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Assessment

Assessment

CS use a combination of diagnostic, authentic, state-mandated standardized tests, and nationally recognized norm-referenced assessments to compare students’ progress over time with the school’s goals.  These assessments include:

  • Northwest Education Association (NWEA) Measure of Academic progress (MAP)
  • ACT’s Explore and Plan
  • State Standardized Tests

In addition, Concept Schools have designed and use interim assessments that are aligned with the Illinois standards and mirror the state tests. Within a few days of the test, data from the interim assessments will be analyzed and uploaded to the online database created by Concept Schools. Teams of CS teachers will review the analysis from the interim assessments and develop specific strategies to address the students’ learning deficiencies.

 

Remediation & Intervention

The students entering the school possess a wide range of skills.  The extended day and school year, rigorous program of study, extra programming, and parental involvement will be critical if the students are to achieve all academic goals.

Once enrolled at CS, students will be required to take diagnostic tests focusing on mathematics and reading.  The results of these tests will be analyzed by administration and staff to understand each student’s needs and to create a personalized education plan.

The following academic support programs will be provided:

  • Before- and after-school tutoring
  • Saturday schools
  • Pull-out programs
  • Winter and Summer Academic Camps
  • Peer tutoring
  • Lunch and recess learning programs
  • Buckle Down Institutes

Accelerated Learning

CS uses a combination of the following tools to identify and assess accelerated students:

  • Grade level diagnostic tests created by Concept Schools
  • Past performance in standardized tests
  • NWEA test
  • Concept Schools Interim Assessment
  • Teacher recommendation
  • Any prior evaluation by professional organizations/individuals presented by parents
  • Class Performance

CS teachers differentiate their instruction by content, process, and product in order to meet the needs of accelerated students. CS teachers receive training in differentiated instruction at the Summer Institute, Concept Schools’ annual conference, and professional development days.  The dean of academics monitors lesson plans and observe in the classroom to ensure that teachers differentiate instruction.

High school students requiring acceleration are enrolled in academically challenging Mathematics and English Language Arts classes. Students have the opportunity to take AP courses, dual-credit courses, and courses offered through the Virtual High School.    Accelerated students may have the opportunity for early graduation.

Accelerated students have the opportunity to participate in special interest after-school programs. These programs have a project-based, challenging curriculum and provide students the opportunity to participate in local, national, and international competitions.  Examples of programs/activities include Math Counts, Math League, robotics team, science fairs, Olympiads, bridge building, Destination Imagination, and Word Masters. CS also organizes winter and summer programs for accelerated students in order to meet their needs and challenge them to perform to their full potential.

Parental Involvement Plan

Parental or family involvement is essential to the school’s mission and student success. The following actions will contribute to an effective school-parent/family partnership:

  • The school publishes a clear policy welcoming parental involvement and post opportunities to become involved in an obvious place in the school building and on the school’s Web site.
  • Teachers conduct home visits with parents to enhance parent education and build stronger relationships between students, parents and teachers.
  • The school provides parent/family education programs
  • The school office is trained in customer service skills to ensure that they present a friendly and open environment. Parents/families are treated with respect and are not kept waiting unnecessarily.
  • The school’s Web site provides clear and consistent communication. Parents/families access to daily homework assignments, grades, attendance, and other information via the school’s secure Web page.
  • The school recognizes the contribution of parents in their children’s success by organizing events, such as the Honor Roll Parent Dinner.
  • The school sets up a parent area in the school building, equipped with a comfortable seating area, a telephone, copy machine, computers, books on adolescents, etc.
  • The school provides translated materials and/or in-person contact with parents whose primary language is not English. Translators are involved in all parent-teacher interactions as needed.

Career Preparation

As a college preparatory school, the CS ensures that students gain the necessary skills not only for a successful college education, but also for a successful career. Therefore, several components in the design integrate career education and exploration within the curriculum such as life skills curriculum, job shadowing, summer internships, senior thesis, career and college fairs, college path courses, and other elective courses.

Technology

CS has a dedicated Technology person to assist faculty members at the school in enhancing learning through technology. Technology instruction at CS emphasizes content learning while strengthening technology skills of students, teachers and staff. Teachers use these methods and tools in to order enhance instruction in the content areas:

  • Collaborative Environments, i.e. social networking platforms, community Web sites, classroom management systems, multiplayer gaming environments, or virtual worlds
  • Online Communication Tools, i.e. instant messaging, online conferencing, micro-blogging platforms, and online broadcasting
  • Mobiles, graphing calculators, and laptops
  • Cloud Computing, i.e. Flicker, Google, and YouTube, which are virtual servers available over the Internet
  • Smart Boards
  • Smart Objects, i.e. devices that use quick response codes and are connected to larger information sources or interactive books and maps
  • Personalized Web pages, blogs, and blackboard-type online communication tools through which teachers can tag, categorize, publish, and review work online
  • Virtual learning

Co-Curricular Programs

Co-curricular programs play a significant role in the culture of the school. Students are engaged in projects and activities before and after school. CS students participate in five main categories of events – clubs, special interest groups, annual school-wide events, field trips, and sports.

School Culture and Climate

CS focuses on establishing a culture that values and celebrates success, teaches shared values, sets high expectations, builds pride, and fosters a sense of community and belonging. The culture and climate of the school incorporates five essential attributes:

  • Focus on Student Achievement
  • High Expectations
  • Commitment
  • Determination
  • Involvement

Serving Specialized Population 

Special education programs and services at CS are provided in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations as well as the individual student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The CS faculty and administration work collaboratively with the district or other companies in providing high quality services to students with disabilities.  A Special Education Coordinator is responsible for conducting IEP meetings to assess, review and revise IEP’s.  Auxiliary and related services identified through the IEP (such as speech and language service or physical therapy for example) are provided by the District or special companies.

Students with disabilities have an equal opportunity with students in the regular education program to participate in, and where appropriate, receive credit for non-academic, extracurricular and ancillary programs, services, and activities.  Students with disabilities receive the same notices concerning school-sponsored programs, activities, and services as other students.

Providing a healthy culture that promotes safety, security, strong relationships, and a sense of belonging are some of the most critical components for providing a framework to support students with at-risk characteristics.   Within this type of environment, students feel secure in approaching faculty and support staff for assistance.

Students at the CS with limited proficiency in English achieve proficiency in the English language through the use of the school’s services and teaching methods. CS hires at least one certified ESL teacher and adapt staffing according to the student population.  CS ensures that ELL (English Language Learner) students will not be excluded from curricular and extracurricular activities based on an inability to speak and understand the language of instruction. Parents whose English proficiency is limited receive notices and information from the school in their native language so that CS is able to encourage the participation of all parents in the CS community.