Curriculum and Instruction

As we move into May, we are excited to share several important updates related to student placement, enrichment opportunities, and family resources. Please review the information below carefully.

Students in grades K–8 will soon participate in the i-Ready Spring Diagnostic. Specific dates will be communicated to families by the teachers but the testing window will begin on May 20 and all testing will be completed by June 12. This assessment is an important tool that helps us measure student growth over the course of the year.

Why it matters:

• Provides insight into student progress in reading and mathematics
• Helps identify strengths and areas for continued growth
• Informs instructional planning and student placement decisions

What families should know:

• This is not a graded test, but students should take it seriously and try their best
• Results will be shared with families and used to support instruction
• Encouraging your child to get a good night’s sleep and take their time can make a big difference

Honors placement testing will take place this spring for current students being considered for advanced coursework next year.

What families should know:

• All current 6th grade students took the CogAT screener to help identify students eligible to take the honors placement assessment.
• Students are identified for testing based on multiple indicators (academic performance, teacher recommendations, and assessment data)
• The honors placement assessment is one component of the overall placement process
• Final placement decisions reflect a holistic review of student readiness

Next Steps:

• Families of eligible students will receive communication with testing dates and details
• Results will be shared once the full review process is complete

• Writing - May 12, 2026

• Reading - May 14, 2026

• Math - May 20, 2026

• Reading - May 11, 2026

• Math - May 12, 2026

• Writing - May 13, 2026

• Reading (Grade 9 ONLY) - May 20, 2026

• Math (Grade 9 ONLY) - May 19, 2026

• Writing (Grade 9 ONLY) - May 21, 2026

AP testing will take place in May, and our students enrolled in AP courses are actively preparing for these rigorous exams.

AP exams provide students with the opportunity to:

• Earn potential college credit

• Demonstrate college-level learning

• Strengthen their academic profile

As testing approaches, we encourage AP students to:

• Stay organized with study schedules

• Take advantage of review sessions and teacher support

• Prioritize rest and balance

As part of the transition to high school, Grade 8 students and families should begin reviewing course options and planning for next year.

What Families Should Do:

• Review the 2026–2027 Program of Studies together
• Discuss course recommendations provided by teachers
• Access recommendations in the Genesis Parent Portal (Scheduling tab)
• Reach out to teachers with any questions about placements

📌 Teacher recommendations will be made for:

• English Language Arts
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies

New Course Opportunity:

A new course, Mathematical Modeling, will be offered to incoming 9th grade students.

• Designed to strengthen foundational math skills
• Supports students enrolled in Algebra I or CP Algebra I
• Focuses on problem-solving and mathematical reasoning

Course Selection Process:

• Students will select electives for next year
• Families should carefully review all options before submitting selections
• The Grade 9 Course Selection Form must be completed by May 10
• Students must log in using their school account to submit the form

Additional Support:

• The school counselor will meet with students to guide course selection
• Classroom presentations will also support the process

📌 This is an exciting step as students prepare for high school—family involvement in this process is strongly encouraged.

Current high school students should begin planning for the 2026–2027 school year by reviewing course options and preparing for scheduling.

Based on communication from Florence Township Memorial High School:

What Families Should Do:

• Review the 2026–2027 Program of Studies together
• Discuss course recommendations made by teachers
• Access recommendations in the Genesis Parent Portal (Scheduling tab)
• Contact teachers with any questions about course placements

📌 Teacher recommendations will be provided for:

• English Language Arts
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies

Electives & Course Selection:

• Students will select elective courses for next year
• Families should carefully review all course offerings before making selections
• The Grades 10–12 Course Selection Form must be completed by May 10
• Students must be logged into their school account to submit the form

Support During the Process:

• Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive guidance from their counselors
• Individual meetings with counselors are available upon request

In alignment with the New Jersey Department of Education guidelines, all districts are required to identify and provide services for students who demonstrate advanced ability.

What is Gifted & Talented?

A gifted and talented student is one who demonstrates a high level of ability compared to peers and requires modifications to their learning program to fully reach their potential.

How Students Are Identified

Our district uses multiple measures to ensure equitable and comprehensive identification, which may include:

• Academic performance and classroom data
• Benchmark and standardized assessment data
• Teacher recommendations
• CogAT Assessment
• Parent recommendations
• All current 1st grade students will be administered the CogAT screener on May 27 to help identify students who will be invited to take the full assessment and be considered for the Gifted and Talented Program.
• All current 3rd grade students will be administered the CogAT screener in the fall of 2026 when they enter Riverfront School as 4th grade students. Details will be shared in the fall.
• All current 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade students can be nominated by either a staff member or a teacher to be considered for entrance into the program. If you would like to nominate your student and they are not currently part of the program, please see the family letter below.
• If a student is currently in the program, they do not need to be nominated again.

➡️ New Jersey requires that identification cannot rely on a single test and must be ongoing across grade levels.

What Services Look Like

Students identified for Gifted & Talented services may receive:

• Enrichment within the classroom
• Differentiated instruction
• Participation in our pull-out Gifted and Talented program
• Project-based or independent learning experiences

We are pleased to share resources from the New Jersey Department of Education to support families of students in grades K–3.

These resources are designed to help families:

• Support early literacy and math development at home
• Understand grade-level expectations
• Build strong learning routines and habits

Topics include:

• Early reading strategies (phonics, fluency, comprehension)
• Foundational math skills and number sense
• Social-emotional development
• Supporting multilingual learners

📌 We encourage all K–3 families to explore these resources to reinforce learning at home and partner with our schools.

As we approach the end of the school year:

• Placement decisions (Honors, G&T, and supports) will be finalized
• Continued communication will be shared with families
• Planning for the 2026–2027 school year will continue

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

Katie Mallon

Director of Curriculum and Instruction

kmallon@florence.k12.nj.us

609-499-4260 ext. 4232