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Curriculum & Academic Standards
Curriculum & DOE Academic Standards (9/12/06)
- The Indiana Department of Education (DOE) has a
comprehensive list, Definition
of Terms, to help bring clarity to "What does that mean?"
"'Curriculum' means the planned interaction of pupils with
instructional content, materials, resources, and processes for evaluating the
attainment of educational objectives." So what are the desired
"educational objectives?" DOE refers to these as "Indiana's
Academic Standards."
"'Academic standards' means the skills and knowledge base
expected of students for a particular subject area at a particular grade level."
So what does Indiana expect a student to know in a particular subject at a
particular grade level? This is explained in detail by grade for the subjects of
English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies at Indiana's
Academic Standards. You will also find standards for other subjects,
i.e. Agriculture Education, Health, etc. at the same location.
How well do Caston's and Indiana's students measure up to Indiana's Academic
Standards? Two means of assessing this are the End-of-Course Assessments
(ECAs) and ISTEP+.
What Are The Long-Term Benefits Of Full Day
Kindergarten? (4/12/07) - Proposed
legislation regarding Full Day Kindergarten is currently being considered by the
Indiana Legislature. Excerpts from the article "Short-Lived
Gains or Enduring Benefits? The
Long-Term Impact of Full-Day Kindergarten" are as follows:
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...there has been
relatively little evaluation or discourse regarding the impact of full-day
kindergarten on students’ performance in subsequent grades...
-
...The state of
Indiana does not mandate kindergarten attendance nor require school
districts to offer full-day kindergarten programs...
-
...A growing body of
research documents the benefits of full-day kindergarten attendance in the
areas of scholastic achievement, social and behavioral skills, and grade
retention and special education referrals during the kindergarten year. Yet,
the duration of the benefits experienced due to full-day kindergarten
attendance through subsequent grades is not clear...
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...according to
national and Indiana data, the benefits of attending full-day kindergarten
appear to be greater for disadvantaged students...
-
...The short-term
benefits of full-day kindergarten compared to half-day kindergarten are
well-documented. However, the evidence for persistence of these benefits
into subsequent grades is far from conclusive...
-
...Full-day
kindergarten, regardless of its organization and funding mechanism, is
expensive relative to half-day programs. Costs include additional teachers,
instructional aides, and classroom space... (entire
article)
Excerpts from the article "The
Effects of Full Day Versus Half Day Kindergarten:
Review and Analysis of National and Indiana
Data" are as
follows:
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...As was the case with the national
data, the Indiana research suggests
that there are no negative outcomes
commonly associated with full day
kindergarten, and that – at worst
– full day kindergarten and half day
kindergarten have similar effects...
-
...If funding for universal
full day kindergarten is not available in the current economic
climate, funding could be focused on providing full day kindergarten to
schools with low achieving subgroups of students... (entire
article)
(Related: "Full
Day Kindergarten? Let’s Slow Down!" - Commentary by Russ
Phillips, 4/12/07)
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