Curriculum and Instruction
Curriculum & Instruction
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The New York State Education Department is responsible for setting student learning expectations (standards) for what all students should know and be able to do as a result of skilled instruction. The standards by content area can be review at NYS P-12 Learning Standards by Content Area
The Whitney Point School District closely monitors the changes in state standards to ensure that students are prepared to meet grade-level expectations.
Instruction
Instruction is the process, approach, and methods used to both teach and to promote learning. The New York State Education Department is committed to supporting districts and schools as they implement high-quality, student-centered instruction. The Whitney Point School District embraces professional learning communities as a methodolgy of instruction that works to create a guaranteed and viable curriculm (one that all students can access and can be taught well with in the grade level)
Parent Dashboard The New York State Education Department (NYSED) developed the Parent Dashboard to increase transparency and make information about school performance and other school-level data easier for parents and the public to access. The Parent Dashboard is part of New York’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan, which emphasizes equity in education for all students and expands measures of school accountability and student success. The Parent Dashboard provides parents with information about their child’s school and is available in addition to the New York State School Report Card on NYSED’s public data site.
Student Attendance and Academic Work
WPCSD’s educational program is built on student attendance and requires continuity of instruction and classroom participation. However, it is understood that students will occasionally miss class for legally excusable reasons. In these cases, students should review their class’s learning management system (Google Classroom or See Saw) for information concerning the learning they missed. Teachers are not required to create individual plans for each absent student, yet they partner with students once they return to class to ensure that the needed materials were accessible and understood.
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Whitney Point Central School District honors Constitution Day throughout the year. Civic education and engagement remain year-round priorities that are woven into our work every day, not just on one occasion. These efforts, supported every day by our school community, reflect a broader commitment to preparing students not only to succeed in the classroom, but also to participate thoughtfully and actively in our democracy. From fostering meaningful classroom discussions to creating opportunities for civic learning to modeling the values of respect and inclusion, our schools are where students first experience what it means to be engaged citizens
The Whitney Point Board of Education welcomes new student school board members. Each student member recieves training designed to prepare them to raise their voices and take part in the civic process from day one.
WPCSD participates in NYSED’s Seal of Civic Readiness (a formal recognition that a student has attained a high level of proficiency in terms of civic knowledge, civic skills, civic mindset, and civic experiences. The Seal of Civic Readiness distinction on a high school transcript and diploma). Students are given opportunities to meet the seal’s specific criteria through a combination of coursework, projects, and activities.
The 2025-2026 school year introduced our newest civics curriculum with both a 7th and 8th grade Seal of Civic Readiness course.
Information on 3-8 Assessments for Parents
- Parents’ Frequently Asked Questions About New York State’s Annual Grades 3–8 English Language Arts & Mathematics Tests & The Elementary-Level (Grade 5) and Intermediate-Level (Grade 8) Science Tests
- The Grades 3–8 New York State Assessments: What Parents Need to Know
Information for Families of Secondary Age Students