Standard 4
As you review the responses to the indicators and rubrics, what major trends, themes, areas of focus, or goals emerge that cut across this standard?
How will you use the insights gained from this self-assessment to inform and enhance your improvement efforts related to this standard?
In the past, we have used ACT data, DIBELS results, online assessments for STAR data, and Terra Nova results as our tools. As we looked at that data, teachers regularly attended summer workshops that included bias training and collaboration with other schools in writing quality assessments. We even had parents attend a bias training and help review the assessments. One of the benefits to using online assessments was the immediate feedback for students and readily available data for teachers. Due to state mandates, we will now have NeSA results to incorporate into our data collection. We have also made the decision to implement MAP assessments in place of the Terra Nova. We like the fact that MAP provides immediate feedback and real time data for teachers, similar to online assessments, and we also feel that MAP provides accurate data at a more individualized level as well as guidance in using that data.
A district data team has been created to lead our staff in learning how to interpret and utilize the data from all of our assessments. This will include individualized instruction and goal setting based on the results of the assessments. It is also important to continue our practice of utilizing classroom assessments, teacher observation, and parent input to make sure our students are achieving. One example of this is in our Sixth Grade Move Up Day. At that time, sixth grade students are given a math placement exam. The results of that exam, discussions among classroom teachers, and parent input are all considered when placing students in the appropriate math class for seventh grade. We will now be able to incorporate NeSA and MAP data as well. This same process applies to counseling students when selecting classes in high school, including whether they will choose to follow the path for Option A, Option B, or Option C.
One area we feel will be vital to our success in using these new assessments is the training of teachers. Our data team will begin professional development in this area and then serve as leaders for the rest of our staff. We plan to take teachers through a MAP academy where they can learn how to use the reports, how to share information with teachers, how to set goals with students, and how to individualize instruction.
As we looked at ACT data, we noticed a trend in the area of reading. We had been below the state average in reading comprehension for five straight years. This put up a red flag and influenced our decision to focus on reading as a school improvement goal. We began with literacy as a goal, but we realized that was a very broad topic. We needed to really get at the essence of what we meant by literacy. After much discussion, we decided to narrow our focus to reading skills. Though we are still below the state average, we have seen an upward trend in our ACT scores over the last few years indicating positive results in meeting our goal.