The Oshkosh Area School District identifies the learning targets or standards for every course/content area and every grade level. Students are given feedback to the learning targets. Curriculum addresses content as well as skills and attitudes that we want students to develop by the time they leave a course, a grade level, or a preK-12 educational program. Instruction focuses on the way that we help children to master the standards and the benchmarks to ensure they are College, Career, and Community ready. The emphasis in the district is on research-based best practice, or the best ways to be sure that all students learn and learn to the best of their abilities.
The Oshkosh Area School District believes all students deserve high-quality instruction in literacy to ensure high levels of learning. It is vital that the Board of Education, the Oshkosh Area School District, and the community jointly share the responsibility for supporting and enriching literacy efforts to develop critical readers, writers, and thinkers.
Our literacy instruction in the elementary grades is science-based and consists of the following components that are systematically and explicitly taught within our literacy program:
Phonological awareness, including word awareness, rhyme recognition, repetition and creation of alliteration, syllable counting or identification, onset, and rime manipulation;
Phonemic awareness, including phoneme identification, isolation, blending, segmentation, addition, substitution, and deletion;
Vocabulary building to develop lexical and morphological knowledge;
Instruction in writing;
Instruction in comprehension;
Reading fluency
Scarborough’s Reading Rope (pictured below and referenced often in science of reading research) shows the interconnectedness and interdependence of components needed for students to become skilled readers. Professional learning for literacy will always focus on one or more of these foundational strands. PreK-5 teachers are expected to utilize literacy teaching practices that have a high impact on student learning.
The Oshkosh Area School District believes all students deserve a comprehensive literacy program within a school climate which ensures high expectations and fosters independent learners. Evidence-based instruction provides multiple opportunities to read and write so all students will become proficient literacy learners. Through the use of high quality, differentiated classroom instruction, the needs of individual learners are met. A seamless curriculum, consistent terminology, and purposeful and meaningful interactions with multiple texts promote student engagement.
Secondary Literacy (6-12)
Literacy means knowing how to use written and spoken language to achieve one’s purposes in particular contexts. Literacy is the most fundamental of all learning skills. The ability to read and write is not only a necessity for life-long learning, but develops the self-confidence for pursuing knowledge independently and for promoting personal enrichment and fulfillment. It prepares students to function effectively as literate, informed, and productive citizens in tomorrow’s society. (OASD K-12 Literacy Philosophy)
Workshop Framework (English Language Arts)
The OASD uses a workshop model for literacy instruction. Reading and writing workshop are formats that allow for differentiated instruction, the integration of multiple forms of literacy instruction, and the development of self-regulated learners. In an effective workshop environment, students develop engagement with and stamina for reading and writing and ownership of their learning. As they use newly learned strategies that make them more skilled readers and writers they also become self-regulated learners.
Disciplinary Literacy (Literacy in All Content Courses)
The OASD recognizes the role played by the six literacy processes (reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing, representing) in all learning. Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction defines disciplinary literacy as the balance of content knowledge, experiences, and skills with the ability to read, write, listen, speak, think critically, and perform in a way that is meaningful within each content.
OASD K-5 Literacy Curriculum Review and Adoption Process - Winter/Spring 2024
The OASD will be adopting a new K-5 literacy core curriculum for the 2025-2026 school year. To inform this adoption, during the 2024-2025 school year the District will conduct a pilot of one or more new literacy curricula at select grade levels across all elementary schools. A literacy committee has been created to support this exploratory work and the District will be providing updates throughout the curriculum review process.
The Oshkosh Area School District’s academic standards are grounded in the grade level rigorous Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. All students, 4K through 12, will engage in a research based mathematics experience through a unique blend of problem-solving and skill building. The links below provide a comprehensive view of the programming at each level.
Students in grades K-5 will participate in the mathematics curriculum resource called, Bridges in Mathematics from the Math Learning Center. This highly engaging research based resource offers multiple problem-solving and skill building opportunities to meet the needs of the diverse. Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher with any questions you may have.
