1 / 13

Updates on state and district initiatives

Updates on state and district initiatives. Student Success Plans, Small Learning Communities, Online Learning Pilot. Improving outcomes for students. The BOE has directed administration to look at ways to “transform” current practices and structures with existing (or minimal) resources

wylie-keith
Télécharger la présentation

Updates on state and district initiatives

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Updates on state and district initiatives Student Success Plans, Small Learning Communities, Online Learning Pilot

  2. Improving outcomes for students • The BOE has directed administration to look at ways to “transform” current practices and structures with existing (or minimal) resources • This directive was supported by • Inability of the district to open an alternative school program in the Fall of 2011 • Continuing concerns about the unacceptably high drop-out rate • Continuing concerns about the failure and retention rate

  3. On the state level… • Governor Malloy has publically announced that his administration will have an “education reform agenda” signaled by the hiring of Stephan Pryor as Commissioner • Commissioner Pryor’s first public comments were about the “unacceptable achievement gaps” in CT schools and his priority will be to “make real progress” in closing these gaps • CAPSS (CT Assoc. of Public School Superintendents) has released the blueprint for “Next Ed: Transforming CT’s Educational System” • The CT Secondary School Reform Initiative appears to continue to have momentum at CSDE and in the CT General Assembly

  4. Mandates and strategies for improvement • Student Success Plans (SSPs) • Small Learning Communities (SLCs) • Online Learning Pilot

  5. Student Success Plans • Mandated by P.A. 11-135 • To begin 2012-13 school year and each school year thereafter • For ALL students, Grades 6-12 • Must include career and academic choices • Must be in an electronic format • Should be updated at least annually • Should travel with the student if school changes

  6. Areas addressed in SSP • Academic Development • Selection of rigorous courses linked to interests, skills, and possibly career pathway • Completion of a portfolio or capstone project • Career Development • Interest and career exploration opportunities • Social, Emotional, and Physical Development • Decision-making • Healthy and safe life skills/choices • Possible community service

  7. Essential features of SSPs • Regular contact with adult mentor/advisor • Electronic plan that is regularly revisited, updated as needed, and travels with student • Creation of a portfolio of “best work” and some form of capstone or culminating experience • Opportunities to connect with larger community in appropriate ways through internships and other workplace development, career exploration, and community service

  8. Next steps for SSPs • Investigate appropriate electronic tools for interest inventories, career exploration, and long term planning • Discuss possible formats for the capstone experience in TPS: what will the product/process be? • Investigate structures for being able to provide mentoring, portfolio building, and capstone completion including possible changes in graduation requirements (required by 2018) and scheduling

  9. Small Learning Communities • Student centered: a core group of teachers knows a small group of students well • Success oriented: academic and other supports to meet the needs of the whole child • Typically, teachers work in teams • Curriculum is revised to show connections between content standards and student interests or goals • May offer some choice/specialization in academic program (theme or magnet)

  10. Essential features of SLCs • Reduce alienation by creating connections and community common in large schools • Reduce boredom by creating relevance (interest-driven and authentic work) • Connections with teachers and other students • Connections between subjects and between school and “outside” world

  11. Next steps for SLCs • Consider expanding/refining the 9th Grade Team concept being piloted this year to assist students in the academic and social transition to high school. • Consider expanding the online learning pilot (if successful this Spring) to serve a greater number and variety of students interested in credit recovery or self-paced learning. • Discussions about whether THS should add a theme-based small learning community in the 2013-14 school year

  12. Online Learning Pilot • Pilot geared towards offering a non-traditional option for credit recovery • Will utilize the Odysseyware online learning platform for curriculum content • Will include a program manager and tutors to provide support and coordination between students, families, administration, and counselors • Provides a very different paradigm for learning: • Based on mastery of course content • Time is a variable, not based on seat time • Different social dynamic, technology is the main interface for learning

  13. Final thoughts • Current program positives will be preserved as these are working well for many students (traditional model, AP/ECE, etc.) • Something else has to be available for students who are not successful as evidenced by failure and drop-out rate • Educational research converges around the importance of Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships in schools today • Schools are expected to play a larger role than in the past in educating and supporting the whole child

More Related