Parents/ Guardians Info

What Parents Need to Know

The Grades 3-8 English Language Arts, Mathematics and Science tests are administered in the spring to students across New York State. These annual tests are required for students in grades 3-8 by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. The tests are designed to measure how well students are mastering the learning standards that guide classroom instruction and are a valuable tool used to help ensure students have the support they need to succeed.

Test Sessions

• Grades 3-8 ELA and Math, and Grade 5 Science tests are untimed.
• This means that as long as students are working productively, they will have as much time as they need to complete each test session, within the confines of the regular school day.

Test Questions Reviewed and Written by New York State Teachers

• Hundreds of New York State educators are involved in creating, reviewing, and selecting questions for the Grades 3-8 Tests.

Providing Results for Teachers and Improved Resources for Parents

• The New York State Education Department plans to return instructional reports to teachers by the end of the school year and will release at least 75% of the test questions.
• Score Reports for parents are anticipated to be available in September and will show how your child scored in specific skill and concept areas.

Computer-Based Testing

• Canandaigua City Schools administers the Grades 3-8 tests on computers. Students have access to CBT practice tests and opportunities to practice using the tools within the testing format.

Title 1 is federally funded to help children who are struggling to meet challenging academic state standards.
Title 1 monies are used to support:

• Salaries of K-5 Reading teachers servicing struggling students at both Canandaigua Primary-Elementary School and St. Mary's Catholic school,
• Academic Intervention Services for Canandaigua students who are in out-of-district placements (due to handicapping conditions or behavioral issues),
• Supplies and materials for homeless students,
• Services for students at the Ontario County Youth Care Facility
• Services for incarcerated youths at the Ontario County Jail.

Canandaigua City School District
Title 1/ AIS School‐Parent Compact

To help our children achieve, we agree to abide by the following conditions during the school year:

School Responsibilities
The school will:

• Provide high‐quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment;
• Hold parent‐teacher conferences during these conferences, this compact will be discussed as it relates
  to your child’s academic achievement;
• Provide parents with frequent reports on their child’s progress;
• Provide parents reasonable access to staff; and
• Provide parents with opportunities to volunteer and participate in their child’s class and to observe
  classroom activities.

Parent Responsibilities
We, as parents, will support our children’s learning in the following ways:

• Monitor my child’s attendance;
• Make sure that homework is completed;
• Limit amount of television my child watches;
• Volunteer in my child’s school;
• Participate in decisions regarding my children’s education;
• Promote positive use of my child’s extracurricular time; and
• Stay informed about my child’s education and communicate with the school regularly.

Student Responsibilities
As a student, I will share the responsibility to improve my grades, and agree to:

• Do homework every day and ask for help when needed;
• Read at least 20 minutes a day outside of school; and
• Give to my parents all notices and information received by me from my school every day

Below is the process for resolving complaints submitted to the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Office of ESSA-Funded Programs alleging that a local educational agency (LEA), grantee or NYSED has violated a law, rule, or regulation in the administration of any “covered Federal program” under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) identified below.

These procedures offer parents and other stakeholders a process to file complaints and allow for the timely resolution of such complaints. Complaints filed against a local entity such as a school district, charter school, or grantee will be reviewed by NYSED's Office of ESSA-Funded Programs. Complaints filed against NYSED will be reviewed by NYSED's legal counsel.

A complainant may include any of the following: parents, public agencies, and other individuals or organizations.  If the complainant is a minor, the complaint or appeal shall also be signed by his or her guardian, unless the statute or rule under which the complaint or appeal is filed prohibits this requirement. 

Each LEA in New York State is required to disseminate, free of charge, adequate information about these complaint procedures to parents of students, and appropriate private school officials or representatives.

Parents have the right to request the following information regarding the professional teaching qualifications of the child’s classroom teacher(s):

• Whether the teacher has met NYS Education Department qualifications and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas he/she teaches.
• Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which NYSED qualifications and licensing have been waived due to special circumstances.
• The teacher’s college major (undergraduate level); whether the teacher has any graduate certifications or degrees and, if so, the field of discipline of the certification or degree.
• Whether their child is provided services by any teaching assistants and, if so, their qualifications.