Presentation II

A Discussion with School Boards: Raising the Graduation Rate, High School Improvement, and Policy Decisions

• Present information on the Virginia Graduation Rate

• Review the Standards of Accreditation requirements concerning the Graduation and Completion Index and accreditation for 2011-2012 and beyond

• Review a comprehensive, systematic process for high school improvement through the Eight Elements of High School Improvement

• Present information on the Virginia Early Warning System Tool and Guide

• Promote discussion on policy issues affecting high school improvement efforts

Presentation II

Goals for Presentations

• Rigorous Curriculum and Instruction

• Assessment and Accountability

• Teacher Quality and Professional Development

• Student and Family Supports

• Stakeholder Engagement

• Leadership and Governance

• Organization and Structure

• Resources for Sustainability

*National High School Center http://www.betterhighschools.org/docs/NHSCEightElements7-25-08.pdf

Presentation II

Eight Elements of High School Improvement: A Mapping Framework*

Presentation II

Element 1Rigorous Curriculum and Instruction

Everyone in the system is responsible for ensuring that all students have access to rigorous content and instruction.

•Aligned to local, state and national standards

•Use multiple research-based instructional strategies

•Address both academic and workplace readiness skills

•Based on student instructional needs and aligned with instruction in other content areas to support thematic and project-based learning, tiered instruction, etc.

•Include academic supports and involve continuous progress monitoring/formative assessment

Balanced assessment and accountability systems cover a broad range of formal and informal assessment policies and practices aligned across multiple levels.

• Grade promotion policy

• Grading policies

• Formative assessments

• Provide timely and effective feedback and access to data

• Collect and report data over time to measure student growth

• Teacher and program performance measures, rewards, and

consequences

Presentation II

Element 2Assessment and Accountability

Balanced assessment and accountability systems cover a broad range of formal and informal assessment policies and practices aligned across multiple levels.

• Support continuous progress monitoring through formal and

informal assessments

• Provide access to college and work readiness assessments

• Support the early identification of students with special

needs and at-risk of failure

• Include both internal and external accountability

Presentation II

Element 2Assessment and Accountability (cont.)

Recognizes a teacher’s need for deep content andpedagogical knowledge and includes a broad set ofrecruitment, preparation, induction, professionalgrowth, and retention policies.

• Accreditation of teacher education programs• Based on standards for staff development and adult learning

and pass quality reviews• Promote student-centered instruction• Abilities of and opportunities for teachers to work together

Presentation II

Element 3Teacher Quality & Professional Development

Recognizes a teacher’s need for deep content and pedagogical knowledge and includes a broad set of recruitment, preparation, induction, professional growth and retention policies

• Include both internal/external accountability

• Increase skills in student assessment and adjusting

instruction accordingly

• Embedded and ongoing

• Develop teacher leadership skills

• Promote effective classroom management skills

Presentation II

Element 3 Teacher Quality & Professional Development (cont.)

Presentation II

Element 4Student and Family Support

All high school students need guidance and supports that address the whole child, including physical and socio-emotional needs, through positive conditions for learning.

• Attendance

• Transitions within high school

• Post-high school transitions

• School culture/climate

• Student discipline

• Outreach to homes and families

• Promote co-curricular activities

• English as a second language

• Student Assistance Programming

Presentation II

Element 4Student and Family Support (cont.)

All high school students need guidance and supports that address the whole child, including physical and socio-emotional needs, through positive conditions for learning.