Early Childhood - Elementary - Middle School - High School

Early Childhood Programs (Birth - 5 Years)

District 7 offers a wide range of early childhood programs for families of young children who are screened and determined eligible for services. These programs include parenting services, pre-kindergarten classes, and playgroups.

The FACES program (Family and Classroom Educational Services) provides free developmental screenings to all families of young children. Speech, hearing, vision, language concepts, gross and fine motor skills, and cognitive skills are all professionally evaluated. These developmental check-ups are offered monthly in various community locations. The developmental check-up is an opportunity for parents to get another perspective on their child’s growth and development. Results from the screening can also be used to determine eligibility for district early childhood programs for parents who are interested in these services. To schedule an appointment, contact the FACES office at (618) 692-1222.

Pre-kindergarten classes are available to three and four year old children who have been screened and found eligible for the program. Full-day and half-day sessions are offered Monday through Thursday following the District calendar. Teachers reserve Fridays for home visits, field trips, and parent meetings. The goal of this classroom is to prepare the pre-school child for kindergarten entry. This is a free program funded by the Illinois State Board of Education through a competitive grant process. All classes are taught by certified teachers who specialize in early childhood education.

Parenting services are primarily directed to those children who meet eligibility requirements established by the Illinois State Board of Education. Eligible families can receive home visits for support with parenting issues, attend parenting classes and parent/child interaction sessions, or participate in weekly playgroup sessions with their birth - three year old child. For further information on early childhood programs, please call the FACES office at (618) 692-1222.

[back to top]

Elementary Education (Grades Kindergarten through Five)

Primary Academics

All schools follow the same core curricula, which includes language arts, mathematics, science, social science, physical development and health, and fine arts. All curricula have been aligned to meet Illinois Learning Standards. Students also receive instruction in music, physical education, and art by specialists certified in these areas.

All K-2 students receive ongoing assessment to determine the progress being made on the grade level curriculum. The Illinois Snapshot of Early Literacy (ISEL) is administered in fall and spring to support teachers in identifying strengths and weaknesses in each student’s literacy development. The Illinois Snapshots of Early Literacy are sets of standardized, individually administered measures of early literacy development for grades K, 1, and 2. They consist of brief measures of performance, which can be used to regularly monitor the development of early literacy skills.

Teachers also monitor each student’s instructional reading level to ensure progress in the area of reading. Title I/ Reading Improvement assistance is available for students who need additional reading instruction in order to meet grade level expectations.

In the areas of math, science, social science, writing, health, and fine arts, students are assessed using unit tests and teacher observation.

Intermediate Academics

All schools follow the same core curriculum, which includes language arts, mathematics, science, social science, physical development and health, Spanish and fine arts. Band and orchestra are also offered to interested students beginning in the fourth grade. Students receive instruction in music, physical education, Spanish, and art by a specialist certified in these areas.

All grade 3-5 students receive ongoing assessment to determine the progress being made on the grade level curriculum. In addition to teacher observation, unit tests, and assessments to determine instructional reading level, all students are administered the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) each spring. The ISAT measures individual student achievement relative to the Illinois Learning Standards.

Gifted & Talented Programs

Students are identified at the end of third grade for formal participation in the District’s Challenge Program. Four criteria are used to determine placement in the Challenge Program:

• • Teacher recommendation
• • Williams Test of Divergent Thinking
• • Cognitive Abilities Test
• • Illinois Standards Achievement Test
   

Once students are identified for the Challenge Program, principals cluster identified students into a classroom with a teacher who has had special training in teaching gifted and talented students. Students participate in enrichment activities within their regular classrooms. In addition, a gifted resource teacher serves students in grades 4 - 5 through a combination of pullout and in-class instruction.

Grade Reporting and Parent Conferences (K-5)

Grades are reported on a quarterly basis, and teachers send progress reports at the middle of each quarter. An online system called “Tigerview” is available for parents of students in grades 3 – 12 to aid them in monitoring their student’s weekly assignments.

Formal parent conferences are held after first quarter grades are reported. Conferences may be scheduled during any one of three scheduled days. Special arrangements will be made for parents who cannot meet during the designated conference time. Ongoing parent-teacher communication is encouraged, and parents can expect the principal, teacher, and staff to communicate to each parent through newsletters, phone calls, websites, etc.

[back to top]

Middle Level Education (Grades 6 - 8)

Academics The core curriculum at the middle level consists of language arts, social studies, science, and mathematics. These subject areas are taught by academic core teams, with the size of each team varying at each grade level. Smaller teams are utilized at the sixth and seventh grade levels; larger teams are utilized at eighth grade so students’ schedules more closely resemble what they will experience at high school. Individuals with disabilities receive instruction as determined by their respective Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Exploratory classes taught by specialists are offered on a quarterly basis and vary according to grade level. They include art, computer applications, vocal music, industrial arts, and Spanish. Students take physical education and health all three years. Students may also elect to take band, chorus, and/or orchestra.

