CA BOCES Success Stories
Stories of Success from School Districts and CA BOCES Instructional Support Services
 Screenshot of a Kids Discover page featuring Flags and Other Symbols.  Example page searched by Social Studies Practices. Educators in Pioneer Central School District were introduced to Kids Discover Online as a dynamic resource for enriching Social Studies and English Language Arts instruction during their Staff Development day last month. This resource is available through CA BOCES Learning Resources and is a digital platform offering engaging standards aligned content that supports K-8 teachers with nonfiction reading materials. Teachers have access to interactive articles, rich visuals, and cross curricular tools to help bring history, geography, civics, and culture to life for students of all reading levels.
Teachers were able to see the way that Kids Discover Online with its expansive library of leveled articles allows for differentiation for instruction. Each topic can be accessed in 3 different reading levels, making it accessible for diverse learners and promoting literacy development through compelling and exciting text. In Social Studies, teachers have the ability to filter content through the lens of the NYS Social Studies Framework and target specific Social Studies practices for their grade level. They can then integrate these resources into their lessons and build knowledge and skill aligned to the Framework by using this available resource. By: Rob Griffith, Senior Coordinator for Curriculum and Professional Development  Laptop displaying "Question Sampler" screen. Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, Pioneer Central School District, a component district within the CA BOCES region, fully committed to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for all New York State Assessments for students in grades 3-8. This strategic shift underscores the district's dedication to ensuring that both teachers and students are thoroughly prepared to excel in these assessments. The Pioneer Central School District’s Curriculum Department has placed significant emphasis on readiness. Many Pioneer teachers in grades 3-8 collaborated with Josh Whiteman, CA BOCES Technology Integrator, to instruct students on how to navigate the Questar Browser, utilize content area tools, manipulate tool views, and effectively use the Drawing tool in Math. Following these instructional sessions, students were given the opportunity to practice independently, leading to increased comfort and confidence with the Questar Browser as CBT testing windows commenced. After sessions were conducted, teachers and students agreed that they felt more at ease after practicing using the Questar Browser. This practice gave students multiple strategies on using the Questar Browser, and it gave students the comfort in meeting their own needs when practicing. A wealth of resources is available to support teachers and students in preparing for CBT. Among the most popular are the New York State Question Samplers, which are easily accessible and free to use. These samplers do not require any sign-in information, ensuring compliance with Ed-Law 2D. The samplers offer multiple practice assessments for grades 3-8 in ELA and Math, as well as Science for grades 5 and 8. The New York State Question Samplers can be accessed using the link below: New York State Question Samplers This initiative marks a significant step forward in educational technology and assessment readiness, positioning Pioneer Central School District for success on the New York State Grades 3-8 Assessments. By: Josh Whiteman, Coordinator for Curriculum and Professional Development History came to life and stories jumped off the page as districts took advantage of our 403 Arts in Education CoSer to start their 2024-2025 school year. On September 23rd and 24th nearly five-hundred 4th and 7th grade students from Belfast, Bolivar Richburg, Fillmore, Franklinville, Friendship, Hinsdale, Pioneer, Scio and West Valley school districts traveled to the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor to visit part of the “Flight of Five” locks. History came to life and stories jumped off the page as districts took advantage of our 403 Arts in Education CoSer to start their 2024-2025 school year.
On September 23rd and 24th nearly five-hundred 4th and 7th grade students from Belfast, Bolivar Richburg, Fillmore, Franklinville, Friendship, Hinsdale, Pioneer, Scio and West Valley school districts traveled to the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor to visit part of the “Flight of Five” locks. By: Sean Conklin, Coordinator for Arts Integration and Extra Curricular Events In order to better understand the complexity and make-up of the NYS Social Studies Regents exams, and student performance, social studies teachers at Pioneer came together to analyze the exam and compile data surrounding the content and skills the exam was measuring. The information collected was combined and shared so that teachers would have a record of what content was being asked from the NYS Social Studies Framework, and the way in which the questions were being posed to students. Teachers also examined the types of sources used within the assessment that students would be working with when responding.
At the completion of this work teachers had a better understanding of the exam construct and structure and were able to look at their student results to develop ways in which to better assist and prepare students for both local and Regents assessments in Social Studies. By: Rob Griffith, Coordinator for Curriculum and Professional Development  Pioneer has recently transitioned to FastBridge for Universal Screening Assessments and Progress Monitoring. Our district’s transition to FastBridge significantly improved the efficiency and accuracy of student assessments. The Beginning of Year testing window decreased in time and increased student engagement with the assessment. Using ClassLink for accessibility, teachers and students alike were greeted with ease for the first day of online assessments. Following the assessments, data team meetings were held, and the data that was presented from the FastBridge reports allowed teachers to plan for targeted intervention groups tailored to students’ individual needs following our MTSS-I structures and process. Special Educators also found that FastBridge data reports would be a useful tool when writing IEP goals, and further, progress monitoring those goals would be completed on FastBridge using the subtests and interventions that are available in FastBridge. Tiered Intervention Groups have started, and teachers are eager to see how FastBridge will continue to support students throughout the school year. Prior to FastBridge, our data collection was time-consuming and inconsistent across schools. After implementation, we streamlined universal screening and progress monitoring, allowing teachers to quickly identify student needs with reliable data. The user-friendly platform also made it easier for educators to collaborate on intervention strategies. Overall, FastBridge empowered teachers and enhanced student support. By: Jenna Tost, Coordinator for Curriculum and Professional Development |
Our TeamStories come from school districts within the CA BOCES region and are authored by our Instructional Support Services Team. Archives
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