Dear Parents and Families,
As we welcome back all students to the 2020-2021 school year, one thing is certain, the North Penn School District is committed to nurturing and developing your child(ren) in a safe, caring, and technology-rich learning environment. Our teachers are committed to getting to know each of their students personally and academically.
NPSD will be using an online assessment measure called STAR360, which assesses both reading and math skills aligned to PA Core Standards. STAR360 is a robust software that can be administered to students on the computer, and only takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. The software is adaptive, which means, as your child answers questions correctly or incorrectly, the adaptive software will target your child’s most appropriate learning needs. It is extremely important that your child complete this assessment independently so your child’s teacher can target instruction, create appropriate learning goals with your child, and monitor their progress.
Another feature of this assessment is that it feeds into Freckle, which is our online learning resource. Your child will work through a personalized learning pathway on Freckle that will target skills that have been identified through the STAR360 assessment as well as their progress in lessons on Freckle. With these two pieces working together, in conjunction with the instruction your child will receive from their teacher, we will be able to close achievement gaps they may have experienced through our school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The STAR 360 assessment will be given three times a year for students in grades 1-6, and twice a year in Kindergarten. Our first assessment window for grades 1-6 will open on September 29. Your child’s teacher will let you know which day they will administer the assessment to their class, and specific directions, so you and your child feel ready and will be successful. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's teacher.
Sincerely,
Sean Arney, Supervisor of Mathematics
Nina Fenstermaker, Supervisor of English/Language Arts