Academics

he Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) and the alternate assessment, the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS), are statewide assessments that help districts measure student progress toward Minnesota's academic standards and meet the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Both the MCAs and the MTAS assess students in reading, mathematics and science. Most students take the MCAs, but students who receive special education services and meet eligibility criteria may take the MTAS. Download the MTAS Eligibility Requirements.

The ACCESS for ELLs and WIDA Alternate ACCESS are the assessments developed by the WIDA consortium and administered to English learners in order to measure progress toward meeting the WIDA English Language Development Standards adopted by Minnesota. Most English learners will take the ACCESS for ELLs, but English learners who receive special education services and meet the participation criteria may take the WIDA Alternate ACCESS. Participation criteria for the WIDA Alternate ACCESS are located in the WIDA Alternate ACCESS for ELLs section of the WIDA website.

Access the 2023-2024 testing schedule

Access the assessment refusal form

At Las Estrellas we believe that supporting biliteracy - the ability to read and write in Spanish and English means knowing, challenging, and inspiring them.  We work to nurture your student's love of reading in both languages, while supporting their independence as well as their desire to engage meaningfully with challenging texts.  We engage your student in biliteracy with a workshop model wherein your child receives a lesson and engages in small group and independent reading.  During the literacy block, your student will read a variety of texts including traditional books and digital texts.  We guide students as they build their skill in decoding words, understanding their meaning, and thinking critically about what they read. 

We engage your student in biliteracy with a workshop model wherein your child receives a lesson and engages in small group and independent reading.  During the literacy block, your student will read a variety of texts including traditional books and digital texts.  We guide students as they build their skill in decoding words, understanding their meaning, and thinking critically about what they read. 

Students can access Clever to get additional practice in concepts learned at school. Students can Log In to Clever using their MPS E-Mail and password.

Our standards-based instruction is steeped in our values and beliefs around the teaching and learning of mathematics. 

• We value conceptual understanding
• We value thinking and reasoning
• We value building conceptual understanding, thinking, and reasoning in order to develop increased procedural fluency and problem solving flexibility
• We believe positive math identities must be developed and fostered
• We believe that mathematics should be seen as a tool to be an influential member of society

Because of these values and beliefs:

• We use a Launch, Explore, Summarize model of inquiry focused instruction
• We engage our students in cognitively demanding tasks and daily academic conversations through effective math discourse
• Our teachers spend more time questioning and less time showing and telling
• We create classroom cultures in which all students see themselves as mathematicians

DREAMBOX

Students may access DreamBox Learning from anywhere. Dreambox Learning is an online math program that provides additional practice of concepts learned at school. Log In on desktop, or for tablets, download theDreamBox Math app from your app store. Use our school code ckmd/jennyle

Families may review their student's progress with a DreamBox Parent/Guardian Account! Please follow these steps to create your free account:

1. Go to http://play.dreambox.com

2. Enter your email address and password.

3. To see student progress, click the Family Dashboard button.

Art

Arts Purpose: For all students to learn in and through the arts. Students will apply the artistic process of creating, performing/presenting, responding, and connecting in relevant and culturally sustaining contexts in order to become artistically literate.

MN State Statutes 120B.021 Required Academic Standards

(7) the arts, for which statewide or locally developed academic standards apply, as determined by the school district. Public elementary and middle schools must offer at least three and require at least two of the following four arts areas: dance; music; theater; and visual arts. Public high schools must offer at least three and require at least one of the following five arts areas: media arts; dance; music; theater; and visual arts.

Arts instruction is an essential component of a well rounded education. All students must have the opportunity to engage in learning in and through the arts on a daily basis. Quality arts education promotes student engagement, academic achievement, and the opportunity to bring the whole school community together. The arts provide opportunities for all students to make meaning in and of themselves, their communities, and the world around them.