Academics and Curriculum
Monticello Central School District Academic and Curriculum Information
One Vision - One Goal - One Monticello
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” - William Butler Yeats
Student Learning K-12
All of our staff members are working hard to ensure that every one of our students receives the highest level of instruction in New York State. Our focus is on vertical and horizontal alignment of our K-12 English language arts (ELA) and math curricula with the Common Core Standards. Curriculum maps that reflect the appropriate pacing of instruction, and benchmark assessments that ensure students are learning, will be utilized. Classroom instruction models the current best practices in teaching by meeting the following criteria:
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Rigorous - All lessons are challenging for every student in the classroom.
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Relevant - All activities are connected to real-life issues and applications.
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Relationships - Every student has a personal connection to several staff members in the school.
By working on these criteria in all grade levels, we are preparing our students with the skills and strategies they will need to work in our region or anywhere in the world.
Letter from the Superintendent concerning the NCLB (No Child Left Behind) Accountability Status for the Monticello Central School District. READ (PDF)
Common Core Learning Standards
New educational standards designed to raise the bar for student achievement
Educational standards are a set of guidelines that outline what students need to
learn and the skills they need to have in order to be successful in school and
beyond. New York State is in the process of changing its educational standards
to align with the national initiative known as the Common Core State Standards
(CCSS). 
On July 19, 2010, the NY State Board of Regents adopted the Common Core State Standards for English language arts, literacy and mathematics. These are now the new learning standards for all students in New York. To date, 45 states have adopted similar CCSS. Establishing common educational standards throughout the nation ensures that all children - regardless of geography, socioeconomic status, life history, etc. - receive an education that values their potential. (see Achieve.org)
Administrators and teachers from Monticello Schools have been working together to analyze the district's English language arts and math curricula. As they identified gaps, they began making the adjustments necessary to align the local curricula to the new Common Core Standards. CLICK HERE for the CCSS Implementation Timeline (from Engage NY).
The CCSS provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn. This allows teachers and parents to know what they need to help students. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy of today and tomorrow. MORE
Important Links to Educational Information
NY State Report Cards for Monticello Central School District
NY State Education Department (NYSED)
CLICK HERE for other links.
Curriculum and Instruction
Literacy and Assessment
We are implementing instructional
programming that meets students’ individual needs in reading,
writing, word study and thinking in English language arts (ELA)
classes and in all areas of the NY State Learning Standards. All
schools continue to implement a Balanced Literacy Framework -
reading, writing and word study - in all classrooms and content
areas. With a stronger foundation in “first or initial”
teaching, we are focusing on better ways to assess students’
strengths and needs. This begins with kindergarten and new
entrant assessments and continues with general education
teachers across the grades. We are expanding our assessment
skills to include more diagnostic tools for our struggling
learners. We have ongoing professional development for all
teachers and administrators in the best ways to conduct student
assessments.
Monticello High School (Grades 9-12)
During the restructuring process at Monticello High School, students are encouraged to connect with the academic support services offered. We have a Student Support Suite that focuses on math strategies and literacy strategies - specifically reading and writing in the content areas. The high school continues to have a strong visual and performing arts program and an Academy of Finance. Our Freshman Academy continues to be an engaging transition program from the middle school to the high school. College in the Classroom offers students expanded opportunities.
CLICK HERE to view
the curriculum for Monticello High School - Grades 9-12
Robert J. Kaiser Middle School (Grades 6-8)
The staff at Robert J. Kaiser Middle School is focused on literacy strategies, specifically reading and writing in the content areas. The Continuous Improvement Team (CIT) uses data as an integral component of the improvement process. We are focusing on enhancing “looping teacher teams” who will follow their assigned students from 7th to 8th grade. The school staff continues to look at different ways to provide support and intervention for our diverse student population.
