Strategic Objective Two:

A. Aligned, Articulated Curriculum

District 64 will have a written curriculum in all subject areas to ensure that students across grade levels are learning the same content. The curriculum will be based on national standards.

Standards-based education creates high expectations for all students and provides a consistent guide for the evaluation of student work. A core set of standards-based concepts and competencies form the basis of what all students should learn.

Curriculum Maps are aligned to state and national standards.

Curriculum Maps identify the essential learning outcomes that must be taught by grading period at each grade level or course in all subject areas.

Learning outcomes have been repacked into unit plans for all subject areas.

Unit plans are documented and easily accessible to staff. The written curriculum identifies intervention and enrichment options and includes aligned instructional materials.

Staff, students and families know the learning expectations for each unit of instruction in all subject areas to answer the question “What must all students know and be able to do by the end of this unit?” (e.g., via Web page, newsletter, email)

Teacher teams have common pre-assessments, formative, and summative assessments that are accurate, valid, and aligned to learning outcomes for each unit.

Progress for each measure is reported annually on the Balanced Scorecard - view here.

B. High-Impact Instruction

Use the teaching strategies that will cause the greatest student achievement. These strategies are:

• standards-based planning
• formative assessment (including feedback and individual student goal-setting)
• positive classroom culture
• differentiation

Learning is differentiated to particular academic needs, interests, and learning preferences. The learner has a voice and choice about the what, when, and how of his/her own learning.

Classroom instruction is characterized by high expectations; clear and consistent learning targets; a variety of opportunities to demonstrate levels of understanding. It also includes high levels of engagement and student initiative.

Teachers integrate high-impact instructional strategies to support student learning. These strategies are:

• standards-based planning
• formative assessment (including feedback and individual student goal-setting)
• positive classroom culture
• differentiation

Teachers use common formative and summative assessments results to improve instruction, determine student intervention and enrichment needs, and monitor individual student learning.

Implementation of District-wide SEL program which fosters a District 64 learning culture.

C. Standards-Based Reporting

Standards-based reporting makes it clear what students are learning. It shares information about student performance and growth related to priority learning outcomes. In District 64, the Mastery Learning Committee has convened to address this topic.

Parents and schools communicate regularly and clearly about information important to student success. Schools inform families about standards and how they relate to the curriculum, learning objectives, methods of assessment, school programs, discipline codes, and student progress to promote two-way communication.

Comprehensive standards-based reporting system that provides all stakeholders with accurate information about student performance and growth related to learning outcomes.