Academics

Assessments

Through strategic alignment, reliable methods, and efficient practices, our assessment system supports a well-rounded evaluation of student achievement. By empowering teachers with actionable data and fostering collaboration with families, we ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive. Together, we aim to elevate the educational experience and contribute to the long-term success of all students.

Types of Assessments

The Amity Regional School District No. 5 district assessment system includes three key types of evaluations, each aligned with these guiding principles:

Formative Assessments: Conducted throughout the learning process, these assessments help teachers monitor understanding, adjust teaching strategies, and personalize instruction. Examples include observations, student discussions, short written responses, and student presentations.
Summative Assessments: These measure mastery of specific content after instruction, such as end-of-unit tests, midterms, finals, and standardized assessments like the Smarter Balanced Assessment and the Next Generation Science Assessment.
Universal Screenings: Administered at key points in the year for students in grades 7 & 8, these screening assessments monitor progress in reading and math against national benchmarks and assist in identifying students who may need additional support. These are not graded but serve as part of the district’s MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) process.

Upcoming Assessments

Upcoming Amity Assessments

This Calendar only reflects Amity Assessments.

View Full Amity Assessment Calendar

May 12 2025

Middle School NGSS & CTAS

May 13 2025

Middle School NGSS & CTAS

view the state Assessment Calendar document

view the amity Assessment Calendar document

Resources

Curriculum

Curriculum serves as a comprehensive blueprint for effective teaching and learning, rooted in content and performance standards. It goes beyond a simple list of topics or key facts and instead maps out a pathway to achieve desired student outcomes.

Curriculum Portal

What is Curriculum?

A well-designed curriculum:

Shapes content into engaging and effective learning plans.
Incorporates appropriate activities that help students achieve long-term goals.
Follows a backward design approach, focusing on three stages: Desired Results, Evidence, and Learning Plan.

By aligning learning activities with clear goals and outcomes, the curriculum ensures that teaching is purposeful and impactful.

Key Components

Effective curriculum design integrates several key elements to foster student success, including:

Standards Alignment: Connecting content and performance standards to guide instruction.
Engaging Learning Activities: Supporting students in reaching desired outcomes through active and meaningful participation.
Backward Planning: Designing instruction with the end goals in mind to ensure all components work cohesively.

These components work together to create a framework that supports rigorous, equitable, and inclusive education for all students.

The Role of Curriculum Council

Leading the development and refinement of curriculum in our district is the Curriculum Council—a dedicated group of educators focused on ensuring high-quality instructional content. Key features of the council include:

A team of teacher leaders trained in Understanding by Design (UbD) principles.
A commitment to enhancing written curriculum to align with best practices, the district’s Portrait of the Graduate, and the needs of diverse learners.
A collaborative approach to creating a curriculum that is rigorous, inclusive, and equitable, enriching the learning experience for all students.

Through their expertise and dedication, the Curriculum Council ensures that our curriculum reflects the highest standards and prepares students for success in school and beyond.

EL/ ML Learners Program

While language development rates vary, many students exit the English Language Learners (EL) / Multilingual Learners (ML) Program within three to seven years. All EL / MLs must have access to modified academic content and necessary supports to ensure academic success and readiness for grade promotion and graduation. Our district aims for all EL/MLs to achieve full English proficiency and graduate with diverse academic and professional opportunities.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Amity Regional School District EL/ML Program is to empower multilingual students with the linguistic, academic, and social skills necessary for success in a diverse and dynamic world.

District leaders, educators, and staff have an important responsibility to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all Multilingual learners, starting with registration and continuing through all areas of the school community. We aim to leverage the strengths of students and families by providing individualized ESL instruction and activities.

This approach helps remove language barriers, allowing students to reach their academic and personal aspirations. By fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, we celebrate cultural diversity, promote bilingualism, and ensure equitable access to educational opportunities.

