Preparing each learner for success: The redesign journey of the Schools of Eastern Carver County

1. Preparing each learner for success:The redesign journey of the Schools of Eastern Carver County Eastern Carver County Schools – District 112

2. The Charge Redesign the secondary schools of Eastern Carver County to prepare students for a future we can not predict.

3. 1703 Teachers Conference

4. Students today can’t prepare bark to calculate their problems. They depend on their slates which are more expensive. What will they do when the slate is dropped and it breaks? They will be unable to write! What if… Karl Fisch http://www.lps.k12.co.us/schools/arapahoe/fisch/whatif/whatif.ppt Thornburg, David. Edutrends 2010: Restructuring, Technology, and the Future of Education. Starsong Publications, 1992.

5. 1815 Principals Association

6. Students today depend on paper too much. They don’t know how to write on a slate without getting chalk dust all over themselves. They can’t clean a slate properly. What will they do when they run out of paper?

7. 1907 National Association of Teachers

8. Students today depend too much upon ink. They don’t know how to use a pen knife to sharpen a pencil. Pen and ink will never replace the pencil.

9. 1928 The Rural American Teacher

10. Students today depend upon store bought ink. They don’t know how to make their own. When they run out of ink they will be unable to write words or ciphers until their next trip to the settlement. This is a sad commentary on modern education.

11. 1950 Federal Teachers

12. Ballpoint pens will be the ruin of education in our country. Students use these devices and then throw them away. The American values of thrift and frugality are being discarded. Business and banks will never allow such expensive luxuries.

13. Secondary Redesign Team 50+ teachers, administrators, students, and community members Meeting monthly, reading literature, creating vision, mission, core principles, and strategies Building Core Teams Team for each of five secondary schools (three middle schools and two high schools – one to be built and opened) The Teams

14. To prepare each learner for successful completion of a  post-secondary educational  program, life-long learning, career opportunities, and meaningful contributions as a citizen of the local and global community by providing personalized, rigorous, and relevant learning experiences. Secondary Schools Mission

15. Core Principles Six interdependent core principles guide our work • Safe and nurturing environment • Engaged learners • Strong partnerships • Integrated curriculum, instruction & assessment • Excellent educational team • Dynamic organization

16. No one jumps a 20 foot chasm in two 10 foot jumps. – Miguel Guhlin A Realization

17. Jumping the Chasm – Revolutionary Change • Open a new high school • Transition to three middle schools • Reorganize staff in buildings • Change school boundaries • Change daily schedule • Change graduation requirements • Implement houses • Implement 9th and 10th interdisciplinary teams • Modify curriculum in every department • Curriculum maps for every course • Areas of interest and programs of study • Capstone courses • Accelerated courses • Mastery learning implementation

18. Graduation Requirements What do we want our students to know, do, understand, and be like?

19. Curriculum Impact of Redesign • Primary goal was to redesign course offerings to meet our new vision and develop a more focused academic program • All content areas underwent a review process of existing courses • Courses were eliminated, redesigned, or new courses were developed • Curriculum maps were developed for all secondary courses • All electives were organized within four areas of interest

20. Areas of Interest • Arts and Communication • Global Studies • Health and Social Sciences • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

21. Programs of Study

22. Capstone Course Graduation Requirement Students will fulfill their graduation requirement by completing a culminating experience in a Capstone course within a program of study. Capstone courses will reflect best practices in project-based learning and focus in one or more the following areas: • Internships & Mentoring • Research & Product Development • Publishing & Exhibition • Real Solutions for Community & Global Problems

23. Time is a variable…. learning is our constant.

24. Accelerated Courses Science English • Full-year Physics (9thgr) compacted into Physics X (9thgr, 1stsem) • Full-year Chemistry (10thgr) compacted into Chemistry X (9thgr, 2ndsem) • Same content, 2.0 credit/yr • Remove much direct instruction, repetition, and practice • Assume higher math ability and motivation • English 9, 10, and 11 compacted into English X (9th-10thgr) • Same standards, 1.5 credit/yr • Add depth, rigor, independence in reading selections and analysis • Assume higher reading/ writing ability and motivation

25. Accelerated Courses • X classes by invitation only • Identification rubric mainly based on standardized test scores at 95th percentile over multiple years • Criteria identifies 10-15% of our students • Of identified students, 10-20% opt out • Benefits for students • Challenges student with faster pace (and more depth and complexity in English) • Creates opportunity for additional courses in student schedules

26. Mastery Learning in District 112 • Collaborative process led by teacher leaders • Identified common proficiencies based on foundational standards (necessary for success within course or future courses) • Common assessment system • Students must show mastery to earn credit for course

27. Mastery Learning in Science • Regular assessments (quizzes, individual skill checks) • Quick feedback • Frequent and repeated opportunity to demonstrate mastery throughout course • Individualized assessments created by locally developed software • Formative data informs remediation and extension needs for students • Continual reinforcement of foundational standards

28. Mastery Learning - Lessons Learned • Students can master foundational standards • Focus needs to shift from teaching to learning • Student lack of prior knowledge/skills mitigated • Gains in student achievement observed • Student efficacy increased

29. Preliminary Results A promising start

30. Results – AP: Continued Fast Growth

31. Results – AP: Quantity AND Quality • 2007 • 691 AP enrollments • 35% took AND passed AP Exam • 2010 • 1,093 AP enrollments • 49% took AND passed AP Exam

32. Results - ACT • Class of 2007 (533 graduates) • 452 students took ACT • 22.4 average composite score • Class of 2010 (540 graduates) • 521 students took ACT • 23.7 average composite score

33. The Journey Continues…Questions… contact us Lynn Scearcy scearcyl@district112.org 952-556-6181 David Brecht brechtd@district112.org 952-556-7110 Eastern Carver County Schools – District 112