Math Learning Center (MLC)
A general overview of our curriculum resource for teaching math in grades K-5.
The Oshkosh Area School District has defined curriculum benchmarks for every course and every grade level. Curriculum addresses content as well as skills and attitudes that we want students to develop by the time they leave a course, a grade level, or a K-12 educational program. Instruction focuses on the way that we help children to address the standards and the benchmarks. The emphasis in the district is on research-based best practice, or the best ways to be sure that all students learn and learn to the best of their abilities.
Please use the links below to view our curriculum standards.
The Wisconsin Student Assessment System (WSAS) is a comprehensive statewide program designed to provide information about what students know in core academic areas and whether they can apply what they know. These assessments are just a snapshot in time of what your child knows and is able to do. Other tools to help us measure your child’s progress include your child's academic classroom work, teacher observations, classroom tests, and district grade level assessments. The WSAS includes:
The Wisconsin Forward Exam at grades 3-8 in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, at grades 4 and 8 in Science, and 4, 8, and 10 in Social Studies
Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) at grades 3-11 in ELA and Mathematics, at grades 4 and 8 - 11 in Science, and at grades 4, 8, and 10 in Social Studies,
The federal No Child Left Behind Act requires all states to test all students in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics in grades 3-8 and once in high school. Student performance on these assessments is reported in proficiency categories and used for accountability determination at the school, district and state levels. Wisconsin State statute also requires students to take a science and social studies test These tests together create the Wisconsin Student Assessment System.
Please contact the following staff members with questions or concerns regarding the OASD Assessment Department:
Public School Report Cards are posted to the DPI website, organized alphabetically by district name. Report Cards are assigned to each school required by state law to be part of the Wisconsin State Assessment System including charter schools and private schools participating in a private school choice program. Report Cards for each available school year are available at the link below.
In May 2015, the Governor signed SB 67, School Performance Report also known as the “Pause Bill.” Report Cards for the 2014-2015 school year were not be available.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, report requirements were suspended for the 2019-20 school year and Report Cards for the 2019-2020 school year were not available.
To view the report cards, click "for District and School Report Cards"; select year; select a district to access the list of schools in that district. Each school will have two documents: the Public Report Card and the Public Report Card Detail.
Every Student Succeeds Act Overview and Accountability Report
Notice to Parents/Guardians - According to Wis. Stat. 115.38, school districts are required to publish a School Performance Report for the parents and guardians of their students by May 1st of each year. Additionally, the school districts are required by January 1st of each year to notify the parent or guardian of each pupil enrolled of their right to request a paper copy of the School Performance Report.
The Oshkosh Area School District is pleased to make available the Every Student Succeeds Act Overview and Accountability Report containing data for the 2020-2021 academic year. This report will be accessible by May 1, 2021 on the OASD website.
The Oshkosh Area School District reports to the board of education and the public on academic performance annually. Academic performance is one indicator of what students know and are able to do as well as an metric used to monitor progress on the OASD strategic plan. Click on the links below for the most recent academic performance reports.
(Notice of Educational Options and Opportunities available in the OASD.)
Below are links to options available for students across the Oshkosh Area School District (OASD). Current and prospective community members are invited to explore these options and determine the best fit for your child(ren). (NOTE: Pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 115.28 (54m), notice must be provided regarding the educational options available to all students who are at least three years old, but not yet 18 years old.)
Each of the following areas linked below represents educational options for Oshkosh area students:
Course and Planning Guides include information on Early College Credit Program, Start College Now Program, Youth Apprenticeship, eAcademy, Co-Curricular Activities and other options for high school age students.
CCCR VISION: The goal of the Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) is to ensure that all students are College, Career and Community Ready (CCCR). Through CCCR’s three areas of focus: Career Exploration, Financial Literacy and Life and Career Skills, the OASD will provide opportunities and experiences to our students so that they can make informed decisions regarding their future after graduation.
