Academics

We are a community of educators, scholars, parents and staff working together to inspire high academic achievement among all students, serve their needs, challenge their minds, and enrich their lives, laying a foundation for success and participation in a democratic society.



Classroom Placement

In late May, Oak Knoll will begin making tentative class assignments for the 2011-2012 school year.  Grade level teams will meet and place students in heterogeneous classes. Groups will be balanced considering gender, race, academic skills, social maturity and special needs.  The staff’s full range of expertise and intimate knowledge of the children will be utilized to establish class groups for 120+ children. 

 Our placement process is not about parents requesting a teacher for their child.  We believe that in the past these requests have too heavily influenced our work.  Your teacher knows and understands your child. She/he will consider all the variables in class placement and make placements that work in the best interests of all the children. 

Objectives

  • Create balanced classes: Academics, gender, race, special needs, teacher time

  • Match students and teacher styles

  • Special attention for students with special needs

  • Shared responsibility for high impact students

  • Minimize scheduling roadblocks

  • Consider parent input


Process

  • Teachers complete placement card for each student with academic and behavior data, including special services and unique needs.

  • Parents provided opportunity to describe their child’s needs and provide other information.

  • Grade level team meets during May to review data cards and parent input.  Specialists provide information.  Teams create tentative classes.

  • The teams strive to:

    • Create heterogeneous groups – academic, social, gender

    • Prevent racial isolation

    • Match teacher/student styles

    • Group to effectively provide special services

    • Separate children who are not a good match

    • Consider parent input

    • Consideration for friends only under special circumstances

  • The principal, assistant principal and specialist team meet prior to the end of the school year to review class lists.

  • August changes made for moves in and out.

  • Class lists posted August 13th


In addition to the process outlined above, we are anticipating the need to conduct a controlled lottery for third grade openings in the Multi Age Grades 3-5 class. 

 

Parents-

If you have information that you feel is important for your child’s placement next year, or you would like for your prospective 3rd grader to be placed in the lottery for 3-5 Multi-Age Class please send a letter or email to Mr. Ackerman.  The deadline for letters is May 19th.

 

Conference & Report Cards

Report cards are issued three times, during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters of school. Students in grades K-3 are graded with a numerical system while 4th and 5th graders receive letter grades. At the end of the first reporting period in the fall, teacher-parent conferences are scheduled to evaluate students' progress. Subsequent conferences can occur as needed. Kindergarten teachers routinely conference with parents several times during the year.

API Scores

The API (Academic Performance Index) is part of the California Accountability Act of 1999.  The purpose of the API is to measure the academic performance and growth of schools.  It is a numeric index that ranges from 200 to 1000.  The statewide API target for all schools is 800.  The API incorporates two kinds of assessment, the CAT6 (nationally normed achievement test) and the California Standards Test (criterion reference test). The number of students at each performance level (Advanced, Proficient, Basic, etc.) are weighted and used in the calculation.

Oak Knoll performs in the top 10% of all California schools.  The ranking for schools with similar demographic data will be available later in the year. 


Oak Knoll API Scores
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
873 898 911 897 917 908 924 940 941 943

To learn more about the API, click here

Academic Testing



Below is a list of the formal measures of assessment used at Oak Knoll.  

Name of Test Who Takes It When
STAR
 Grades 2-5 Spring
MAP
 Grades K-5 3 times/year (not K)
ERB
 Grades 3-5 Spring
MARS Grades 2 & 4 Spring
DRA
 Grades K-2 and as necessary ongoing
CA Physical Fitness
 Grade 5 Spring
CELDT
 Grade K- 5 English Lng. Learners Fall
21st Century Grade 5 Spring

STAR - Standardized Testing & Reporting - Measures Grade Level Standards/Objectives.  It is a Criterion Referenced test that asseses mastery of grade level material only.  Paper & No. 2 pencil administered.  More information on STAR Testing can be found at: California Department of Education

MAP - Measure of Academic Progress - An adaptive test that measures growth over time, setting individual targets for growth comparing students to national norms. Diagnostic and prescriptive as a tool because it is adaptive, rather than Criterion Referenced.  Administered on a laptop in homeroom classroom.  
ERB - Educational Records Bureau - WrAP - Writing Assessment Program - Test of a writing sample to a specific prompt scored independently using a rubric of 6 writing traits. Measured against grade level expectations. Different norm group than the STAR as is not a mandatory test and is most used by suburban and independent schools. Administered in homeroom classroom with paper and pencil.
 
MARS - Math Assessment Resource Service - Summative math performance assessment designed to measure students ability to solve non-routine problems, explaining and justifying their solutions indicating higher level thinking. Administered in homeroom classroom with paper and pencil.
DRA - Developmental Reading Assessment is a diagnostic individual reading assessment which provides reading level and prescriptive information. Adminstered by the homerooom teacher or reading specialist one on one as needed.
California Physical Fitness measures physical fitness against standards in 6 categories: flexibility, upper body strength, aeroibc capacity, body composition, abdominal strength, trunk extension strength
 
CELDT - California English Language Development Test - measures acquisition of English language skills on a 5 level continuum.  Administered by English Language Specialist one on one.   
21st Century meaures 21st century skills: communication & collaboration, critical thinking & problem solving, research & information, fluency. Administered on laptops in homeroom classroom.

To view a presentation by Mr. Ackerman and Ms. Gracia about assessment at Oak Knoll, click here.  

Current School Programs

For more information on The State of California's curriculum frameworks, visit: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/cf/allfwks.asp

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Specialist Support

A number of specialists provide programs and/or remedial instruction to support students at Oak Knoll.

  • English Language Development Specialist - If English is a second language, students are assessed to determine their English comprehension levels and fluency. For those children who have language needs, the English Language Development Specialists and the classroom teacher develop an intensive language development program.
  • Resource Specialists - The Resource Specialists develop an Individualized Education Plan for all students who have identified learning disabilities or other health impairments. Instructional support is provided by the Resource Specialist in the classroom, in a small group or in a one on one setting.
  • Speech and Language Pathologist - The Speech and Language Pathologist provides instruction for students who present articulation or language development delays.
  • Psychologist/Counselor - The school psychologist and school counselor provide a variety of counseling, testing and teaching services.

1895 Oak Knoll Lane, Menlo Park, California  94025 (650) 854-4433
webmaster@oakknollschool.com