| East Brunswick Public Schools | Curriculum Home | Basic Skills Improvement |
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Mrs. Debra Gulick, Supervisor |
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The Basic Skills Improvement Program (BSIP) provides students with academic support in reading, writing, and mathematics. Students are placed in the program based on their standardized test results, report card grades, academic performance, and teachers’ referrals. Placement in the program does not necessarily imply general poor performance in academic areas, but may indicate a potential difficulty in some aspect of the basic skills. If students’ scores on the fourth grade Elementary School Proficiency Assessment (ESPA) or the Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment (GEPA) indicate they may have difficulty in passing the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) they receive basic skills instruction before they take the exam. Passing the High School Proficiency Test (HSPT) for seniors, or the HSPA for juniors, or below in all three areas – reading, writing and mathematics – is a state requirement for graduation. Students who do not pass the HSPT in one or more of these areas are automatically placed in the appropriate BSIP class. BSIP instructors work closely with other staff members and parents in planning each year’s program. They also conduct assessments of each child’s progress and keep parents informed through conferences and reports. At the end of each year, the BSIP staff members, with the help of classroom teachers, reevaluate students’ performance. Using various assessments and classroom observations, they determine student growth in the program areas, and make recommendations for the subsequent year. |