CLICK HERE
to view the curriculum for the RJK Middle School - Grades 6-8
Elementary Schools (Grades K-5)
Emma C. Chase, George L. Cooke, Kenneth L. Rutherford Elementary Schools
We continue to develop staff and revamp our curriculum and teaching methods. We endorse the best instructional practices and inquiry strategies used in IB schools around the world. In 2009, the Chase Elementary School was authorized to teach the Primary Years Programme. We are expanding IB professional development opportunities to the Rutherford and Cooke Elementary School faculty and will move the IB Diploma Programme into the secondary levels in the coming years.
CLICK HERE to view the curriculum for the district Elementary Schools -
Grades K-5
Fine Art, MUSIC and Performing Arts
Monticello performing arts students may choose from a variety of classes throughout their educational experience. These include chorus, band, orchestra, recorder, piano, guitar, percussion ensemble, chamber music, ballet, jazz, modern dance, hip hop, music theory, music history, music technology and elements of dance. Co-curricular opportunities include jazz ensemble, musicals, chamber singers, dance company and early music ensembles. Monticello High School also offers a number of different visual arts classes including drawing, painting, studio art and commercial design.
CLICK HERE to view the
curriculum for Fine Arts, Music and the Performing Arts.
Physical Education and Health
CLICK HERE to view the curriculum for Physical Education.
CLICK HERE to view the curriculum for Health.
Response to Intervention (RTI)
Response to Intervention, or RTI, is an educational strategy used in schools to: (1) provide effective and high-quality instruction, (2) monitor all students’ progress to make sure they are progressing as expected and (3) provide additional support (intervention) to students who are struggling.
RTI can be considered an early intervention tool that is designed to quickly identify students who need extra help, thereby preventing long-term failure. The monitoring of students allows teaching professionals to identify the exact skill areas where pupils need additional instruction that’s targeted to a student’s individual needs. If the student is not responding, other instructional approaches are used and/or the intensity is increased. This progression through more intensive instructional practices is the reason RTI is often described as a “multi-tier” system. MORE
NY State Guide to the 2012 Grades 3-8 Testing Program
CLICK HERE for the NY State Guide to the 2012 Grades 3-8 Testing Program in ELA and math which includes information about assessment design, question format and scoring. (PDF)
CLICK HERE for the 2012-2013 Grades 3-8 NY State Testing Schedule
Understanding the New York State Testing Program
Each year, students in grades 3-8 take a variety of state assessments that are designed to measure whether they are meeting the NY State Learning Standards. The following is designed to give you insight into what is involved in state testing and how to interpret the test results.
Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 - English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics
Grades 4, 8 - Science Performance and Written
In order to earn the Foreign Language credit required for high school graduation, students must pass the local proficiency exam administered to eighth-graders in June. In addition to the above tests, Grade 2 students take the Terra Nova (ELA/Math) standardized assessment and students in Grades 9-12 may take Regents exams in Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English, Global History, U.S. History, Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry.
Why do students take tests based on the state standards?
Students take these tests so the state can assess how well students and schools in general are progressing in the various subject areas. The content of the tests is determined by the NY State Learning Standards and Common Core Curricula in association with the NY State Education Department (NYSED).
How is the data from the test results used by the schools and teachers?
Teachers and school administrators use group data to plan instructional programs and individual student data to learn more about each student’s skills.
How is the data used by the state?
Schools are accountable for student performance as mandated by the
federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. The data is used to measure
whether students are learning the required content.
Who will see my child’s score?
Teachers and administrators in the district will see the test scores but, as with all educational records, they are otherwise confidential. Schools send parents detailed reports on English language arts and mathematics test results once they are available from the state.
Why do I need to know my child’s test scores?
By seeing your child’s test scores, you can gauge how well he or she is developing certain skills in comparison to other students around the state. You can use this knowledge when talking with your child’s teachers about academic concerns. Scores can also make you aware of your child’s strengths.
NYSED: General requirements for a Regents or local high school diploma MORE