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2014 - 2015 Parent Guide
Top 5 Things You Can Do toHelp Your Child This School Year
Arizona Aims Higher is a partnership between Expect More Arizona and the Arizona Public Engagement Task Force, an independent alliance of nearly 50 partner organizations throughout the state representing educators, community leaders, nonprofits, policymakers, business leaders and other key groups. Expect More Arizona is a nonprofit, nonpartisan education advocacy organization working to build a movement of Arizonans in support of world-class education for all children.
Make your child’s success a family priority. That means that school comes before sports, entertainment or work.
Set a goal with your child to complete college or other advanced training after high school.
Plan now to attend parent-teacher conferences.
Connect with your child’s teacher about his progress every month. Read with your child or have him read on his own for 20 minutes every day.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Sign up at ArizonaAimsHigher.org for free resources for parents
“My second grader grew by leaps and bounds last year with the implementation of the new standards. From a child who didn’t like to read and was reading just at grade level, she has become a lover of books, moving up several grade levels in reading and comprehension.”
Becky Muday, PhoenixMother of three school-age children
High ExpectationsAlthough it may be years away, your child’s success in college and career starts today. Arizona public district and charter schools have been working since 2011 to ensure that all Arizona children are better prepared for life after high school by implementing higher academic standards in English and math.
7KHVH�VWDQGDUGV��FDOOHG�$UL]RQDȇV�&ROOHJH��&DUHHU�5HDG\�6WDQGDUGV��GHȴQH�what students need to know by the end of each grade. Your school board chooses its own curriculum and your child’s teacher decides how to teach each lesson to meet individual student needs.
Ȋ$UL]RQDȇV�&ROOHJH��&DUHHU�5HDG\�6WDQGDUGV�ȴQDOO\�caught up with what many good educators have been trying to do for a long time – move away from rote memorization and isolated skills and return to creativity and in-depth learning in the classroom.”
Beth Maloney, 2014 AEF Teacher of the Year1DWLRQDO�%RDUG�&HUWLȴHG�7HDFKHU5th Grade, Sunset Hills Elementary School
Grade by Grade Parent Guides – Overview of what your child will be learning by grade with easy and fun activities to do at home.
Videos – See what classrooms look like with higher standards, view sample lessons, and hear teachers talk about why high expectations are important for all students.
Sample Test Questions – Try a few sample questions at ArizonaAimsHigher.org.
Questions for Parent-Teacher Conferences – Kick start the conversation with your child’s teacher by using these sample questions.
Tools You Can Use
Download parent resources at:ArizonaAimsHigher.org
What’s New in Education This YearThis year, the AIMS test is being upgraded to a new assessment in English and math that will be selected by the Arizona State Board of Education in fall 2014. The current AIMS test set the bar too low – at 10th grade – which did not tell parents if their child was ready for life after high school.The new assessment will:
Give you the peace of mind you need to know if your child is on track
Allow your child to move beyond rote memorization to show critical thinking and problem solving skills
Tell you if your child is on track to college and career
Set shared goals with your child’s teacher for what your child needs to know and be able to do
Check in regularly on your child’s progress to see where your child might need help
If test scores look lower than you are used to, talk to your child’s teacher and work together to determine a plan to help your child improve
The new assessment will be in all public district and charter schools in English and math in spring ������ΖW�ZLOO�EH�GLHUHQW�WKDQ�WKH�$Ζ06�WHVW�DV�LW�ZLOO�EH�DOLJQHG�WR�WKH�VWDQGDUGV��PD\�EH�JLYHQ�YLD�paper and pencil or online, and is not required for high school graduation. 6LQFH�LW�ZLOO�EH�D�GLHUHQW�WHVW��VFRUHV�PD\�ORRN�ORZHU�WKDQ�FXUUHQW�$Ζ06�VFRUHV�Ȃ�WKLV�LV�FRPPRQ�IRU�the implementation of any new test. Students and teachers need time to adjust to the new test and to the more rigorous academic standards being taught in classrooms today. Parents and teachers agree WKDW�\RXU�FKLOG�ZLOO�EHQHȴW�IURP�D�WHVW�WKDW�PRUH�DFFXUDWHO\�GHPRQVWUDWHV�WKHLU�FULWLFDO�WKLQNLQJ�DQG�problem-solving skills.
What Can I Do To Help My Child Transition to the New Assessment?
Patricia Tate, SuperintendentOsborn School District
“Our district, which serves over 90% children from high poverty backgrounds, created a new vision for our students that focuses on college and career readiness. We involved all of our teachers in the UHYLHZ�DQG�UHȴQHPHQW�RI�RXU�FXUULFXOXP�WR�PHHW�these higher expectations and built time into the school day for collaboration and planning. Our students have made incredible gains in their reading and math scores, which is a direct result of our commitment to providing a high-quality education for every single child in the Osborn School District.”
Examples of academic standards
MathKindergarten students are expected to be able to count to 100 by ones and by tens by the end of the year.
EnglishSixth graders are expected to analyze the key elements of a story, including: setting, characters and plot and discuss the character’s motivation and the progression of the plot.
