July 21, 2010
Dear Parents:
The Holland Patent Central School District has embraced excellence for all of our students. Our staff and administration have embedded the necessary skills and strategies into instruction so that our students are successful. Over the past six years our children have shown strong performance under the NYS Standards and Assessments as a result of solid instruction. The district has been recognized as a “high achieving gap closing” school by the State Education Department under the present state standards and assessments.
The State Education Department has just released plans to raise the cut scores for passing on the grade 3-8 assessments in English and math. The Commissioner of Education, David Steiner, has expressed the need to make this change due to research which suggests that proficiency needs to be more accurately identified. They have used test data, benchmarked it against the National Assessment of Educational Progress and have found that the assessments given in the state do not sufficiently tests students’ abilities. They explain in a recent release that they will improve the assessments in the state by raising the passing score and making the exams less predictable, testing more areas, and making the tests longer. The Regents and the Commissioner also have a vision for a more rigorous curriculum, improved training for teachers and principals, and implementing a more sophisticated data system.
In light of this recent news, the district will be working in concert with staff to prepare for the new challenges set forth by the state that will have an impact on our students. We will embrace the changes and work diligently to make sure every child’s needs are met. All schools anticipate more students qualifying for services with the new cut off designation.
If your child qualifies for services, the building principal will be contacting you in writing to outline and review services that will be provided. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Kathleen M. Davis Superintendent of Schools (Information obtained and compiled from the NYSED) |
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