Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
In the Voorheesville Central School District, we seek to support the achievement of all students by fostering their potential for scholarship, curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. We work to build students’ capacity for independent, self-directed learning and to develop their social and emotional growth and well-being. We believe that each student brings unique strengths to our school community, and by offering an array of learning opportunities, we endeavor to develop each student’s talents and interests while challenging them with rigorous academics.
New for the 2023-24 school year, the Voorheesville Elementary School will begin integrating the McGraw Hill reading and writing program, Wonders, into students’ daily instruction. Wonders is an evidence-based K-5 ELA program with explicit lessons in the five pillars of the science of reading: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Text Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension. This resource provides alignment between each of these components, creating a robust learning experience. Students will be close reading, writing analytically, and practicing foundational skills.
The Wonders program offers diversity of text (both representation and genres) and includes differentiated resources and scaffolds to create an equitable learning experience for all students.
Grade Promotion and Placement Policy
Decisions about student promotion and placement are at the discretion of the building principal. These decisions are guided by recommendations of teachers and staff members, past academic performance and parent/guardian input. Past academic performance refers to a variety of indicators of student achievement and growth. Student performance on New York state assessments in grades 3-8 English language arts or mathematics is not a factor in promotion and placement decisions. The district’s promotion and placement policy was adopted by the board of education following a review by the district administration.
Testing Information
2024 Regents Exam Schedule is available here.
Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), parents/guardians have the right to know specific information about the required assessments their child will take. These assessments include:
NYS Assessments
In the spring of each school year, students in grade 3-8 take:
- NYS Assessment for English Language Arts
- NYS Assessment for Mathematics
- Grades 5 and 8 will take the new computer-based NYS Science assessment beginning in Spring 2024. The assessment will be aligned to the NYS P12 Science Learning Standards.
Our Local Benchmark Assessments
Benchmark assessments are scheduled for universal screenings three times a year (September, January/February, and May/June) and usually take about 20-30 minutes a session. Local benchmark assessments include:
- The DIBELS assessment is used in kindergarten as a universal screening tool. The results are used to provide effective literacy instruction and prevent future reading problems.
- The Star Assessments for Reading (Grades 1-5) and Math (Grades 1-8) are used as a universal screening and progress- monitoring tool to identify students at risk of experiencing difficulties in reading and math. Additionally, the district uses Common Lit for benchmarking in Reading in Grades 6-8 and Star Early literacy/Number Sense screener for kindergarten students.
- Students receiving AIS services may also be tested in reading and math with iReady for both benchmarking and progress monitoring throughout the year.
Screening results are not included in the calculation of any student grades. Parents who are interested in results of the screenings may issue a request with the child’s teacher.
Title I/Right to Know
Teacher Qualifications
Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), parents/guardians have the right to know the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teachers, including:
Whether a teacher has state certification for the grade levels and subjects he or she is teaching;
Whether a teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived;
Whether the teacher is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher;
Whether their child receives services from paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications; and
Whether their child has been taught for four or more weeks in a row by a teacher “who does not meet applicable state certification or licensure requirements at the grade level and subject area in which the teacher has been assigned.”
Parents/guardians may request their child’s classroom teacher’s professional qualifications by contacting Director of Curriculum Karen Conroy at kconroy@voorheesville.org or 518-765-2382, ext. 703.