Which tests would California suspend under proposed changes?

Superintendent of California Schools Tom Torlakson proposed on Tuesday to revamp how students in K-12 get tested. Among the recommendations, he proposed all non-federally mandated tests be suspended beginning this school year. Many of us were scratching our heads: which tests would fall into that category?

Well, scratch your heads no more. Here's the list, provided by the California Department of Education. Enjoy!

Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program
Assessments That Would be Suspended During the 2013-14 School Year
(Not federally mandated or required for early assessment)

Grade-Level Assessments
Grade 2 ELA and Mathematics (CST and CAPA)
Grade 8 History–Social Science (CST)
Grade 9 ELA (CST, CMA, and CAPA)
Grade 9 Math (CAPA)
Grade 10 ELA (CST and CMA)
Grade 11 U.S. History (CST)
Grade 11 ELA (CMA and CAPA)
Grade 11 Math (CAPA)
Grade 2 - 11 Reading/Language Arts (STS)
Grade 2 – 7 Mathematics (STS)

End-of-Course Assessments
Algebra I (CST and CMA) (for grades 9-11)
Algebra II (CST) (for grades 9-10)
General Mathematics (CST) (grade 9)
High School Summative Math (CST) (for grades 9-10)
Geometry (CST and CMA) (for grades 9-11)
Integrated Mathematics 1 (CST) (for grades 9-11)
Integrated Mathematics 2 (CST) (for grades 9-11)
Integrated Mathematics 3 (CST) (for grades 9-11)
Biology (CST)
Chemistry (CST)
Earth Science (CST)
Physics (CST)
Integrated/Coordinated Science 1 (CST)
Integrated/Coordinated Science 2 (CST)
Integrated/Coordinated Science 3 (CST)
Integrated/Coordinated Science 4 (CST)
World History (CST)
Algebra I (STS)
Geometry (STS)

Notes:
EAP: Early Assessment Program
ELA: English-Language Arts
CAPA: California Alternate Performance Assessment
CMA: California Modified Assessment
CST: California Standards Test
STS: Standards-based Tests in Spanish

Middle and high school students: do you know what career path you want to take?

Do you know where you'd like to go to college? It may not be too soon for you to start thinking about this, and the California Department of Education wants to help.


California's chief of schools Tom Torlakson today unveiled the new California Career Center Web portal to help middle school and high school students explore their options and plan their next steps toward productive careers.

“Studies show that helping students connect their schoolwork to their future in the workforce helps keep them on track and headed for success,” Torlakson said. “The California Career Center Web portal gives students, parents, and teachers a one-stop shop to help demystify the process of moving from the classroom to careers.”

I paid a quick visit to the site, and it looks interesting. But I'm not the intended audience, so I don't think I'm a good judge. But maybe some students out there want to review it and tell me what they think???? I'd love to hear from you.

Frank Ledesma Elementary in Soledad nominated for National Blue Ribbon Schools

State Superintendent of Schools Tom Torlakson nominated Frank Ledesma Elementary School in the Soledad Unified School District for the 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, one of 35 schools in California to have their name forwarded for the distinction.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program operates under the U.S. Department of Education and recognizes elementary and secondary schools that are academically superior or have demonstrated dramatic gains in student achievement while serving an economically disadvantaged population of students. Only 413 schools nationwide are nominated each year. Additionally, nominated schools must meet all of its 2012 Academic Performance Index (API) and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) targets for the school overall and for each numerically significant subgroup (e.g., socioeconomically disadvantaged children, English learners and children of color).

“We are very proud of the team at Frank Ledesma. They have worked diligently and passionately to help students reach their academic goals. This is a tremendous recognition to be nominated from among the thousands of public schools in this state. Our students, parents and staff have worked so hard and are so deserving of this honor,” said Deneen Newman, Superintendent, Soledad Unified School District.

Frank Ledesma leaped beyond the 800 points mark in the Academic Performance Index last year, the goal set for all California K-12 schools.

Monterey Bay Aquarium to receive education award

Six California museums have been selected to receive the inaugural award for excellence in museum education, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of them.

The six awardees were chosen by California Superintendent of Schools Tom Torlakson to recognize the achievements in museum programs that benefit K-12 students or educators. The Aquarium was chosen for its WATCH program -- Watsonville Area Teen Conserving Habitats, a year long program for high school students to conduct research, community outreach, and other activities specific to ocean conservation.

Also in the list are:

The Autry Museum
The J. Paul Getty Museum
The Museum of Contemporary Art
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Santa Mónica Museum of Art

The winning organizations will be presented with their awards at an awards luncheon in Berkeley this Friday as part of the California Association of Museums’ annual conference.

Torlakson and students with special needs

Last week, during the conference of California school superintendents, Calif. Chief of Schools Tom Torlakson addressed Latino superintendents and administrators and told them about efforts to revamp education for language learners. I wrote about it here and here.

A reader called "Merry3000" asked when was Torlakson going to talk to administrators about students with special needs.

I have an answer for you.

According to Pam Slater, spokeswoman for the California Department of Education, Torlakson "speaks about the needs of students with disabilities in every context from physical fitness to the use of technology in education and has had a lot of meetings that addressed the topic." The California Department of Education also recently took part in a Disability Awareness Month (which is observed in October).

Hope this helps. Ask anytime.