The CORE Instructional Program is designed to ensure that all students master a solid foundation of basic skills within each major subject area. Students apply these enabling skills to a range of progressively challenging academic applications. The CORE curriculum maps the instructional direction for developing children's foundation knowledge and their acquisition and application of basic skills. Success in the CORE curricula develops students who can reason, problem solve, use the scientific method, think creatively and critically, make aesthetic judgements and expand their knowledge of their world.
A comprehensive CORE Assessment System has been developed to monitor the progress of each child toward mastery of the CORE curriculum. This system measures and tracks each child's achievement of CORE objectives through systematic teacher observations, administration of CORE Level Tests and collection of representative pieces of classroom work.
The first CORE Level Tests were administered in CUSD in the Spring of 1996. Students in grades 2-8 were tested in the CORE curriculum areas of Reading, Language Usage and Mathematics. Currently, students at Wagon Wheel School are tested during the fall and spring of each year in those same three curricular areas. Parents are provided with reports of each child's skill attainment as measured by the tests. The results show parents what skills the child has mastered and what skills need to be mastered next. A pattern of growth is developed as children advance through the grades. Keeping all students on a course leading to academic success and on-time high school graduation is a primary aim.
CUSD recognizes the importance of effective parent/teacher partnerships in supporting student learning. To assist parents in monitoring and facilitating their children's school progress, CORE Report Cards are used to provide parents with detailed information about their child's achievement in the continuum of CORE skills, as well as the information about the development of their knowlege and ability to apply skills and knowledge to challenging assignments.
CUSD also recognizes the value of face to face meetings between educators and parents. CORE parent conferences are designed to foster good communication between teachers, parents and (when appropriate) students. At the annual fall conferences parents have the opportunity to:
Throughout the school year, teachers send home a variety of information about class assignments and the child's achievement. They also telephone parents as needed. Parents are encouraged to call the school for appointments to speak with the teacher about the child's work or to discuss their concerns. In the spring, parents are invited to attend progress conferences to discuss their child's achievement of goals set in the fall and to review examples of what has been learned.
CUSD works continuously to ensure that through the CORE objectives each child reaches his or her highest potential.
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| Last Update: July 11, 2004 |
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