Curriculum and Assessment News

CURRICULUM REVIEW
Both the mandates of Minnesota legislation and sound educational practice make it necessary for school districts to regularly and systematically review and revise school curriculum. The Eden Valley-Watkins curriculum review cycle is an eight-year cycle.
The first five years are considered "active" years, with specific requirements and outcomes. Years six through eight are "inactive" years where teachers maintain implementation of the selected curriculum and note needed adjustments.

MINNESOTA AND LOCAL STANDARDS
The curriculum at Eden Valley-Watkins is based on state and local standards. The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards define expectations for the educational achievement of public school students across the state in grades K-12. The standards and benchmarks are important because they 1) identify the knowledge and skills that all students must achieve by the end of a grade level or grade band; 2) help define the course credit requirements for graduation; and, 3) serve as a guide for the local adoption and design of curricula. Student mastery of the standards is measured through state and local assessments.

State standards are in place for English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, fine arts and physical education.  Local standards are developed at the district level for health, world languages, and career and technical education. Whenever possible, these local standards are based on national standards. Parents or community members with questions regarding local standards should contact the curriculum coordinator or the building principals.

ASSESSMENT REVIEW
Eden Valley-Watkins School District employs a variety of formal and informal assessments designed to assist parents and teachers in determining a student's strengths and areas of need. By using the data from one or more assessments, teachers and administrators can make informed decisions regarding individual, grade level, and building needs.

At the elementary and secondary level, teachers in grades K-8 use FastBridge as their assessment tool. FastBridge is a web-based assessment, data management, and reporting system that provides the framework for Response to Intervention (RTI). Teachers benchmark all students in fall, winter and spring, in the area of reading literacy and mathematics.

MINNESOTA STATE ASSESSMENTS
The Mathematics Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) is given in grades 3-8 and 11, and the Reading MCA is given in grades 3-8 and 10.  In addition, the Science MCA is given in grades 5, 8 and 10. These are accountability tests required by the state of Minnesota. Students in grade 11 are also given the opportunity to take the ACT during the school day.  Each year, EVW revises the test schedule to address the requirements of state testing. Parents are encouraged to use this calendar to help with planning doctor appointments, family vacations and other activities so that students are able to be in school on testing days.