whole language

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A teaching method that focuses on reading for meaning in context.

Transition

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Process of preparing kids to function in future environments and emphasizing movement from one educational program to another, such as from elementary school to middle school, or from school to work

tracking

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A common instructional practice of organizing student in groups based on their academic skills. Tracking allows a teacher to provide the same level of instruction to the entire group.

Title V

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Supports state and local efforts to implement promising education reform programs, provide a continuing source of innovation and educational improvement, help meet the special education needs of at-risk and high-need students, and support programs to improve school, student, and teacher performance.

Title IX

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part of a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in any aspect of the educational program.

Title IV

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Supports programs to prevent violence in and around schools; prevent the illegal use of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco by young people; and foster a safe and drug-free learning environment that supports academic achievement.

Title III

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Provides language instruction assistance for limited English proficient and immigration students so they may meet the Standards of Learning for all students.

Title II D

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Improves student academic achievement through the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools. It is also designated to assist every student in becoming technologically literate by the end of eighth grade and to encourage the effective integration of technology resources and systems with teacher training and professional development.

Title II A

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Increases student achievement by elevating teacher and principal quality through recruitment, hiring, and retention strategies. The program uses scientifically based professional development interventions and holds schools accountable for improvements in student academic performance.

Title 1

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A federal program that provides funds to improve the academic achievement for educationally disadvantaged students who score below the 50th percentile on standardized tests, including the children of migrant workers.

thematic units

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A unit of study that has lessons focused on a specific theme, sometimes covering all core subject areas. It is often used as an alternative approach to teaching history or social studies chronologically.

tenure

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A system of due process and employment guarantee for teachers. After serving a three-year probationary period, teachers are assured continued employment in the school district unless carefully defined procedures for dismissal or layoff are successfully followed.

Team teaching

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A teaching method in which two or more teachers teach the same subjects or theme. The teachers may alternate teaching the entire group or divide the group into sections or classes that rotate between the teachers.

systematic and explicit phonics instruction

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The most effective way to teach phonics. A program is systematic if the plan of instruction includes a carefully selected set of letter-sound relationships that are organized into a logical sequence. Explicit means the programs provide teachers with precise directions for the teaching of these relationships.

synthetic phonics

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In this instructional approach, children learn how to convert letters or letter combinations into a sequence of sounds, and then how to blend the sounds together to form recognizable words.

student teacher

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A teacher in training who is in the last semester of a teacher education program. Student teachers work with a regular teacher who supervises their practice teaching.

Strands

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Broad curriculum areas within a given subject. For instance, an arts program could include strands like dance, drama, music and visual art.

standardized test

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A test that is in the same format for all who take it. It often relies on multiple-choice questions and the testing conditions—including instructions, time limits, and scoring rubrics—are the same for all students, though sometimes accommodations on time limits and instructions are made for disabled students.

Standardized Achievement Test II

SAT II

This was formerly know as the Achievement Tests and was renamed the SAT II: Subject Tests. They are administered by the College Board and widely used as a college entrance exam. Students may take the test more than once, but only the highest score is reported at the year of graduation.

Standardized Achievement Test

SAT

Also known as the SAT Reasoning Test (formerly called Scholastic Aptitude Test), this test is widely used as a college entrance examination. Scores can be compared to state and national averages of seniors graduating from any public or private school.

staff development days

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Days set aside in the school calendar for teacher training. School is not generally held on these days.

Special Education

SE

Specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of eligible kids whose educational needs cant be met through modification of the regular instructional program; provides for a range of options for services

Special Day Class

SDC

Students in Special Day Classes (SDC) are enrolled in self-contained special education classes. They are assigned to these classes by their IEP eligibility and receive support from the Special Day Class teacher and the support staff

socioeconomicallly disadvantaged

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Students whose parents do not have a high school diploma or who participate in the federally funded free/reduced price meal program because of low family income.

Sight Vocabulary

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A learning-to-read term for words that a child will not have to decode but will recognize immediately on sight, due to repeated exposure.

Self-Advocacy

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Childs ability to explain specific learning needs and seek necessary assistance or accommodations