october 2008 mendon-upton regional schools standards-based reporting and the benefits of trimesters

October 2008October 2008

Mendon-Upton Regional Schools Standards-Based Reporting and the Benefits of Trimesters

M-U Regional School District OctoM-U Regional School District October 2008ber 2008

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Strategic PlanStrategic Plan Goal 1 - To continuously improve the process of

teaching and learning through the examination of curriculum, instruction and assessment PreK-12

Goal 2 - To continuously improve communication between, among and with the school, home and community

Goal 3 - Continuously work with the community to develop a realistic, fundable, multiyear financial plan for the school district

Goal 4 - Establish a committee to research and articulate an educational model

Goal 5 - Develop a space needs plan


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Strategic PlanStrategic Plan

Goal 1 - To continuously improve the process of teaching and learning through the examination of curriculum, instruction and assessment PreK-12

• Develop and implement a coherent and articulated PreK-12 curriculum• Implement and expand instructional strategies to meet the needs of all learners• Demonstrate improved student performance through the use of a variety of assessment tools


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Strategic PlanStrategic Plan Goal 2 - To continuously improve communication

between, among and with the school, home and community

• Improve vertical and horizontal communication and collaboration among school staff

• Engage families to be proactively involved in their child’s education PreK-12

• To reach out to the communities to involve them in the educational process


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Strategic PlanStrategic Plan Goal 1 - To continuously improve the process of

teaching and learning through the examination of curriculum, instruction and assessment PreK-12

Goal 2 - To continuously improve communication between, among and with the school, home and community

Mass. State

Frameworks

New Report Card

Curriculum Guides

Rubrics Assessments


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What is the purpose of grading?What is the purpose of grading?

To provide information and feedback

to parents and students on progress towards

standards.

No Child Left Behind requires schools to report

student progress toward meeting state

standards.


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Why use standards based grading Why use standards based grading and reporting?and reporting?

Traditional evaluation categories (Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies) are too broad to accurately report skill and capability levels

Traditional grading system (A,B,C) is subjective

Standard based grading aligns with MCAS Standards


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What Has Changed?What Has Changed?The new Standard Based Report Card...The new Standard Based Report Card...

Aligns with Massachusetts State StandardsAligns with Massachusetts State Standards

Measures how well a student is doing in relation to the grade level Measures how well a student is doing in relation to the grade level standards rather than to the work of other studentsstandards rather than to the work of other students

Provides parents a better understanding of their child’s strengths Provides parents a better understanding of their child’s strengths and weaknessesand weaknesses

Gives more specific information about what students should know Gives more specific information about what students should know and be able to do in all academic areasand be able to do in all academic areas

Encourages all students to do their best Encourages all students to do their best

Uses same scoring device as MCAS (4,3,2,1)Uses same scoring device as MCAS (4,3,2,1)

Is organized by trimestersIs organized by trimesters


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Report CardsReport Cards

Unique report cards have been developed for each grade Pre-K-4.

Report cards for Spanish classes provide key information about Spanish Language Development

Aligns with newly developed curriculum guides, assessments, and rubrics


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Why Trimesters?Why Trimesters? Standards based report cards require Standards based report cards require

extensive assessment and documentationextensive assessment and documentation

Resulting inResulting in In-depth student assessmentsIn-depth student assessments Consistent evaluations throughout the yearConsistent evaluations throughout the year Modified instructionModified instruction Consistent evaluations amongst studentsConsistent evaluations amongst students


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Why Trimesters?Why Trimesters?

Provide more time for students to Provide more time for students to demonstrate proficiencydemonstrate proficiency

Late fall marking period allows time forLate fall marking period allows time for• Primary students to blossomPrimary students to blossom• Students to demonstrate abilities – more time to Students to demonstrate abilities – more time to

tailor instruction appropriatelytailor instruction appropriately


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Gives children more time to truly meet the Gives children more time to truly meet the standards – no need to “standards – no need to “rush the learningrush the learning””

Allows more flexibility in pacing the curriculumAllows more flexibility in pacing the curriculum Increases opportunity for well informed parent-teacher Increases opportunity for well informed parent-teacher

communication communication beforebefore first marking period first marking period Promotes more detailed and meaningful Promotes more detailed and meaningful

conversations at parent/teacher conferencesconversations at parent/teacher conferences


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Quality over Quantity IssueQuality over Quantity Issue It is not a case of “more is better” in terms of It is not a case of “more is better” in terms of

howhow manymany report cardsreport cards your child receives your child receives It’s about how much It’s about how much specificspecific, , qualityquality

informationinformation parents receive on a report card parents receive on a report card In order to have high quality information, more In order to have high quality information, more

time is needed to appropriately instruct and time is needed to appropriately instruct and assessassess


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Allows for better monitoring of student Allows for better monitoring of student achievementachievement Students are assessed in multiple ways Students are assessed in multiple ways

everyday, allowing for careful and precise everyday, allowing for careful and precise monitoring of student achievementmonitoring of student achievement

Consequently, it is not a problem that there Consequently, it is not a problem that there are fewer are fewer formalformal reporting times since there is reporting times since there is constant constant informalinformal assessment assessment


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Potential Parent QuestionPotential Parent Question

Why are you making Why are you making the change to the change to trimesters now?trimesters now?

