Pickering Develops Academic Audit For Your Child

    Pickering Academic Assessments is offering for a limited time the opportunity for parents to obtain one of its “Classroom Instructional Audits” at absolutely no charge.

The limited, special offer will be available to the first 25 families who register their children for the academic assessment. Students must be currently enrolled in the 6^th through 10^th grades in public education, Jean Pickering said.

“Our “Classroom Instructional Audit” is designed to evaluate the actual current instruction of an individual student to determine if it is effectively targeting the real academic needs of that student,” Pickering said.

Pickering, a veteran public educator with 32 years as a classroom teacher, counselor, curriculum coordinator, or high level administrator, has recent formed this service in the private sector.

“In this audit, we will evaluate a student’s recent class work assignments including a major test or two and the most recent TAKS’ test results,” she said. “We will then administer our own brief but targeted assessment in math, reading, and writing to complete our evaluation.”

Pickering says her audit has a criterion-based approach to help parents decide if academic intervention programs may be needed.

Here are the elements of the “Classroom Instructional Audit:”

• Assessment of TAKS Test Results: “We will review your child’s most recent TAKS test results to evaluate what the State of Texas says your child does and does not know. We’ll look at the results academic objective by objective and reach an independent conclusion…
• Assessment of Actual Classroom Work: “We will ask you to provide us with 2-3 weeks of actual classroom work your child has completed most recently. We’ll look at what has been tested and how your child performed…
• Assessment of Actual Major Test: “We will ask you to provide us with a recent major test your child has taken. We’ll look at what has been tested and how your child performed…
• Academic Gaps Testing in Math: “After reviewing the above, we’ll administer a brief but targeted test that will ‘audit’ perceived academic strengths and weaknesses…
• Assessment of Reading Fluency: “The State’s TAKS test asserts a level of reading fluency for your child. We’ll administer a brief but targeted assessment that evaluates your child’s reading fluency…
• Assessment of Writing/Grammar Skills: “We’ll administer a brief but targeted writing and grammar test. Most “TAKS Grades” don’t test these skills…
• We’ll Report Our Findings To You: “This ‘audit’ is designed to put you on a schedule to make important decisions about your child’s academic future. It may be that you decide to obtain a full scale nationally norm-referenced test. It may be that you want short term or even long term academic assistance. We’ll help you get the information you need to start taking control of your child’s academic future,” Pickering said.

This limited offer is available to the families of the first 25 students who are registered to participate with the following restrictions:

• Parents or legal guardians must authorize participation in writing.
• Parents or legal guardians must accept the terms of participation which include access to confidential information including a student’s TAKS test results, classroom work, major test grades, and additional testing cited.
• Parents must agree to provide such material as well as abide by the schedule for additional testing.
• This offer expires December 31, 2009 or when 25 have registered to obtain the free audit, whichever comes first.

Capstone Classical Academy and Pickering Academic Assessments are located at 515 Pin Oak in Katy. The phone number is 832-314-1400. Pickering can be reached at directors@capstoneclassicalacademy.com.