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Welcome to a new school year! We are excited to begin another year of learning, growth, and partnership across Florence Township School District. Each month, the Curriculum & Instruction Newsletter will help families stay connected to what is happening in our classrooms and learn more about the programs, assessments, resources, and supports available to our students.

As we begin the year, our focus is on getting to know each learner—celebrating their strengths, identifying areas for growth, and providing the right combination of challenge and support to help them succeed. We look forward to partnering with our families throughout the year as we work together to create meaningful learning experiences for every student.

Together We Grow!

Our teachers and staff were hard at work this summer reviewing, revising, and writing curriculum across grade levels and content areas. This important work helps ensure that our curriculum remains aligned with New Jersey Student Learning Standards, reflects the needs of our students, and provides meaningful learning experiences that build from year to year. We are grateful to the many educators who dedicated time this summer to strengthening learning opportunities for Florence students.

We are also excited to expand opportunities for our high school students with the addition of several new courses this school year. As our programs continue to grow and evolve, we remain focused on providing students with engaging, relevant learning experiences and a variety of pathways to explore their interests and prepare for what comes next.

We are developing a new Curriculum & Instruction page on the district website to make it easier for families to learn about teaching and learning across Florence Township School District. The page will include a public link to our district curriculum guides, giving families an opportunity to explore the unit topics and overview for their child's grade level or courses. Watch for the launch soon!

• Students in grades 1-8 will take the iReady Benchmark Assessment in the areas of Math and ELA beginning the week of September 8. Exact testing dates will be communicated by your student's teacher.
• Students in Kindergarten will take the iReady Benchmark Assessment in the areas of Math and ELA beginning the week of September 28. Exact testing dates will be communicated by your student's teacher.
• Students at the high school will be taking the Math Benchmark Assessment and CommonLit ELA Benchmark Assessment beginning the week of September 8. Exact dates will be communicated by your student's teacher.
• Students in grades K-3 will be given the iReady Literacy Screener Tasks beginning the week of September 14. These individual assessments are administered in addition to the iReady Inform online assessment to meet the NJDOE Literacy Screener Mandate.
• Students in grade 12 that did not meet the graduation readiness requirement on the spring administration of the NJGPA-A must take the the assessment again during the fall administration. This will take place during the week of October 13. If your student is required to take this assessment, you will be notified.
• NJSLA-A assessment scores from the Spring 2026 administration have not yet been released.

• All students will be screened in grades K-8 using the iReady Inform and iReady Literacy Tasks (K-3 Only).
• Additional assessment screeners will be given, as needed.
• Students will be recommended for entrance to the basic skills program based on the guidelines outlined in the handbook linked to the left.
• Families will be notified if their student is recommended to receive basic skills support.

• All students in grade 4 will be screened in early October for entrance into the Gifted and Talented Program.
• All students screened in the spring should have been notified if the final determination of entrance.
• Any questions about the program can be directed to your student's building Principal or the Director of Curriculum.

Choose one question to ask your child this week: What is something you learned that you didn't know before? What is something you are proud of? What is something that feels challenging right now? What is one goal you have for yourself this year?

This Month's Term: Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)

MTSS is a framework schools use to make sure students receive the right support at the right time. Teachers and school teams use information from classroom performance, assessments, attendance, behavior, and other indicators to identify student strengths and areas where additional support or enrichment may be helpful.

Support can look different for every student. Some students may benefit from a little extra practice or small-group instruction, while others may need more targeted intervention or additional opportunities for enrichment. Throughout the year, our teams monitor student progress and adjust supports as students' needs change.

As we begin the school year, several district assessments will help our teachers learn more about students' strengths and areas for growth. Please keep these upcoming assessment windows in mind:

September 8–18 — i-Ready Fall Diagnostic, Grades 1–8
September 8–18 — High School LinkIt! Math and CommonLit Assessments
September 14–October 8 — Literacy Screener, Grades K–3
September 28–October 8 — i-Ready Fall Diagnostic, Kindergarten
October 6 — CogAT Screening, Grade 4
October 13–28 — NJGPA Fall Administration for eligible Grade 12 students who have not yet met the state graduation assessment requirement
October 28 — PSAT, Grades 9–12

In October, we will share more about how teachers and school teams use beginning-of-year assessment information to identify student strengths, plan instruction, and provide support or enrichment throughout the year.

Looking for ways to support learning at home? These trusted resources offer information, activities, and tools for families with students at different stages of their educational journey.

Practical, research-based activities from the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences to help families build language, phonics, word-reading, and reading-comprehension skills at home.

Free learning resources and practice across grade levels, including math from early elementary through high school. The family resources also provide guidance for parents and caregivers on supporting students when they are learning or practicing at home.

College Board's free college and career planning resource helps students and families explore careers, colleges, scholarships, financial aid, and options after high school. Families can also find grade-specific planning guidance.

The New Jersey Department of Education offers resources designed to strengthen home-school partnerships and provide families with ideas for supporting learning and development beyond the classroom.

Our new Curriculum & Instruction webpage and public curriculum guide portal are coming soon! Families will be able to explore district curriculum guides and learn more about what students are learning across our schools.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out using the information provided below.