Mrs. Melissa Comine Chief Academic Officer Curriculum and Instruction Support
(531) 299-9741
E-mail: melissa.comine@ops.org
Secretary: (531) 299-9468
Welcome to the Curriculum and Instruction Support (CIS) web pages. CIS leads the development and implementation of curriculum, instruction and assessment for the district.
The Omaha Public School District is on the move. We have a new Strategic Plan and we are headed in a direction that after three years of using our Academic Action Plan is getting results. We are up in our state tests in Reading, Math, Science and Writing. These results happen because our hardworking teachers and instructional leaders are focused on the Academic Action Plan. This focus for excellence means we are using the Gradual Release of Instruction (modeled, shared, guided, independent). We are embedding literacy and numeracy strategies. We have consistent procedures and routines in our classrooms. We have Principals and their building leadership teams who are using instructional coaching to increase teacher and student performance. The result of these efforts has been golden.
In fact, based on the growth the Omaha Public Schools have demonstrated (three consecutive years of gains on State testing and in the top third of all school districts in Nebraska for growth on State testing), student achievement is “on the rise” in OPS. This year in the OPS Academic Excellence Awards there are 16 schools who have achieved the rank of Gold (showing growth in three or more state tested areas) and 22 schools who have achieved the rank of Silver (showing growth in two or more state tested areas). Our numbers are increasing because our performance continues to rise.
As we move from good to great, and we engage students at a higher level, we will have 100% of our students engaged in our classrooms 100% of the time.
Every student. Every day. Prepared for Success.
A+ Curriculum Guides are available for all elementary grades and content areas and all middle and high school core courses. Curriculum guides can be accessed below, or in grade level or content area SharePoint conferences. This instructional tool incorporates important resources teachers need for planning and assessment purposes including; unit guides, academic vocabulary, standards documents, scope and sequence, proficiency scales, and more.
Ensuring use of the new A+ Curriculum Guides will increase the likelihood that students in our district are receiving a Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum.
A+ Curriculum Guide Video Link: Curriculum Video
Writing
We are excited to share with parents that beginning with the 2017-18 school year, OPS will implement an adjusted grading scale. Over the last two years, Omaha Public Schools staff have been working to evaluate the grading practices across the district. Under the previous grading scale, teachers have expressed concern that some students can achieve a “proficient” grade in a course even though they have only completed minimal work in the course. OPS is committed to providing students and families with an accurate representation of students’ learning. OPS field tested an adjusted grading scale throughout the 2016-17 school year. After analyzing field-test data and gathering feedback from parents, students and staff, there was strong support for the more rigorous field-tested grading scale. For more information check out:
OPS to Implement Field Tested-Grading Scale 2017-2018.pdf
Elementary Grading Brochure 2017
Elementary Grading Brochure SPANISH 2017
Secondary Grading Brochure 2017
Secondary Grading Brochure SPANISH 2017
Grading Parent Flyer 2017
Grading Parent Flyer SPANISH 2017
Parent Letter
Parent Letter SPANISH