Curriculum

Welcome to the Curriculum Department at Stockbridge Community Schools!

Stockbridge Community Schools offers students an engaging and meaningful curriculum that is aligned to the Michigan State Standards. Our goal is to develop rigorous and relevant learning that creates lifelong, confident learners, who have the resources necessary for success in a changing world.

Michigan Academic Standards

The State academic standards serve to outline learning expectations for Michigan’s students and are intended to guide local curriculum development. Stockbridge Community Schools use these standards as a framework for curriculum development. Furthermore, these standards provide a platform for State assessments.

External Link Michigan Academic Standards

Title I Services

Stockbridge Community Schools offers qualifying students at Smith Elementary and Heritage School access to supplemental instruction via Title I services. Title I is a Federal grant that provides funding and resources to assist students that are identified as at-risk of failing the State assessment. These students are identified through multiple assessment sources including parent and teacher concern ratings. Identified students may receive interventions from a certified teacher in a small group or one-on-one within or outside of the classroom.

Stockbridge Community Schools Title I mission is to promote student achievement and provide services that will ensure all children have an opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and to achieve proficiency on high academic standards.

Title I Information

Title I Parent Information

What is Title 1?

Title 1 is a federal program that provides funds to schools and districts that qualify. Qualification is based on the percentage of students who come from low-income families. It is designed to provide supplemental services that support students academically.

Who is eligible?

Students who show a reading or math deficiency through local and/or State testing may qualify.

How are students placed?

Students will be placed in Title 1 programming based on academic need in the areas of reading/science/social studies and math. They are identified through district-wide assessments such as MAP, FastBridge, and M-STEP results. Individual reading levels and teacher input also are used to make placement decisions.

What happens after placement?

Students assigned to Title 1 will receive additional instruction in either a small group environment or in the regular classroom by a certified teacher. They will receive instruction in the math areas in which they struggle by way of research-based math interventions that supplement our Go Math program. In reading, students will participate in a specific phonic, fluency, comprehension or vocabulary intervention or Guided Reading group. Parents will receive a report from the Title 1 teacher outlining their child's progress in the program. Teacher/Parent conferences will be held when requested by the parent or the teacher.

What is Parental Involvement?

Parental involvement means that parents participate in regular, twoway communication about academic performance and other school activities. We believe that: -Parents play an integral role in their child's learning -Parents are encouraged to be involved in their child's education as partners in their child's learning as well as in school committees and decisions where appropriate.

*other activities are in section 1118 of ESEA

How can parents be involved?

Here are some examples of ways that parents can be involved in their child's education at Smith and Heritage Schools:

Encourage your child to attend school regularly
Encourage your child to show positive school behavior
Review your child's homework, including reading with your child
Monitor television watching and encourage positive use of your child’s extracurricular time
Volunteer in your child's school and classroom if time or schedule permits
Attend parent-teacher conferences and participate, when appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of your child.
Participate in school activities and committees
Communicate any questions or concerns to the Title I teacher
Sign and follow the Title 1 Parent Compact that is provided at the beginning of each school year.

As a school, we will...

Help parents understand what their child is learning and their expectations for learning.
Provide materials and training to help parents work with their children.
Communicate regularly with you about your child's progress as well as school events and programming. We will send home progress reports/report cards quarterly and hold parent-teacher conferences in November and as needed throughout the year.
Provide support for meetings, volunteering, and parent involvement activities.
Conduct an annual meeting to review Title I programming and services and to seek input from parents.
Provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a learning environment that is safe and child-centered.
Provide instruction based on scientific research. Use student data to make informed decisions to allow us to ensure each child will grow and meet high achievement levels on Michigan Academic Standards and Michigan State Assessments. Instruction will include a balanced literacy curriculum (reading workshop, writing workshop, guided reading, strategy focus groups, shared reading and writing, word study, read-aloud, and other research-based interventions. Math instruction will include the Go Math program and all of its components as well as research-based interventions.
Work with parents in reinforcing instruction.

As a district, Stockbridge Community Schools will...

Involve parents as much as possible in developing Title 1 plans, budgets, and school improvement plans, if necessary.
Support schools in their parent involvement activities and events, including an annual meeting to outline the Title 1 program and a parent involvement plan.
Evaluate the content and effectiveness of the parent involvement policy in improving the academic quality of schools.
Involve parents in developing parent engagement activities and the review and improvement of the Title 1 program.
Ensure that parents with limited English proficiency, parents with disabilities, and parents of migratory children have full opportunities to participate in school programs.
Conduct meetings with parents, as needed.
Support schools in communicating the academic performance of each child.
Assist parents in helping their children achieve regular attendance, monitor television watching, provide adequate time and environment for homework, and guide health and nutritional practices.
Follow other parental involvement policies as outlined in Board of Education policies.

Title I Professional Qualifications Notification

As the parent of a child in an identified Title I building, you may request information regarding the professional qualifications of your child's classroom teacher(s), including:

If the teacher has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade level and subject areas taught
If the teacher is teaching under emergency or temporary status in which state qualifications or licensing criteria are waived
The teacher's baccalaureate degree major, graduate certification, and field of discipline
Whether the student is provided services by paraprofessionals, and if so, their qualifications

Opportunities for Parents at Smith and Heritage Elementary School

Parents have the opportunity to learn more about their child's progress and learning through the following events:

Open House

Please come to Smith and Heritage each year in August for their annual open house! Students and families have the chance to meet their new teachers, drop off school supplies and even visit teachers from their previous years.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Held in November and March and as requested by parents or teachers throughout the year.

Musical Performances

Students at every grade level have the opportunity to perform for their parents and families each year. Various grade-level performances are held throughout the year. Please refer to the school calendar for specific dates.

Title I Parent Information Meetings

Parents are invited to come to the parent information meetings that are held at regular intervals throughout the school year. Topics will provide parents with valuable information about helping their child with homework in reading and math, children's social-emotional needs as well as community resources that are available to families.