Orenda Superintendent Newsletter

BELONGING - INDEPENDENCE - MASTERY - GENEROSITY

Senate Bill 2124, passed in the 88th Texas Legislature, requires each school district and charter school to develop an advanced math program for middle school students that is designed to enable high performing students to enroll in Algebra I in 8th grade. Under this program, schools must automatically enroll each 6th grade student who performed in the top 40% on the 5th grade STAAR math assessment in an advanced math course. Implementation of this advanced middle school math program should begin implementation no later than the 2024-25 school year.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has recently developed rules related to this new law and has provided guidance to school on the development and implementation of the Middle School Advanced Mathematics Program. This new law and rules require us to make changes to our current middle school math program and courses. Additional clarification was also given by TEA related to the Advanced Middle School Math Program that all middle school students must complete grade 6, 7, and 8th math through academic achievement in a course that covers 100% of the state standards or demonstrated proficiency of the subject matter prior to taking Algebra I.

This impacts our current 7th grade students at Gateway College Prep in Honors 7th Grade Math. These students have not received instruction in all 8th grade math content to automatically enroll in Algebra I next school year. Current 7th Grade Honors Math students who score Meets or Advanced on the 7th grade STAAR will need to also pass an 8th grade math proficiency exam to advance to Algebra I in 8th grade next school year. Specific communication with be sent to current 7th grade parents at Gateway Prep with more details regarding this change.

Our district, in collaboration with middle school math teachers and administrators, has developed an Advanced Middle School Math Program that meets the requirements under law and the unique needs of our campuses to begin in the 2024-25 school year that applies to all current 5th - 7th graders. The programs for each campus are below and include the implementation plan for current 5th graders (and beyond) and the phase-in plan for current 6th and 7th graders.

Gateway College Prep Advanced Middle School Math Program 2024-25

Kingsland and Nolan Creek Schools Advanced Middle School Math Program 2024-25

Spring Math STAAR scores will be released on May 30th to districts and June 14th to families.

Campuses will send out communication to parents for students who are in the top 40% on the 5th grade STAAR (eligible to take Advanced 6th Grade Math) the week of June 3rd.

For current 6th and 7th grade students at Gateway Prep, communication will also be sent out the week of June 3rd to parents of students who are in the top 40% on the 6th grade STAAR (eligible to take Advanced 7th Grade Math) and who scored Meets or Advanced on the 7th grade STAAR (eligible to take an 8th grade math proficiency exam to take Algebra I in 8th grade).

Mark your calendars for the dates and locations below for End-of-Course (EOC) accelerated instruction for students who will be retaking the EOC exam in June.

Gateway Tech and Prep Tech instruction will be from 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM at Gateway Tech (Gateway Prep and Tech Students) according to the following schedule:

· English I: June 3 and 4

· Algebra I: June 5 and 6

· English II: June 10 and 11

· Biology: June 12

· US History: June 13

Kingsland instruction will be June 3 – 13 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM at Kingsland School according to the following schedule:

· English I: June 3 and 4

· Algebra I: June 5 and 6

· English II: June 10 and 11

· Biology: June 12

· US History: June 13

Spring EOC scores will be released on May 22nd to districts and June 7th for families. EOC acceleration instruction and retesting information will be sent to parents no later than June 2nd for students who did not meet the passing standard on one or more EOC exams.

End-of-Course Retests will take place June 18-20 at the Gateway Prep (Gateway Prep and Tech Students) and Kingsland School campuses starting at 8:30 AM. The specific date for each subject test will be communicated after May 22nd when scores are received.

Credit by Exam will be offered June 17-20 and July 22-25 at Gateway Tech, Gateway Prep and Kingsland School campuses starting at 9:00 AM.

ELIGIBILITY

Students must be enrolled in the district, and student records must indicate a high probability of success as evidenced by performance on district and state assessments, course grades, and/or prior instruction outside Texas public school.

