Curriculum

From the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: These guides to the Massachusetts learning standards help families understand what students are expected to know and be able to do by the end of each grade in English Language Arts and literacy, mathematics, science and technology/engineering, and history and social science. Designed to help families and teachers work together to support learning, the guides are available in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese. 

MA DESE Family Guides

In the Grafton Public Schools, robust assessment data is fundamental to understanding student learning and providing effective instruction. We monitor student progress to pinpoint strengths, address challenges, and tailor educational experiences to meet learners' needs. This data analysis also drives our pedagogical work and decision-making, as we triangulate information from various sources.

• We begin with classroom assessment data, gathered daily through methods like exit tickets, quizzes, projects, tests and student work, which provides immediate insights into learning.
• This is then combined with our benchmark assessments: the Renaissance Star Math and Reading tests. These computer-adaptive assessments are given three times a year (fall, winter, and spring) to offer a broad view of academic growth in core skills.
• Finally, we integrate results from the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), which gauges student proficiency against state standards and tracks overall district performance.

By bringing these data points together, our educators gain a holistic understanding of student learning and effective instruction. This combined analysis enables us to revise district curriculum as needed. In addition, teachers utilize it to design instruction, implement targeted interventions, and set personalized learning goals, ensuring every Grafton Public Schools student receives the support they need to reach their full potential.