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- Guilderland’s reading curriculum is 20 years old?
- Guilderland is the only whole-language district in the Capital District?
- 20-25% of children do not learn well under this curriculum?
- Guilderland has the lowest scores on the 4 th grade English Language Arts exam (ELA) when compared to similar schools in the area ( Bethlehem , North Colonie and Niskayuna )?
- We spend more money per student than the similar districts in the area?
- Guilderland is the only local school district that does NOT test all children prior to beginning kindergarten?*
- Guilderland is the only local district that does not teach spelling until second grade?
- The tests given to Guilderland’s students to assess comprehension are developed locally and do not provide a basis for comparison outside the district?
- The district uses only 1 part of the nationally recognized Woodcock reading assessment unless the parent requests the other 3 parts?
- Guilderland has 66% more children identified as learning disabled than the other similar districts?**
- The children who require additional help in Guilderland spend significantly more time outside the regular classroom than the similar districts?
- Reading difficulties can be substantially reduced with the addition of systematic and explicit phonics and phonemic awareness instruction?
- All children who receive this kind of instruction become better at spelling, even if they did not have difficulty learning to read?
- Learning disabilities can be reversed with proper instruction, early?
- A group of concerned parents brought this information to the attention of the Administration and the School Board?
- An advocacy group has been formed to ensure our Administrators and elected officials are focusing on improving our results?
- No Child Left Behind means we must have a curriculum that is scientifically based and that schools must be held accountable for student performance?
- You can help, email guilderlandparents@yahoo.com
* In 2005 Guilderland began a screening process, it has not been determined how widely it is being used or what is assessed.
** Data from NYS Dept of Education from the 2004/05 school year. 2.69% 138 students in Bethlehem, 3.31% 143 students in Niskayuna, 3.34% 187 students in N. Colonie, 5.50% 311 students in Guilderland
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