Tracking Student Progress
One of the challenges of offering the seal is determining a method for your district's committee to track individual student's progress towards achieving the Seal of Civic Readiness. Your tracker needs a system to collect information for each individual student, from middle school through graduation.
Additionally, you will need to answer several questions before implementation:
How many opportunities to earn points will students have? (middle school capstone, research project, civics project, highschool capstone project, etc)
Who will be doing the tracking?
When will points be submitted?
Where will student work be stored as evidence for the state?
NOTE: Teachers should not be accessing student's transcripts, that is the reason why a school counselor is required to be apart of the committee.
Methods for Tracking
After you've determined the basic information that needs to be tracked. Two common methods are in Google Sheets or using the schools administrative software such as an open-source platform like Schooltool or Power Schools.
Here are some things to consider when deciding which method for tracking is right for you. Below you will find 3 suggestions, in each section, you will find PROS, CONS and EXAMPLES/TEMPLATES to help you determine which method is right for your district.
1) Spreadsheets
PROS:
There are several examples that have been created by pilot school across the state so you wont need to reinvent the wheel
The entire committee + teachers who are having students complete requirements for the seal can access and input data
If your district uses Power Schools, there has yet to be a pathway created within the system for tracking seal requirements
Google Sheets allows for collaborative input of data by multiple committee members simultateously
QR Codes linked to Google Forms allow students to fill out a Google Form for completing ongoing community services hours that connects to a spreadsheet so hours are easily tracked and maintained.
CONS:
Google spreadsheets can get lost into the void of a school's Google Drive
Microsoft excel needs to create different versions every time it is changed by a different person, causing confusion and
It is one more documents for committee members to curate which can be a heavy lift on staff
EXAMPLES:
KEN-TON SCHOOLS
Fulton City Schools
2) Student Information Systems (SIS)
PROS:
Less initial set up that Google Sheets since basic student information has already been entered into the platform
It gives the seal more validity
It is one less documents for committees to curate
Some Regional Information Centers (RIC) around the state have developed a way for districts to track students progress towards completion of the seal using Schooltool, however they have yet to create this for other systems.
CONS:
Unfortunately, the only people that can input data are school counselors and administrators which places a heavy burden on a few committee members
Creates a system that is not person based that can be lost by the wayside if committee members change over time
EXAMPLES:
Schooltool
Powerschools
Schoology
Canvas
Synergy: This Data management system includes a parent push out feature
3) Paper Trackers
PROS:
Easy to set up
Limited technology
Empowers students to keep track of their own progress
CONS:
Lots of paper to keep track of
Heavy Burden on the committee members to track these documents/forms
EXAMPLES:
Chittenango HS Extra-Curricular Time Sheet
4) Paid Service
PROS:
Schools can track student progress towards other multi-year program completion as well, such as Seal of Biliteracy
Valuable tool for large schools that wish to house evident of student work portfolio style
CONS:
There is a cost associated with using this program
Many not be an effective system for small schools
EXAMPLES:
Passport For Good’s student digital portfolio is revolutionizing real-time engagement tracking through a single portal. Supporting the whole student experience, Passport For Good equips educators and students with the tools and data necessary to fuel a successful educational journey.
