District Budget Overview and New Report Cards in the Elementary Schools

On December 2, 2015 the Board of Education convened a study session on a general overview of the budget process and new report cards.

Stuart Mattey, Assistant Superintendent for Business, provided a high level synopsis of the budget process including the timing and the many factors that drive the budget such as State aid, contractual obligations, plant improvement needs and programmatic enhancements. There were no specific details about this year's budget although he noted that the tax cap levy limit is projected to be at near 0% for this year. He presented the slide shown here that details how the budget expenditures have broken down by percent over the last few years.

The Board is working to develop its budget proposal for presentation in February followed by several public study sessions and a community vote in May. Mattey's entire presentation document can be accessed here: 

Also at the study session, Lynne Shain, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum,
Instruction, and Assessment, discussed the new elementary school report cards that are in use for the current marking period. The genesis of this project was a request from elementary school teachers that a committee be formed during the summer of 2015 with representatives from each grade at each school to review the current report cards, research other models, and recommend revisions as needed. The committee was asked to review descriptors used within each learning category with a goal to streamline and use consistent language and review the marking scale used (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4 matched to State tests vs. Satisfactory, Progressing, Needs Improvement vs. some other language). Also considered were the number and timing of report cards and conferences. The committee met over the summer and early fall, surveyed parents and teachers, and studied report cards of other school districts. Ultimately, elementary school report cards were revised with clearer descriptors, more room for teacher narrative and a new progress scale. The timing and frequency of report cards and conferences was unchanged. The letter below, highlighting the review process and final revisions, was sent by Lynne Shain to K-5 parents on December 1. Shain's entire presentation including the detailed survey responses can be viewed in the meeting's agenda packet here.

The entire December 2, 2015 meeting including the 2015-2018 Transition Plan portfolio review can be viewed at the Board of Education Video on Demand site. The next meeting is scheduled for December 14 beginning at 6pm with PTA representatives from the elementary schools followed by a work session at 7pm and a regular business meeting at 8pm.

Shain's Letter  Parents of Elementary School Students:

Dear Parents,
This marking period, we are unveiling a newly formatted elementary report card. Each grade level's report card is designed to provide clear and concise feedback for parents. Progress is reported based on curriculum goals using consistent language, K-5.

The elementary classroom report card redesign began in the spring of 2015 with the formation of a committee of teachers and administrators from all elementary grades and buildings. The committee developed surveys to gather input from all the elementary teachers in the district and from the elementary parent community. Survey results were compiled and utilized when the committee met during the summer of 2015.

In late August, before the start of the school year, committee members shared the redesign suggestions by grade level. Each grade level's additional suggestions were incorporated into the new design.

The new Scarsdale elementary report cards include the following features:

Descriptors:

Holistic scoring by major skill area reflects a developmental learning approach: Holistic scoring gives students a single, overall progress rating for each major curriculum goal as a whole, without assigning a specific rating to each sub descriptor listed.

Streamlined descriptors create a clear and concise report card for parents:

▪ Consistency in language throughout the report cards
▪ While descriptors are consolidated, a comment narrative is provided to address specifics

Behaviors that Promote Learning:

This new category synthesizes Personal/Social Development & Work Habits
Many student work habits are influenced by where students are developmentally in their personal and social growth.

Narrative: Each term's comment space was increased to allow teachers the option to write a more detailed and descriptive narrative.

Progress Scale:

• Reporting based on curriculum expectations
• Replaces the 1-4 scale with developmental descriptors

Our new elementary report card, in tandem with the upcoming parent-teacher conferences, are two prime feedback mechanisms from classroom teachers to parents. We hope that this feedback will be clear and informative.

Lynne Shain
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Phone: (914) 721-2432
lshain@scarsdaleschools.org