Curriculum and Instruction Department
The goal of the Curriculum and Instruction Department at Southwest Georgia STEM Charter School is to ensure a quality education for all students leading to graduation and productive citizenship. We are committed to providing a rigorous and relevant curriculum based on the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE). Our teachers use researched-based instructional strategies and monitor all students' progress through both formative and summative assessments.
To learn more about the GSE for reading/ELA and mathematics and the GPS for all other content areas, visit the following website:
Georgia’s Systems of Continuous Improvement
Coherent Instruction
The major system of the complex school organization that articulates and guides the what and how of instruction.
Professional Capacity
A major system of the complex school organization that develops a quality staff to reduce the variance of quality in instruction throughout the school.
Effective Leadership
A major system of the complex school organization that sets the direction for the school, ensures that the school’s staff is capable of meeting that direction, and makes sure the organization functions according to its mission.
Assessments
The following is a list of the primary assessments used at Southwest Georgia STEM Charter School. The assessments are administered 3 times each school year- students are assessed in the fall, winter & spring. The links below will provide you with information on each assessment.
Primary Assessments
STAR Early Literacy Kindergarten & 1st grade
https://www.renaissance.com/products/star-early-literacy/
Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS 2.0)
https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/GKIDS.aspx
RAPID Assessment Grades Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd grade
https://www.lexialearning.com/products/rapid-assessment
DIBELS Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd & 3rd grade
https://dibels.uoregon.edu/assessment/dibels/dibels-eighth-edition
STAR Reading 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th grade
https://www.renaissance.com/products/star-reading/
STAR Math 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th grade
https://www.renaissance.com/products/star-math/
USA TEST Prep 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th & 9 grades for Social Studies & Science
https://www.usatestprep.com/blog/category/about-us/
Georgia Milestones Assessment System (End of Grade/Course) EOG/EOC 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th
Georgia Milestones Assessment Systems
Georgia Milestones Achievement Level Descriptors
Achievement Level Descriptors (ALDs). ALDs are narrative descriptions of the knowledge and skills expected at each of the four achievement levels and were developed for each grade level, content area, and course by committees of Georgia educators in March 2015 and July 2015. The ALDs are based on the state-adopted content standards.
ALDs show a progression of knowledge and skills for which students must demonstrate competency across the achievement levels. It is important to understand that a student should demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and skills within his/her achievement level as well as all content and skills in any achievement levels that precede his/her own, if any. For example, a Proficient Learner should also possess the knowledge and skills of a Developing Learner and a Beginning Learner.
Georgia Milestones Achievement Level Descriptors
The four achievement levels on Georgia Milestones are Beginning Learner, Developing Learner, Proficient Learner, and Distinguished Learner. The general meaning of each of the four levels is provided below:
Beginning Learners do not yet demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students need substantial academic support to be prepared for the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.
Developing Learners demonstrate partial proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students need additional academic support to ensure success in the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.
Proficient Learners demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are prepared for the next grade level or course and are on track for college and career readiness.
Distinguished Learners demonstrate advanced proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are well prepared for the next grade level or course and are well prepared for college and career readiness.
Please use the link below to go to the GMAS Testing practice site allows parents & students to experience what testing online is like.
Supplemental Programs
Southwest Georgia STEM Charter School uses the following programs to differentiate & supplement instruction. The links below offer more information on the programs.
Lexia Core 5 is used by Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd grade
https://www.lexialearning.com/why-lexia/personalized-learning-model
https://www.lexialearning.com/customer-resources/support-for-families
Freckle Reading & Freckle Math is linked to our STAR Assessment programs & customizes instructional practice for each student based on their performance.