Indicators

Student Performance

Indicator #1: Performance-Based Assessment

Educators utilize performance-based assessments that capture the extent to which students are able to transfer, apply and construct knowledge. These assessments enable students to demonstrate their ability to integrate knowledge, skills, dispositions, and higher-level thinking within and across disciplines. Performance-based assessments typically are student driven, long-term, research based, and interdisciplinary. Student work is assessed against a set of common criteria, and results are used to gauge student understanding of complex concepts and, over time, to inform curriculum and instruction.

Indicator #2: Student Metacognition

Educators design and provide a learning environment that asks students to reflect not just on what they have learned, but also on how they have learned. The district encourages and enables students to engage in metacognition continuously and systemically. Students build the capacity over time to assess, reflect upon and make choices that advance their own learning.

Indicator #3: Metrics of Student Performance

A variety of assessment practices, including norm-referenced and criterion-referenced assessments, provide data and evidence of student knowledge and higher-level thinking. The districts’ system engages teachers and administrators in collecting and analyzing multiple forms of student performance data and disseminating the information to appropriate constituencies. Teachers and administrators use this information collaboratively to make informed decisions to advance student learning.

Internal Support

Indicator #4: Curriculum and Instruction

Teachers and administrators collaborate to develop an articulated and aligned curriculum designed to ensure optimal student results.When making curricular and instructional decisions, teachers and administrators consider current research and evidence of student performance from multiple sources. In their planning, teachers purposefully select and differentiate strategies and resources that advance the learning of all students.

Indicator #5: Professional Learning, Supervision, and Evaluation

The district’s professional learning plan is based on current student and teacher needs linked to district goals. Professional learning is embedded, collaborative and reflective. In providing the time and resources for this learning to take place, the district is attentive to teacher voice. Professional learning is evaluated using a supervision and evaluation process that focuses on efficacy of instruction and attendant advancement of student learning.

Indicator #6: Equitable Support for Student Needs

Processes and practices are in place that identify and address students' academic and non-academic needs. These processes are informed by data and evidence gathered from a variety of sources and are aligned with learning goals for students at all performance levels. Policies and practices that govern student access to all curriculum and programs are non-discriminatory and set expectations that permit students to be challenged at the highest levels. All students have equitable access to all programs.

Indicator #7: Shared Vision and Environment for Change

Shared vision and goals focused on student performance have been developed with the staff and community, are well articulated, clearly communicated, consistently pursued throughout the district and school community, and include student voice. This vision expects, supports, and recognizes risk taking, creativity, and innovation as components of change toward continuous improvement. There is a process to review student and teacher work and learn from experimentation.

External Support

Indicator #8: Parent and Community Support

The district actively involves parents and community constituent groups in ongoing two-way communication to advance student learning. A wide range of community resources extends the classroom and enriches the educational experience of students. The budget development process supports the mission, vision and goals of the district, is aligned with efforts to advance student learning, and is supported by the community.