringing Up Grades) program recognizes significant student improvement from the previous grading period.
At the Westchester Middle School, a student is presented with a certificate after each trimester that he/she has made either honor roll.
There are many reasons why a student might remain after school. Students may stay to see their teacher concerning class work or participate in extracurricular activities. When the student is kept after school by the teacher, late buses provide transportation to the school building in each quadrant of the community - Westchester Primary School, Westchester Intermediate School, Westchester Middle School or Britten School.
Absence
Upon returning from an absence, a student has one school day for each day of absence to make up and turn in missed assignments and/or examinations. Tests and/or work not completed during this time will be recorded as a failing (F) or unsatisfactory (U) grade. In cases of extraordinary student absences, requirements for turning in late assignments or taking missed tests may be adjusted at the discretion of the teacher or building principal.
If a child is absent from school more than two days, a parent may request assignments when calling in the absence. The work will be assembled by the teacher and may be picked up in the office after school.
Homework
Homework that is well planned and understood by the child will add to his/her total education. The purpose of homework is to reinforce classroom learning through practice and application, to enrich the learning through related home activities and/or to stimulate the child's independence and responsibility. The teacher will make every attempt to have the child understand the assignment so that he/she may work independently.
Late Assignments
It is the responsibility of the student to see that all homework assignments are accurately completed and turned in on the assigned date. Students not complying with this requirement can expect to receive a failing or unsatisfactory grade on each assignment not completed. Depending upon the assignment and the discretion of the teacher, the student may be given an additional day to complete the assignment. If this option is exercised, the assignments will be accepted, graded, and averaged with the original (F) or (U) for a final grade. If extraordinary circumstances prohibit a student from turning in an assignment on time, the final decision as to whether or not the assignment can be made up will be left to the discretion of the teacher or building principal.
Testing in District 92½ is designed to aid in the evaluation and improvement of both teaching and learning. Test scores are not the sole source of information about student learning and program effectiveness. They are beneficial when they are considered in relation to other aspects of learning in and out of school. Students at identified grades are required to take State of Illinois tests. Students and parents are informed of participation in these tests in advance. This testing together with locally developed tests provides a balanced approach to assessment in our schools. After tests are scored, parents will receive their children's results. The teacher, principal, or Director of Curriculum are available to discuss test results with parents.
Response to Intervention (RtI) is the practice of providing instructional and behavioral interventions that match specific student needs. RtI provides early intervention to students not making expected rates of progress. Teachers target instruction and monitor the progress of achievement in specific skill areas. District 92½ uses assessment data and the problem-solving method to determine the academic, social, emotional and behavior needs of students (or groups of students). Classroom performance provides additional information to aid teachers in identifying students who are not making expected rates of progress. Diagnostic data is used to determine appropriate intervention programs which are implemented and monitored to determine progress. If students do not demonstrate improvement, they are given more intensive or alternative instruction.
Differentiation is a way of thinking about teaching and learning. It is the way teachers plan lessons so that all students have access to, support, and guidance in mastering the content standards. Teachers are aware that children have different needs, interests and learning profiles. They are able to plan a variety of approaches to what students need to learn, how they will learn and how they will demonstrate learning. Teachers plan instruction to address essential skills, concepts and principles. They use assessment data to monitor student learning, and to modify the content, process or product to meet the needs of all students.
Typical procedures for differentiating include adding new content, process or product expectations to existing curriculum, extending existing curriculum to provide enrichment activities, providing alternative assignments or products to extend or expand the thinking of students who are ready and/or interested in moving beyond the basic lesson. Differentiation also includes scaffolding instruction for struggling learners, making adaptations for language learners and/or students with an IEP.
Examples of differentiation include flexible learning groups, student-centered assignments, some independence or choice of product, varying levels of complexity or creativity or a variety of pacing. Differentiation is more about quality than quantity and blends whole-class, group and independent learning. It is continually adjusting to meet the goal of matching the learning to the learner. In short, differentiation is a teacher’s response to the learner’s needs.
The REACH program is a three dimensional model that includes differentiated instruction in classrooms where high-achieving students are clustered and offers enriched and challenging opportunities to learn at high levels. This is accomplished through pre-assessments and flexible small groups. The second dimension offers enrichment activities that focus on 21st century skills of innovation, communication and collaboration. Enrichment activities that are being planned are
Students whose native language is not English are offered assistance in either a Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI) or a Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) program. The Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI) is for non-native English speaking students who have difficulty with written or spoken English. The program provides support to help students succeed in academic subjects and learn English.
The Transitional Bilingual Education Program (TBE) provides instruction in the student's native language with transition into English. The program helps students to succeed in academic subjects and learn English. District 92½ offers a Transitional Bilingual Education Program (TBE) for Spanish speakers. The TBE program can be full time or part time. The full time program offers instruction in the student's home language and in English, as well as English as a Second Language. Instruction in the history and culture of the student's native land and the history of the United States is also offered. The part time TBE program focuses on English as a Second Language and English literacy.
A major advance in school-wide discipline is the emphasis on school-wide systems of support that include proactive strategies for defining, teaching, and supporting appropriate student behaviors to create positive school environments. Instead of using a patchwork of individual behavioral management plans, a continuum of positive behavior support for all students within a school is implemented in areas including the classroom and nonclassroom settings (such as hallways, restrooms). Positive behavior support is an application of a behaviorally-based systems approach to enhance the capacity of schools, families, and communities to design effective environments that improve the link between research-validated practices and the environments in which teaching and learning occurs. Attention is focused on creating and sustaining primary (school-wide), secondary (classroom), and tertiary (individual) systems of support that improve lifestyle results (personal, health, social, family, work, recreation) for all children and youth by making problem behavior less effective, efficient, and relevant, and desired behavior more functional. (pbis.org)
District 92½ is a member of the LaGrange Area Department of Special Education (LADSE). The District provides for the assessment and identification of special education needs and offers early childhood screenings. A range of services is provided to meet the special needs of students who reside within District 92½ boundaries. Programs and services are available for students enrolled in our schools as well as for those enrolled in private schools. When needed, the District plans for an