Convert SBAC Test Results to Percentiles

If you received your child’s SBAC test scores in the mail this week, you may be wondering what those raw scores mean. The Oregon Department of Education posts conversion tables that let you convert a raw score (say, 2497 in 3rd-grade mathematics) to a percentile (80 percent), so you can better understand how well your child demonstrated his or her knowledge in comparison to other Oregon students. To download the complete Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, click this link. Click a tab at the bottom (or top, depending on what program you use) of the spreadsheet to select English Language Arts, Mathematics, or Science scores. The scores are organized by grade, so make sure to scroll down until you see correct one in the Grade column. See district results and more by going to the ODE’s Assessment Results page. To learn more about the Smarter Balanced Assessment, see this PPS page or this brief overview from the Oregonian. If you’re interested in becoming better informed about the controversy surrounding the test, see Oregon Save Our Schools.

School Board's Teaching & Learning Committee Discusses TAG Issues

The School Board's Teaching and Learning Committee members discussed support for TAG learning at their May 18, 2016 meeting. Minutes are now available. Here are some highlights:

• Andrew Johnson, TAG Director, talked about the Scholars' Program, a new PPS program focused primarily on professional development for teachers in TAG learning that is now at five PPS schools. 
• Director Amy Kohnstamm made a motion to direct the Educational Options Committee to find sites that could accommodate an expanded ACCESS Academy alternative program and report back to the Teaching & Learning Committee. The committee voted unanimously in favor. 

You can read the full committee minutes here:

To see minutes from other Teaching & Learning Committee meetings, as well as dates for upcoming meetings, see this PPS page.

PPS School Board Approves $100,000 in Additional Funds for TAG Learning in 2016-2017 Budget

On May 24, 2016, in a marathon meeting that lasted until 1 in the morning, the School Board approved $100,000 in additional funds for TAG learning. The language in the budget amendment specified that this was "a placeholder to begin implementation of recommendations to improve services for TAG students in partnership with the TAGAC." 

The TAG Department reported that it would use these funds to hire an additional teacher on special assignment, or TOSA, to provide professional development and support to teachers. Currently, the department has three TAG TOSAs.

In an April 7, 2016 memo, the district had estimated that the changes recommended by TAGAC would cost $1,0250,000 if fully implemented. See the text of the memo here: 

Our next challenge is making sure that the district and school board follow through with strategical, targeted support for TAG services in the district’s two-year budget next spring. 

Please consider sending thanks to the board members—in particular, Mike Rosen (mrosen@pps.net) and Paul Anthony (panthony@pps.net) should be noted for their support—and a reminder that we'll be back next year! 

Board member addresses: jebrown@pps.net, pknowles@pps.net, akohnstamm@pps.net, tkoehler@pps.net, sbuel@pps.net, mrosen@pps.net, panthony@pps.net, kdavidson@pps.net

Parents Lobby for TAG Funding at Budget Hearing

Eleven parents and community members urged the PPS School Board to adequately support TAG services at the Budget Hearing on May 17, 2016.

Speakers focused on topics including:

• The lack of TAG services at neighborhood schools and the effect this has on children, especially those without persistent and vocal advocates
• The inequity of requiring parents to drive students to math class every day in 5th and 8th grade if their students are accelerated using the district’s revised Single Subject Acceleration in Mathematics policy
• The lack of support for “twice exceptional” students who are both TAG identified and have special education needs
• The need to bring PPS closer to the state average for TAG spending. The Oregon Association for Talented and Gifted calculates that PPS spent $32.27 per TAG student in 2013-14—the last year they have data for—less than a quarter of the state average. 
• The lack of space for qualified students at ACCESS Academy alternative program

See speakers’ testimony here:

Naomi Derner (Alameda parent)

Scholle McFarland (Alameda/ACCESS parent, TAG parent Advisory Council chair) and Kirsten Solberg (Irvington parent)

Logan Kleier (Beaumont/ACCESS parent) and Helen Kilber (Sabin parent)

Natalie Hval (Buckman parent)

J. R. Grab (Rosa Parks parent)

Chris Sameck (Chapman parent)

Margaret DeLacy (Oregon Association for Talented and Gifted, Vice President)

Jessica Colby (ACCESS Parent)

Mark Feldman (ACCESS parent, former TAGAC chair)

TAG Department Releases Revised Single Subject Acceleration in Math Policy

In March the PPS TAG department posted a new district policy for single subject acceleration in math. Important changes include:

• Students in 2nd-7th grade can apply for single subject acceleration in math 
• Students do not have to be TAG-identified to apply for acceleration
• Students must pass the grade bypass test for the next grade to qualify. So, if a child is currently in 2nd grade, s/he would need to pass the 3rd grade test this spring in order to move to 4th grade math the next school year.
• The qualifying score is now 90% (as opposed to 99% and 97% in previous versions of the policy)
• A math summary from the assessment will be shared with your teacher whether or not your student passes

Applications were due by May 6, 2016, but it is possible that the TAG Department will take applications again in the fall of the 2016-2017 school year. To get the process started, talk to your child's teacher and bring this information in case he or she hasn't heard about the policy yet.

Here's the link to general information:

http://www.pps.net/Page/2886

Here's the link to a visual process guide:

http://www.pps.net/cms/lib8/OR01913224/Centricity/Domain/196/SSA%20Process%20Guide%202016.pdf

Here's the link to the application that the school must fill out: 

http://www.pps.net/cms/lib8/OR01913224/Centricity/Domain/196/Application%20for%20Single%20Subject%20Acceleration.pdf

Please pass this information along to other parents who might be interested in these changes.

TAGAC Brings Budget Recommendations to the Board

At the May 3, 2016 School Board meeting, Nicole Iroz Elardo, TAGAC vice chair, and Scholle McFarland, TAGAC chair, summarized the Talented and Gifted parent Advisory Council’s recommendations for supporting the TAG department in the 2016-2017 budget. 

See their testimony here: