Monday, May 3, 2021

Anti-Charter School Bill AB 1316

Assembly Bill 1316. What does it mean?

Who knows. It may not pass. There might be enough opposition to keep that from happening. But if it does, it is a concern for all of us. 

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Here are several of the major provisions of AB 1316, as well as the potential impact to Visions:    

1. If Passed:  Effective July 1, 2022, Nonclassroom-based (NCB) charter schools will only be allowed to enroll/serve students within the county in which the school is authorized. 

What this means: 

  • Currently, NCB charter schools can serve students in the county they are authorized in and all contiguous counties.
  • Visions is authorized within Sacramento County by San Juan Unified School District.
  • Visions currently serves approximately 7,000 students in Sacramento County, as well as 8 contiguous counties.
  • Under AB 1316, Visions would be permitted to serve only those students that reside in Sacramento County.
  • Students and families currently residing in Amador, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Placer, San Joaquin, Solano, Sutter, and Yolo counties would no longer be permitted to attend  Visions, without an approved charter from an existing school district or County Office of Education.

2. If Passed:  Effective July 1, 2022, funding for non-classroom-based (NCB) charter schools will be based on the amount of in-person, classroom-based instruction provided to students .

What this means: 

  • Based on Visions’ current educational model, we would receive 30% less funding per student.
  • This reduction in revenue would likely result in the reduction of resources and services provided to students.
3. If Passed:  Effective July 1, 2022, vendor personnel that provide direct services to students must hold the Commission on Teacher Credentialing certificate, permit, or other document required for their assignment consistent with the requirements for teachers in a charter school. 

What this means: 

  • Students utilizing community partners and/or tutors may be limited to only those that hold appropriate CTC-issued credentials. 
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Visions administration has stated that it will continue working closely to respond to these legislative challenges while honoring their commitment to preparing each student to succeed in a rapidly changing world.  And they will continue to provide updates in the weeks ahead. 

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If you would like to voice your opinion about AB1316 directly to the governor, here is the link to do so.

Upcoming & Notable

 



Early Ordering - eVouchers: May 3 - June 30
Make-up Testing/Alternate Testing Days: Tuesday, May 11 & Wednesday, May 12
LP10 Begins: Monday, May 17
Memorial Day, No School: Monday, May 31




Last Day of School:
 Thursday, June 3
Year-end Book Returns (offsite locations): Thursday, June 3 - Wednesday, June 9 Locations and Dates TBD.
Last Day to Submit Community College or Parent Field Trip Reimbursements: Wednesday, June 30
Early Ordering Ends: Wednesday, June 30

This Week's Meeting Schedule

 LP9 Agenda - Preparing for Next Year

Monday 5/3
Office Day

Tuesday
Virtual
12:00 - Tiffany
1:00 - Jacob
3:00 - Billy & Ary

Wednesday
Virtual
11:00 - Elias (Lucas optional)
1:00 - Camryn
2:00 - Hunter ??

Thursday
Virtual
11:00 - Elijah & Hazel
2:00 - Jonah
4:00 - Jette

Friday
Office Day
3:00 - Ary*

Monday, April 26, 2021

Master Agreements


Master Agreements for all continuing students for the 2021/22 school year were emailed out on Friday.

Please look them over for accuracy, read the information carefully, sign, and have your student(s) sign as soon as you can. 

Master agreements not only state your students classes for next year, they hold your place in Visions. If you didn't get a master agreement, please let me know asap. Thanks.

Thank you to all of those who got them in already! 

Let me know if you have any questions.

Upcoming & Notable

 


Early Ordering - Curriculum & Supplies:
 Monday, April 19 - June 30




Early Ordering - eVouchers: May 3 - June 30
Make-up Testing/Alternate Testing Days: Tuesday, May 11 & Wednesday, May 12
LP10 Begins: Monday, May 17
Memorial Day, No School: Monday, May 31




Last Day of School:
 Thursday, June 3
Year-end Book Returns (offsite locations): Thursday, June 3 - Wednesday, June 9 Locations and Dates TBD.
Last Day to Submit Community College or Parent Field Trip Reimbursements: Wednesday, June 30

New Curriculum Partners

Visions is happy to welcome the following partners to our list of Approved Curriculum Partners for the 2021/2022 School Year. If you haven’t heard about them just yet, please take a moment to see if there is something that would be helpful for your educational activities next school year!


Heggerty
Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Curriculum is available in 3 levels: Pre-K, Kindergarten, Primary (Grades 1-2). Provides 35 weeks of daily lessons, focusing on eight phonemic awareness skills, along with two additional activities to develop letter and sound recognition, and language awareness. Lessons take 10-12 minutes. Print materials are a single simple book with no prep work. Video lessons are available online paced out with one lesson each day of the week.

Education.com
Education.com Premium Access has printable worksheets, lesson plans, science activities, online activities, stories, educational songs, games and learning exercises for students. Workbooks are also available for download. Includes “Kid Mode” which gives access for students to use Brainzy learning games.


Hola Amigo Box
Hola Amigo is a monthly subscription or single item purchase that includes high quality, fun, and engaging Spanish language activities. Boxes typically include literature, games, art activities to engage the student in learning a bit of Spanish and about the culture. There are QR codes in many of the books and activities that link to online components or audio for the book.


Legacy Kits
Legacy Kits is a subscription box that includes items that teach about Africa, African American History, and incorporating STEAM/STEM learning. Boxes typically include a history book about Africa with a hands-on STEAM project, an African American history book with a hands-on STEAM project and a mini student workbook covering the black history books in kit.


Mel Science
Mel Science offers three different subscriptions: 
Mel Chemistry includes Science experiments for kids, delivered to your door. Get hands-on experiments, VR lessons, and live classes for Ages 8–14+.
Mel Physics includes hands-on experiments, VR lessons, and live physics lessons for Ages 8–14+.
Mel Kids includes hands-on STEM projects, AR lessons, and live science classes for Ages 5–9+.


Sew Outside the Box
Sew Outside the Box has unique sewing project kits for kids that focus on teaching specific sewing skills. Project kit comes with most of the supplies needed. Free and easy video tutorials are available and patterns for machine sewing and hand-sewing beginners.


2021/2022 Approved Curriculum Partner List

2021/22 Curriculum Partner Ordering Information


This Week's Meeting Schedule

LP Agenda - Preparing for Next Year

Monday 4/26
Office Day

Tuesday
Virtual
11:30 - Tiffany (Madison & Logan optional)
2:00 - Jasmine, Roxie & Fiona

Wednesday
Virtual
No meetings due to testing

Thursday
Virtual
11:00 - Sarah & Paul (Jaxon optional)
2:00 - Savannah

Friday
Office Day
Teacher Meetings

Monday, April 19, 2021

Learning Assessments

Visions sent out a notice last week about the new school-wide (K-11) learning assessments that will begin next school year. Here is the link on the Wire.

Why is Visions doing this?
All charter schools are coming under increasing scrutiny from the state. All charter schools will need to prove that they are a valid schools worthy of state funds, and that their students are progressing each year. They need to prove this in order to keep their charters and keep being able to provide a flexible option for home school families. It isn't just Visions. All charter schools will need to begin regular learning assessments.

Visions has invested considerable research, planning, and expense to find the best assessment tools possible for our students. And Visions is paying for them, so the cost of these assessments will NOT come out of your student funding.

You work hard. You spend countless hours choosing curriculum, planning lessons, and monitoring learning. You invest time and effort in making sure your student has the best education possible. But how do you know if your student is mastering the concepts that they need in order to succeed? How do you know what your student knows and is ready to learn next? How do you know when your student is truly succeeding, exceeding, or falling behind?

The great thing about these assessments are that they will help you, as the parent educator, choose curriculum, target learning and know what to focus on. They will help you find the gaps (if there are any) in your child's learning and also help you find ways to fill them. They will help you feel confident that your student is progressing the way you work so hard in helping them to do. 

This is a good thing.

But what does it actually mean?

Things are still in the early stages, and more information will be coming soon. But what I can tell you is that all students in grades K-11 will be taking Language Arts and Math assessments at the beginning and end of the 2021-2022 school year.

  • Students in K-8 will be using iReady.
  • Students in 9-11 will be using Map.

From what I can gather at this point:

  • Students will be able to take these assessments at home
  • If your K-8 student has learning gaps, the iReady curriculum to address them will be free to you

I will keep you updated as new information comes in. Meanwhile, feel free to contact me with any questions you have.

Upcoming & Notable

LP9 Begins: Monday, April 19
Testing Week: Monday, April 19 - Thursday, April 22
Early Ordering: Monday, April 19 - June 30 Curriculum and supplies, May 3 - June 30 for eVouchers (July and August services and semester long "seat reservation" eVouchers only, i.e. Outschool) up to a total of $600)





Make-up Testing: Tuesday, May 11 & Wednesday, May 12
LP10 Begins: Monday, May 17
Memorial Day, No School: Monday, May 31



Last Day of School:
 Thursday, June 3
Year-end Book Returns (offsite locations): Thursday, June 3 - Wednesday, June 9 Locations and Dates TBD.
Last Day to Submit Community College or Parent Field Trip Reimbursements: Wednesday, June 30

This Week's Meeting Schedule

There are no meetings this week due to testing.
Testing This Week
Pre-test Zoom link

Monday 4/19
Virtual 
Charlotte
Willow H.
McKenna
Ella
Skyler


Tuesday
Virtual
Jezzy
Willow H.
Logan
Madison
Skyler

Wednesday
Virtual
Uriah
Hunter
McKenna
Ella
Akira
Jaxon
Lucas

Thursday
Virtual
Uriah
Hunter
Jaxon
Lucas
Charlotte
Jezzy
Akira

Friday
Office Day

Monday, April 12, 2021

Upcoming & Notable


Ordering Deadline for eVouchers: Extended to Friday, April 16
LP9 Begins: Monday, April 19
Early Ordering: 
Monday, April 19 - June 30 Curriculum and supplies 
May 3 - June 30 for eVouchers (July and August services and semester long "seat reservation" eVouchers only, i.e. Outschool) up to a total of $600)
Testing Week: Monday, April 19 - Thursday, April 22




Make-up Testing: Tuesday, May 11 & Wednesday, May 12
LP10 Begins: Monday, May 17
Memorial Day, No School: Monday, May 31



Last Day of School:
 Thursday, June 3
Year-end Book Returns (offsite locations): Thursday, June 3 - Wednesday, June 9 Locations and Dates TBD.
Last Day to Submit Community College or Parent Field Trip Reimbursements: Wednesday, June 30

This Week's Meeting Schedule

LP8 Agenda - Standards Review & Preparing for Next Year

Monday 4/12
Office Day

Tuesday
Virtual
12:00 - Uriah
3:00 - Billy & Ary

Wednesday
Virtual
1:00 - Hunter
2:00 - McKenna

Thursday
Virtual
11:00 - Elijah & Hazel
1:00 - Akira
2:00 - Jonah
4:00 - Jette

Friday
Office Day

Monday, April 5, 2021

Recorded Test Prep Resources

From the March 29 Parent Curriculum Newsletter:

Recorded CAASPP Test Preparation Parent Webinars

This dashboard contains the recording, slide deck, and resources for Visions CAASPP Prep Parent webinars along with the presentations and resources from the student classes. These webinars cover key strategies, address problem solving strategies, test taking strategies, and how to access practice and training tests. There are also strategies for calming test anxiety and supporting student’s needs throughout test taking. Please reach out to TOSAs (Teachers on Special Assignment) Michelle (English), Cara  (Math) or Cindy (English Language Development) with additional questions or support needs as you prepare for the CAASPP.

This Week's Meeting Schedule

LP8 Agenda - Ordering Deadlines/Standards Review/Preparing for Next Year

Monday 4/5
Office Day
Interim Testing Practice

Tuesday
Virtual
11:30 - Tiffany, Madison & Logan
2:00 - Jasmine, Roxie & Fiona

Wednesday
Virtual
11:00 - Charlotte
12:00 - Skyler
2:00 - Wyatt
3:00 - Ella

Thursday
Virtual
11:00 - Jaxon, Sarah & Paul
2:00 - Savannah
3:30 - Jezzy

Friday
Office Day

Monday, March 22, 2021

In-person Vouchers!

Visions is excited to announce that beginning Monday, 3/22/21, we are permitting in person enrichment services for Community Partners! Visions has consulted with each county in our nine-county service area, our legal counsel, and many other stakeholders prior to this decision. Based on this input, Visions has created specific practices and procedures to allow Community Partners to again offer in person services to our families. A direct email to all families announcing this will be sent on Monday, 3/22/21.

Testing Update (Grades 3-8 and 11)

 

Visions began testing some students on Monday March 8th. It has been pretty successful so far. There have been some technical issues, but overall, students found the process relatively easy and many really enjoyed being able to test at home. 

I tested 4 students. They all did a fantastic job! 

Our major testing window is April 19-22. Thank you for signing up for testing days!