To coordinate with the To coordinate with the implementation of the K – 4 implementation of the K – 4 standards based report standards based report cardscards

Other districts have Other districts have discovered the need for discovered the need for trimesters when using trimesters when using standards based reporting standards based reporting systemssystems

We can benefit from what We can benefit from what others have already others have already experiencedexperienced


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Some of the districts using trimesters:Some of the districts using trimesters:

Ashland NorfolkAshland Norfolk Blackstone Millville ShrewsburyBlackstone Millville Shrewsbury Dedham Stoughton Dedham Stoughton

E. Brookfield SudburyE. Brookfield Sudbury Easton SuttonEaston Sutton Dover- Sherborn WestboroDover- Sherborn Westboro Grafton WestwoodGrafton Westwood Haverhill WoonsocketHaverhill Woonsocket Lunenburg Lunenburg Marlboro Marlboro MiddleboroughMiddleborough Milford All BostonMilford All Boston Nashoba Public SchoolsNashoba Public Schools


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Report Card Design:Performance Levels for K-4Performance Levels for K-4

4 = Exceeds grade level standard4 = Exceeds grade level standardConsistently performs the grade level standard. Student is self motivated Consistently performs the grade level standard. Student is self motivated and independently grasps, applies, and extends key concepts and skills.and independently grasps, applies, and extends key concepts and skills.

3 = Achieves grade level standard3 = Achieves grade level standard Consistently demonstrates proficiency in meeting grade level standard. Consistently demonstrates proficiency in meeting grade level standard.

Student grasps and applies key concepts and skills with limited Student grasps and applies key concepts and skills with limited errors and minimal teacher support.errors and minimal teacher support.


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2 = Nearly Meets grade level 2 = Nearly Meets grade level standard standard Student demonstrates understanding of basic concepts and skills. Performance Student demonstrates understanding of basic concepts and skills. Performance is characterized by the ability to apply skills with increasing success. is characterized by the ability to apply skills with increasing success. Performance varies in consistency with regard to accuracy, quality and level Performance varies in consistency with regard to accuracy, quality and level of of support.support.1 = Below grade level standard1 = Below grade level standard Not achieving and/or progressing toward the grade level standard. Student Not achieving and/or progressing toward the grade level standard. Student does not demonstrate understanding of basic concepts and skills. Interventionsdoes not demonstrate understanding of basic concepts and skills. Interventions support the student in progressing toward the standard.support the student in progressing toward the standard.

Report Card Design:Performance Levels for K-4Performance Levels for K-4


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Sample Spanish SectionSample Spanish Section


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CC=Consistently meets expectations=Consistently meets expectations

SS=Sometimes meets expectations=Sometimes meets expectations

RR=Rarely meets expectations=Rarely meets expectations

Report Card Design:Social Skills and Work HabitsThinking and behavior skills that support and inspire lifelong learning


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Potential Parent QuestionPotential Parent Question Will I receive less Will I receive less

information about how information about how my child is performing my child is performing in school?in school?

Absolutely not!Absolutely not! In fact, you will receive In fact, you will receive

moremore quality quality informationinformation

Standards based report Standards based report cards provide cards provide detaileddetailed, , specific specific informationinformation

Special education Special education students can still students can still receive the same receive the same number of reports as number of reports as they are currently they are currently receivingreceiving


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In closing…. In closing….

In keeping with Ed Reform, we are striving for In keeping with Ed Reform, we are striving for an effective, consistent approach to an effective, consistent approach to expectations, materials, assessment, and expectations, materials, assessment, and reporting at the elementary levelreporting at the elementary level

Standards Based Report Cards will allow for Standards Based Report Cards will allow for this, andthis, and

Trimesters will facilitate the process.Trimesters will facilitate the process.


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Special Thanks to the Report Card Special Thanks to the Report Card CommitteeCommittee

Superintendent Fernandes Ruth Danforth Superintendent Fernandes Ruth Danforth

Jan Gallagher Vin RozenJan Gallagher Vin Rozen

Dana Burke Jen HallDana Burke Jen Hall

Nancy Lopes Marianne LynchNancy Lopes Marianne Lynch

Janice Lizotte Brenda WebsterJanice Lizotte Brenda Webster

Karen McDonough Karen McDonough Bev Hart Bev Hart

Gail BrownGail Brown

Great job team!


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Questions Questions

or or

CommentsComments

october 2008 mendon-upton regional schools standards-based reporting and the benefits of trimesters

Documents

school districtgoal

school staff

assessment prek

strategic plangoal

examination of curriculum

use standards

articulated prek

process of teaching