All students, grades 7-12 use the learning management system Canvas. A learning management system provides a central starting point for teaching and learning to empower teachers and students.  Canvas keeps teachers, students, and parents connected while providing equitable access to interactive, engaging content from anywhere at any time.  With Canvas, teachers can create powerful content and instruction using their favorite digital tools while students can easily access course materials, participate in online discussions, collaborate with peers, and hand in digital assignments.  From rubrics to analytics, Canvas is outfitted with smart, intuitive features to help take learning to the next level.   

The Renaissance Star Assessment is used to keep track of students reading and math skills throughout the year. In some cases, it is used to determine placement into Accelerated Math and Accelerated Reader programs.  The Star assessments include Star Reading & Star Math. Each test usually takes between 20-45 minutes to complete, most students will complete it within that time frame. 

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Renaissance STAR Assessments (2023): Info & Sample Questions- Video

Interim Assessments are assessments created by the State. These assessments are given to students at pre-determined intervals. The purpose of these assessments is to determine student achievement on standards. They are often used to identify patterns of both strengths and weaknesses in learning for groups of students so that teachers can re-teach critical content and skills. Interim assessments will be given online through the CAASPP website. 

Excelsior Charter Schools is committed to providing a rigorous Mathematics program for students, preparing them for college and their future. The governing board acknowledges the importance of accurate placement of pupils in courses that are challenging and appropriate. Fair and appropriate Mathematics placement will be overseen by the Superintendent or designee.

During the transition from 8th to 9th grade, and or transitioning into grade's 9-12 at Excelsior Charter Schools, the subsequent standards and qualifications will be utilized for a pupil's placement in Mathematics classes:

Multiple objective academic measures will be utilized such as but are not limited to:

• All entering Freshman will take an internal mathematics placement assessment:
• Current 8th Grade students will take the assessment in Spring of 8th Grade.
• Incoming Freshman will take the assessment within 14 days of enrolling with Excelsior Charter School.
• Principal/ Teacher recommendation based upon review of student's most current transcript.
• Examination and consideration of Mathematics assessment score on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) exam.

Students are placed in a math class based on the courses they have taken in middle school and in accordance with the above standards and qualifications. Within the first month (30 calendar days), students will be given an assessment as a "check point" to ensure accurate placement. If a student is found to be inappropriately placed within the first month, then resources will be provided to the student and his or her family with options to remedy the placement concerns.

Annually the Superintendent or their designee will review Math performance data to ensure that pupils who are qualified to progress in mathematics courses are based solely on their performance. No student will be held back based on their race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic background.

Education Code:

California Senate Bill No. 359, Chapter 508