High ExpectationsAlthough it may be years away, your child’s success in college and career starts today. Arizona public district and charter schools have been working since 2011 to ensure that all Arizona children are better prepared for life after high school by implementing higher academic standards in English and math.
7KHVH�VWDQGDUGV��FDOOHG�$UL]RQDȇV�&ROOHJH��&DUHHU�5HDG\�6WDQGDUGV��GHȴQH�what students need to know by the end of each grade. Your school board chooses its own curriculum and your child’s teacher decides how to teach each lesson to meet individual student needs.
Ȋ$UL]RQDȇV�&ROOHJH��&DUHHU�5HDG\�6WDQGDUGV�ȴQDOO\�caught up with what many good educators have been trying to do for a long time – move away from rote memorization and isolated skills and return to creativity and in-depth learning in the classroom.”
Beth Maloney, 2014 AEF Teacher of the Year1DWLRQDO�%RDUG�&HUWLȴHG�7HDFKHU5th Grade, Sunset Hills Elementary School
Grade by Grade Parent Guides – Overview of what your child will be learning by grade with easy and fun activities to do at home.
Videos – See what classrooms look like with higher standards, view sample lessons, and hear teachers talk about why high expectations are important for all students.
Sample Test Questions – Try a few sample questions at ArizonaAimsHigher.org.
Questions for Parent-Teacher Conferences – Kick start the conversation with your child’s teacher by using these sample questions.
Tools You Can Use
Download parent resources at:ArizonaAimsHigher.org
What’s New in Education This YearThis year, the AIMS test is being upgraded to a new assessment in English and math that will be selected by the Arizona State Board of Education in fall 2014. The current AIMS test set the bar too low – at 10th grade – which did not tell parents if their child was ready for life after high school.The new assessment will:
Give you the peace of mind you need to know if your child is on track
Allow your child to move beyond rote memorization to show critical thinking and problem solving skills
Tell you if your child is on track to college and career
Set shared goals with your child’s teacher for what your child needs to know and be able to do
Check in regularly on your child’s progress to see where your child might need help
If test scores look lower than you are used to, talk to your child’s teacher and work together to determine a plan to help your child improve
The new assessment will be in all public district and charter schools in English and math in spring ������ΖW�ZLOO�EH�GLHUHQW�WKDQ�WKH�$Ζ06�WHVW�DV�LW�ZLOO�EH�DOLJQHG�WR�WKH�VWDQGDUGV��PD\�EH�JLYHQ�YLD�paper and pencil or online, and is not required for high school graduation. 6LQFH�LW�ZLOO�EH�D�GLHUHQW�WHVW��VFRUHV�PD\�ORRN�ORZHU�WKDQ�FXUUHQW�$Ζ06�VFRUHV�Ȃ�WKLV�LV�FRPPRQ�IRU�the implementation of any new test. Students and teachers need time to adjust to the new test and to the more rigorous academic standards being taught in classrooms today. Parents and teachers agree WKDW�\RXU�FKLOG�ZLOO�EHQHȴW�IURP�D�WHVW�WKDW�PRUH�DFFXUDWHO\�GHPRQVWUDWHV�WKHLU�FULWLFDO�WKLQNLQJ�DQG�problem-solving skills.
What Can I Do To Help My Child Transition to the New Assessment?
Patricia Tate, SuperintendentOsborn School District
“Our district, which serves over 90% children from high poverty backgrounds, created a new vision for our students that focuses on college and career readiness. We involved all of our teachers in the UHYLHZ�DQG�UHȴQHPHQW�RI�RXU�FXUULFXOXP�WR�PHHW�these higher expectations and built time into the school day for collaboration and planning. Our students have made incredible gains in their reading and math scores, which is a direct result of our commitment to providing a high-quality education for every single child in the Osborn School District.”
Examples of academic standards
MathKindergarten students are expected to be able to count to 100 by ones and by tens by the end of the year.
EnglishSixth graders are expected to analyze the key elements of a story, including: setting, characters and plot and discuss the character’s motivation and the progression of the plot.
High ExpectationsAlthough it may be years away, your child’s success in college and career starts today. Arizona public district and charter schools have been working since 2011 to ensure that all Arizona children are better prepared for life after high school by implementing higher academic standards in English and math.
7KHVH�VWDQGDUGV��FDOOHG�$UL]RQDȇV�&ROOHJH��&DUHHU�5HDG\�6WDQGDUGV��GHȴQH�what students need to know by the end of each grade. Your school board chooses its own curriculum and your child’s teacher decides how to teach each lesson to meet individual student needs.
Ȋ$UL]RQDȇV�&ROOHJH��&DUHHU�5HDG\�6WDQGDUGV�ȴQDOO\�caught up with what many good educators have been trying to do for a long time – move away from rote memorization and isolated skills and return to creativity and in-depth learning in the classroom.”
Beth Maloney, 2014 AEF Teacher of the Year1DWLRQDO�%RDUG�&HUWLȴHG�7HDFKHU5th Grade, Sunset Hills Elementary School
Grade by Grade Parent Guides – Overview of what your child will be learning by grade with easy and fun activities to do at home.
Videos – See what classrooms look like with higher standards, view sample lessons, and hear teachers talk about why high expectations are important for all students.