Now the only things left to do are:
  • Download the secure browser and make sure you can open it
  • Practice
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Practicing for testing

The best way to prepare for testing is to practice!
You can go to the Caaspp site and do the practice tests on your own at any time. You don't need the secure browser installed to to this.

Want to practice together?
I am setting up "Interim" testing blocks for Monday, April 5th between 11am and 2pm.
These will be short testing practices in one of the testing sections for Language Arts (Research) and one section for Math (Geometry). These will be set up as "non-standardized" which means you can help your student take the test. The interim tests should only take 20 - 30 minutes.

If you would like your student to take the Interim tests on Monday, April 5, please fill out this form so I can send you information and updates via email.

This Week's Meeting Schedule

LP8 Agenda - Ordering Deadlines/Standards Review/Preparing for Next Year

Monday 3/22
Teacher Meetings

Tuesday 
Virtual
11:00 - Willow H.
1:00 - Jacob
2:00 - Wyatt

Wednesday
Virtual
11:00 - Lucas & Elias
2:00 - Camryn

Thursday
Virtual
11:00 - Skyler
1:00 - Baruch & Ana

Friday
Office Day

Monday, March 15, 2021

Upcoming & Notable


Deadline to Order Studies Weekly (for this school year): TODAY! Monday, March 15
Add/Drop Deadline (High School): Friday, March 19
LP8 Begins: Monday, March 22
Sibling Enrollment/Academy Transfer Deadline: 4:30 pm, Friday, March 26
Spring Break - No School: Monday March 29 - Friday, April 2


Online Curriculum Fair: Friday, April 5 - Friday, April 9
Ordering Deadline for Curriculum, Computers & eVouchers: Friday, April 9
LP9 Begins: Monday, April 19
Early Ordering Begins: Monday, April 19 - Curriculum and eVouchers (July and August services for eVouchers up to a total of $600)
Testing: Monday, April 19 - Thursday, April 22
Testing: Wednesday, April 28



Testing: Monday, May 10
Make-up Testing: Tuesday, May 11
LP10 Begins: Monday, May 17
Memorial Day, No School: Monday, May 31



Last Day of School:
 Thursday, June 3

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Last week of LP7

Monday 3/15

There are no regularly scheduled student meetings this week. I will be attending teacher meetings during the week, and as testing coordinator I will be supporting other teachers as they begin to test their students.

If you would like a supplemental meeting, have questions, or need support for anything, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Monday, March 8, 2021

Scheduling Testing (Grades 3-8 and 11)

 

Our major test week will be Monday, April 19 - Thursday, April 22.
Alternate/Make-Up days will be Wednesday, April 28
and Monday, May 10
Tuesday, May 11 will be reserved for Make-Up testing.

Testing will begin each day at 10 am with a brief Zoom meeting 
where I will provide instructions and log-in information.


Please sign up for 2 testing days as soon as you can, so I can plan and prepare.
Sign up for testing days here.

The goal will be to complete one subject (LA/Math) per testing day. There are 2 Language Arts tests, and 2 math tests. They each have a multiple choice/short answer test and a "performance task" test. Your student can choose which subject to start with.

The tests are not timed. Students can take as long as they need. If they need additional days, we will use the alternate and make-up days.

Science tests (except for those scheduled for 11th graders this Friday) are on hold for now because the state is considering requesting a waiver for that requirement this year. More info on that will follow as I get it.

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Want a practice session before testing?
I set up one Interim testing session (a short test practice) for Monday, March 15. But I only have one student signed up. Maybe it is too early?

I can set up another that is closer to actual testing, if people are interested. Please email me if that is something you would like to do.

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Parent/Guardian To-Do List:
  1. Make sure you have an appropriate device with a working camera and microphone. Download and check that you can open the secure browser. 
  2. Prepare a quiet place for your student(s) to test. Provide scratch paper and pencils. 
  3. View the How to Take a Remote Test Video (7:44) with your student(s) before your test session. 
  4. Review the Guidelines for student testing on the Parent/Guardian Notification - CAASPP 2020-21 Letter.
  5. Practice with your student. At a minimum do the Smarter Balanced Training Tests. (These are the yellow ones, the second group that show up as choices.)

Quick Links: 
  • Practice Tests (You are only interested in the Smarter Balanced Practice Tests and Smarter Balanced Training Tests. I'd do the Training Tests first.) 
  • Scoring Guides (you are only looking for CAASPP ELA and Math and possibly CAST science if your student is in 5th, 8th, or 11th)
  • Chromebook Request Form