DATES AND LOCATION

All exams will be online (no paper formats) through district proctoring only. Tests will be given at the student’s enrolled campus. Students have 3 hours to complete each exam. No more than 2 exams may be taken on the same test date. Students may not take tests to accelerate more than one grade level in same testing window. Tests will not be ordered for the second grade level until after passing the first grade level. Students may retake each test one time. Retests are not available during the same testing window. Retests are not available for initial tests taken in Window 2. Each campus will determine the individual testing schedule during the testing week and communicate the dates and times to parents.

Window 1: June 17-20 (recommended for first time testing)

Window 2: July 22-25 (recommended for retesting or accelerating out of a second grade level or subject)

Available tests can be found here. NOTE: For grade advancement in K-grade 8, students must take all four subject area exams (math, science, social studies, and language arts).

*Parent requests for tests dates outside of the district published dates are subject to staff availability and parents assume the cost of the exam. Exams administered during a district published date are provided at no cost to the parent. Exams are ordered at the time registrations are received. All exams are nonreturnable, nonrefundable, and nontransferable. If your child doesn’t take the requested exam(s) or doesn’t take the requested exam(s) on the district date, parents will be responsible for reimbursing Orenda for the cost of each exam.

Orenda Summer 2024 Credit by Exam Registration is due no later than May 17, 2024.

Summer school for Gateway Prep and Tech students grades 9-12 will take place at Gateway Tech High School on June 3 - 20, 2024 from 8 AM - 1 PM Monday - Thursday. All summer school registration forms and fees are due no later than noon on Tuesday, May 28.

Summer school for Kingsland students grades 9-12 will take place at Kingsland School on June 3 - 13, 2024 from 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM Monday - Thursday.

Based on research-based best practices, Orenda will be providing accelerated instruction for students in grades 3-8 during June. This model strives to bridge gaps and prevent a summer slide before the next school so students are prepared for the next grade level rather than providing remediation during the following school year. Summer Blast will be by invitation only based on STAAR scores so we can target the students who are in most need of acceleration. We will be sending invitations and registration information to parents the week of June 3rd. Due to the release of STAAR scores to districts on May 30th, the dates for ELAR have changed to June 17-20 from 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM.

EMERGENT BILINGUAL PARENT ENGAGEMENT

Parent outreach and training provides parents with the skills, activities, and training needed to improve their English language skills and become more active participants in their child's education.

This event was held and recorded in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, Japanese, Pashto, Russian, Ukrainian, and Urdu.

EMERGENT BILINGUAL FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

Family outreach and training provide parents with the required parent and family literacy services, activities, and trainings needed to improve their English language skills. This event was held and recorded in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, French, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Ukrainian, and Urdu.

EMERGENT BILINGUAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Community participation programs: Participation is the action of taking part in an activity or an event. Under Title III, Part A, “community participation programs” are programs in which English learners, parents, and family members can take part. This event was held and recorded in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, French, Mandarin, Russian, and Ukrainian.

Gateway Tech High School, Kingsland School and Nolan Creek School all have seats available for the 2024-25 school year. Encourage your family and friends in your community to call the school for a tour to learn more. Clicking each school name will provide a brief video introduction: Gateway Tech 512.868.5299; Nolan Creek 254.939.4491; Kingsland 325.388.0020.

April 16-19, April 23-26, and April 30-May 3 - State Testing Days

May 6 - 14 - Advanced Placement Exam Days

May 22 - Last Day of Instruction for Nolan Creek
May 23 - Last Day of Instruction for Kingsland, Gateway Tech and Gateway Prep
May 23 - Kingsland School Graduation at 7 pm

May 25 - Gateway Tech High School Graduation at 1 pm

May 25 - Gateway College Preparatory School Graduation at 4 pm

Email: carla.silber@orendaeducation.org
Website: www.orendaeducation.org
Location: 2951 Williams Drive, Georgetown, TX, USA
Phone: (512) 869-3020