Gifted and Talented Program Both Liberty and Lincoln Middle Schools implement an Honors Program that is incorporated into students’ academic classes. Students are identified for participation in the areas of language arts and math. Special enrichment is part of most classes and is also offered to the entire student body through extracurricular activities.

Academic Supports A series of programs has been developed to provide academic support for all middle school students – those who need occasional support and those who require intensive, small group instruction on a daily basis. The programs, which are free to all students, are designed to help a student improve his/her grades. Programs, along with grade levels served, are outlined below:

Student planners are provided to each middle school student. The planner is an organizational tool that assists students in recording and planning their work and other school activities. Direct instruction in study habits is a part of most classrooms. The planner is also a communication tool for parents and teachers.

Tutoring by certified teachers is available after school in the media center at both middle schools. Tutoring meets for an hour from Monday through Thursday. Students are encouraged to attend as often as needed during the school year. All levels of students attend tutoring sessions – from honors students to students with learning disabilities.

Lab classes in English and math offer eligible students an additional period of English and math instruction during the regular school day. Students will have topics pre-taught and/or reviewed, vocabulary instruction, further
explanation of concepts and skills, etc. This class is taken in addition to the scheduled math or English class the student is required to take. Students must be counseled into these classes.

The Experience Class series is offered to all students in grades 6-8. Sessions are focused on helping students develop skills needed to be successful in both the academic and social settings of the middle school. Topics covered include time management, study skills, test-taking skills, developing organizational habits such as the use of the planner/agenda, managing grade-point averages, managing stress, and developing friendships.

Extracurricular Activities The middle schools provide a variety of opportunities for students beyond the school day. Athletic opportunities include both interscholastic competitive sports and an intramural program. A variety of clubs is also available, providing opportunities for students to pursue special interests and to develop leadership skills.

[back to top]

High School Program

Academics Edwardsville High School provides a full range of curricular offerings to meet the educational needs and interests of its students as they prepare for post-secondary education or the world of work. Through over 200 courses, students are provided with a strong core curriculum in English, mathematics, social science, and science. Four years each of Spanish, French, and German classes are offered. In addition, EHS offers an extensive selection of fine arts and vocational courses.

A minimum of 20 credits is required for graduation, 14.5 of which are required courses. A complete list of classes and course requirements are available in the course handbook issued yearly by the high school. Ninety-five percent of those graduating typically go on to institutions of higher learning.

The high school provides three work-study programs: Special Education, Office Co-Op, and Interrelated Co-Op. Students eligible for work-study must earn the appropriate number of credits, attend regular classes, and possess the skills required for the work-study program.

For students unable to achieve success in the traditional school environment, there is the option of attending an alternative high school. The graduation requirements are the same, and the goal is to reintegrate the student back into the regular high school.

Honors Program Honors courses and Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered in the core academic areas. Prerequisites and minimum grade requirements are required for selecting these courses. Honors and AP courses are weighted to address the increased academic demands within these courses.

Academic Supports A series of programs has been developed to provide academic support for all high school students – those who need occasional support and those who require intensive, small group instruction on a daily basis. The programs, which are free to all students, are designed to help a student improve his/her grades. Programs, along with grade levels served, are outlined below:

The EHS Writing Center, located in the Media Center, is open from 6:40 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. each day. It is staffed with English teachers who assist students with developing writing assignments such as research papers, essays, and lab reports as well as answering questions related to grammar or research resources. Students may attend the Writing Center on a drop-in basis before and after school, during a study hall, or as a small group from a class. Honors students, students with special needs, and all grade levels of students visit the Writing Center for support as needed.

Tutoring in English, math, and science is available after school from certified teachers. Students are encouraged to attend as often as needed during the school year. All levels of students attend tutoring sessions – from honors students to students with learning disabilities.

Co-taught classes consist of a content area teacher (math, social science, science, or English) and a special educator who team teach, providing support to students who require additional instructional assistance to be successful in a class. Co-taught classes are available in all courses required for graduation. Both regular education students and students with special needs may access these regular education classes through a recommendation by their case manager or counselor.

Lab classes in English and math offer eligible students an additional hour of English and math instruction during the regular school day. Students will have topics pre-taught and/or reviewed, vocabulary instruction, further explanation of concepts and skills, etc. This class is taken in addition to the scheduled math or English class the student is required to take. Students must be counseled into these classes.

The Experience Class is an elective class that is offered to ninth grade students. Sessions are focused on helping students develop skills needed to be successful in both the academic and social settings of the middle school and early high school. Topics covered include time management, study skills, test-taking skills, developing organizational habits such as the use of the planner/agenda, managing grade-point averages, managing stress, and developing friendships.

The EHS Handbook and planner is provided to each student. It is an organizational tool designed to assist students in recording and planning their work and other school activities. The planner contains a schedule of all school-based activities, including the District calendar.

Extracurricular Activities EHS offers a wide range of extracurricular activities. A partial list of organizations and athletic teams is available in the EHS handbook and planner. Some teachers volunteer their time to help with after-school activities; others are paid a stipend for their assistance.

[back to top]