Sample Test Questions – Try a few sample questions at ArizonaAimsHigher.org.
Questions for Parent-Teacher Conferences – Kick start the conversation with your child’s teacher by using these sample questions.
Tools You Can Use
Download parent resources at:ArizonaAimsHigher.org
What’s New in Education This YearThis year, the AIMS test is being upgraded to a new assessment in English and math that will be selected by the Arizona State Board of Education in fall 2014. The current AIMS test set the bar too low – at 10th grade – which did not tell parents if their child was ready for life after high school.The new assessment will:
Give you the peace of mind you need to know if your child is on track
Allow your child to move beyond rote memorization to show critical thinking and problem solving skills
Tell you if your child is on track to college and career
Set shared goals with your child’s teacher for what your child needs to know and be able to do
Check in regularly on your child’s progress to see where your child might need help
If test scores look lower than you are used to, talk to your child’s teacher and work together to determine a plan to help your child improve
The new assessment will be in all public district and charter schools in English and math in spring ������ΖW�ZLOO�EH�GLHUHQW�WKDQ�WKH�$Ζ06�WHVW�DV�LW�ZLOO�EH�DOLJQHG�WR�WKH�VWDQGDUGV��PD\�EH�JLYHQ�YLD�paper and pencil or online, and is not required for high school graduation. 6LQFH�LW�ZLOO�EH�D�GLHUHQW�WHVW��VFRUHV�PD\�ORRN�ORZHU�WKDQ�FXUUHQW�$Ζ06�VFRUHV�Ȃ�WKLV�LV�FRPPRQ�IRU�the implementation of any new test. Students and teachers need time to adjust to the new test and to the more rigorous academic standards being taught in classrooms today. Parents and teachers agree WKDW�\RXU�FKLOG�ZLOO�EHQHȴW�IURP�D�WHVW�WKDW�PRUH�DFFXUDWHO\�GHPRQVWUDWHV�WKHLU�FULWLFDO�WKLQNLQJ�DQG�problem-solving skills.
What Can I Do To Help My Child Transition to the New Assessment?
Patricia Tate, SuperintendentOsborn School District
“Our district, which serves over 90% children from high poverty backgrounds, created a new vision for our students that focuses on college and career readiness. We involved all of our teachers in the UHYLHZ�DQG�UHȴQHPHQW�RI�RXU�FXUULFXOXP�WR�PHHW�these higher expectations and built time into the school day for collaboration and planning. Our students have made incredible gains in their reading and math scores, which is a direct result of our commitment to providing a high-quality education for every single child in the Osborn School District.”
Examples of academic standards
MathKindergarten students are expected to be able to count to 100 by ones and by tens by the end of the year.
EnglishSixth graders are expected to analyze the key elements of a story, including: setting, characters and plot and discuss the character’s motivation and the progression of the plot.
Back to SchoolParent Guide
Top 5 Things You Can Do toHelp Your Child This School Year
Arizona Aims Higher is a partnership between Expect More Arizona and the Arizona Public Engagement Task Force, an independent alliance of nearly 50 partner organizations throughout the state representing educators, community OHDGHUV��QRQSURȴWV��SROLF\PDNHUV��EXVLQHVV�OHDGHUV�DQG�RWKHU�NH\�JURXSV��([SHFW�0RUH�$UL]RQD�LV�D�QRQSURȴW��QRQSDUWLVDQ�education advocacy organization working to build a movement of Arizonans in support of world-class education for all children.
Make your child’s success a family priority. That means that school comes before sports, entertainment or work.
Set a goal with your child to complete college or other advanced training after high school.
Plan now to attend parent-teacher conferences.
Connect with your child’s teacher about his progress every month. Read with your child or have him read on his own for 20 minutes every day.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Sign up at ArizonaAimsHigher.org for free resources for parents
“My second grader grew by leaps and bounds last year with the implementation of the new standards. From a child who didn’t like to read and was reading just at grade level, she has become a lover of books, moving up several grade levels in reading and comprehension.”
Becky Muday, PhoenixMother of three school-age children
2014 - 2015 Parent Guide
Top 5 Things You Can Do toHelp Your Child This School Year
Arizona Aims Higher is a partnership between Expect More Arizona and the Arizona Public Engagement Task Force, an independent alliance of nearly 50 partner organizations throughout the state representing educators, community leaders, nonprofits, policymakers, business leaders and other key groups. Expect More Arizona is a nonprofit, nonpartisan education advocacy organization working to build a movement of Arizonans in support of world-class education for all children.
Make your child’s success a family priority. That means that school comes before sports, entertainment or work.
Set a goal with your child to complete college or other advanced training after high school.
Plan now to attend parent-teacher conferences.
Connect with your child’s teacher about his progress every month. Read with your child or have him read on his own for 20 minutes every day.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Sign up at ArizonaAimsHigher.org for free resources for parents
“My second grader grew by leaps and bounds last year with the implementation of the new standards. From a child who didn’t like to read and was reading just at grade level, she has become a lover of books, moving up several grade levels in reading and comprehension.”
Becky Muday, PhoenixMother of three school-age children