Program Goals

The EL/ML Program at Amity aims to deliver high-quality English instruction to students who are still developing English proficiency. This program is tailored to enhance student's abilities in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English, enabling them to meet academic achievement standards.

Students will:
- Acquire linguistic and cultural knowledge related to academic settings
- Expand academic vocabulary
- Develop confidence in speaking/listening and reading/writing, including formal and informal registers
- Learn to monitor and self-correct their linguistic output
- Develop fluency in the use of higher-level grammatical structures
- Learn to think in the target language, reducing reliance on their first language.
- Acquire phonological and phonetic knowledge of the sound system of English

Eligibility Criteria

Students are determined eligible for EL/ML services based on the following criteria:

Home Language Survey indicates a language other than English is spoken in the student’s home and whether the student speaks a language other than English
Performance on the LAS links Placement Test
Other indicators (Parent input, parent interview, and use of additional screening tools)
Parents will be notified of the screening results if a student is identified as limited English proficient (LEP). The district will inform parents in writing about the assessment results and the recommended program placement, outlining the services available to help the student achieve English language proficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is an EL/ML Learner?

What Assessments Do EL/MLs Take?

Students, including EL/MLs, are administered the following state assessments:

Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) in English Language Arts and Mathematics in grades 7 and 8
NGSS in science in grades 8 & 11
Pre-ACT in English, Math, Reading, and Science in Grade 10
Connecticut SAT in reading, writing, and mathematics in grade 11
Las Links or CAAELP assessment-all EL/ML students grades 7-12

What Supports are Available on Assessments?

How Long Does it Take to Achieve English Language Proficiency?

When Will My Child No Longer Be Identified as an EL/ML?

What is the Exit Criteria?

Can Parents Decline Services?

Parents have the right to decline services even if their child has been identified as limited English proficient (LEP). To decline language support services, parents must submit a signed waiver to the district indicating their decision. It's important to note that this parental statement does not exempt the district from conducting the annual language proficiency assessment using the LAS Links for EL/MLs.

What Happens After My Child Exits Services?

Any student who meets the exit criteria will be monitored for two consecutive years by the EL/ML staff and their counselor. The monitor process will include:

Discuss the child’s performance in the classroom with the child’s general education teacher
Review of data and assessments

Any student who is not performing successfully will be provided Tier II intervention/supports to receive additional support services.

How Can I Get Involved?

As educators, we value the crucial role that family life and experiences play in laying strong educational foundations. Here are some suggestions to assist your child in learning English.

Join the school’s parent organization (PTA).
Serve as a parent volunteer.
Attend school events, such as field trips, assemblies, plays and concerts.
Attend parent-teacher conferences to review report cards and progress of your child.
Send e-mails/letters and have phone conversations with your child’s teachers.
Express concerns or ask questions.
Help your child obtain a public library card and visit the library frequently. Public libraries have books and other media to borrow, as well as programs to promote literacy.
In your interactions with the school system, ask for translation services, if needed.
Read with your child in your native language every day and encourage him or her to read daily.

Resources

For Questions About the EL/ML Program, Please Contact:

Nicole Raiola

Titles: District TESOL Instructor

Email:

Phone Numbers:
School: 203-397-4181

Other Resources

Coach Descriptions

Instructional Technology Coach: Assist teachers with the effective use of technology to support teaching, pedagogy, and student learning

SIS Instructional Coach: Assist teacher with the effective use of the district's student information systems (PowerSchool & Schoology)

DEI Instructional Coach: Assist teachers with the effective integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion into the district's curriculum and instruction.

Reading/ELA Instructional Coach: Assist teachers with the effective implementation of district reading programs, specifically Reader's Workshop.

Portrait of the Graduate

The Portrait of The Graduate

A Portrait of the Graduate outlines the skills, knowledge, and dispositions that students across all grade levels should have. It is a promise that our educators make to ALL our students to prepare our students for the world beyond school. Additionally, a Portrait of the Graduate should reflect what our community values for our graduates.

Learn More About BOWA's Portrait of The Graduate