In reviewing several texts and research studies, my colleagues and I have begun the planning for the work of the 2015/2016 school year. We have agreed upon three major goals:
1. To increase opportunities for authentic, project based learning
2. To increase opportunities for internships
3. To increase community and business connections
To begin this work, we have decided that it is important that we complete a through analysis of our individual districts. To achieve this step, we will be using the New England Secondary School Consortium's Global Best Practices Self Assessment Tool in conjunction with the Carnegie Foundation's Opportunity by Design 10 School Design Principles.
The Global Best Practices Self-Assessment is an internationally benchmarked assessment for secondary learning. In addition to providing a framework for conducting a self-assessment, the tool offers secondary schools a framework to use in planning transformations. The tools is divided into three major areas: (1) teaching and learning, (2) organizational design and (3) leadership. Schools are able to look at their evidence, rank themselves on a scale of initiating to performing, and review sample strategies for improvement and transformation. Although this tool is not a silver bullet to high school reform or transformation, it will allow us to engage in conversation about our next steps based on common language derived from the needs assessment.
The Carnegie Foundation's Opportunity by Design 10 School Design Principles provides a helpful at-a-glance look at best practices in school improvement. The Carnegie Foundation developed these design principles after examining the principles used by the New York City Department of Education, New Visions for Public Schools, and other high-performing school networks.
We agree that together, the self-assessment and the design principles will be useful tools as we re-imagine our schools. Yet, we understand that this needs assessment is only just the beginning of our journey. Our ultimate goal is to create personalized learning environments that meet the needs of our students as they enter an ever-changing global society.
1. To increase opportunities for authentic, project based learning
2. To increase opportunities for internships
3. To increase community and business connections
To begin this work, we have decided that it is important that we complete a through analysis of our individual districts. To achieve this step, we will be using the New England Secondary School Consortium's Global Best Practices Self Assessment Tool in conjunction with the Carnegie Foundation's Opportunity by Design 10 School Design Principles.
The Global Best Practices Self-Assessment is an internationally benchmarked assessment for secondary learning. In addition to providing a framework for conducting a self-assessment, the tool offers secondary schools a framework to use in planning transformations. The tools is divided into three major areas: (1) teaching and learning, (2) organizational design and (3) leadership. Schools are able to look at their evidence, rank themselves on a scale of initiating to performing, and review sample strategies for improvement and transformation. Although this tool is not a silver bullet to high school reform or transformation, it will allow us to engage in conversation about our next steps based on common language derived from the needs assessment.
The Carnegie Foundation's Opportunity by Design 10 School Design Principles provides a helpful at-a-glance look at best practices in school improvement. The Carnegie Foundation developed these design principles after examining the principles used by the New York City Department of Education, New Visions for Public Schools, and other high-performing school networks.
We agree that together, the self-assessment and the design principles will be useful tools as we re-imagine our schools. Yet, we understand that this needs assessment is only just the beginning of our journey. Our ultimate goal is to create personalized learning environments that meet the needs of our students as they enter an ever-changing global society.