Transcript Using Data to Improve Instruction & Close the Achievement Gap
Using Data to Improve Instruction & Close the Achievemen t Gap
Jeannette LaFors, Ph.D.
Envision Schools
Achievement Gap
Each day 3,000 U. S. students drop out of high school -- nearly 30% nationally Racial Gaps - 25% difference between white & African-American students Gender Gaps -- 8% difference between boys and girls Context Gaps -- >20% difference between rich & poor communities
Achievement Gap
Even for those who DO graduate: >50% of high school grads are not prepared for college and work >80% percent of students want to go to college, but <50% do Nationally, barely 6 out of 10 students graduate from college, and gaps persist
Some Thoughts on Data . . .
Can inspire fear or hope Can draw attention to issues and put to rest others Serve as tools Simple numbers cannot describe complex realities, but they
can
help us think about them
Workshop Goals
Establish a Learning Community Share Ideas, Practices & Tools to Improve Instruction and Close Achievement Gaps
Process
Establish Personal Connections Describe work at Envision Schools Apply a Self-Assessment Tool and Share our Work with Data with one another Q&A Debrief
Consider a time when you really studied or investigated something . . .
How was that endeavor initiated?
What was your initial goal?
What skills and/or information did you gather?
How comprehensive was your inquiry?
How much time and energy did you devote to it?
Did anyone help you with it?
How satisfied were you with your learning and understanding?
Where did that learning experience lead you?
Envision Schools
Non-profit, public schools (CMO) High-performing clusters of schools to serve underserved populations All our students graduate eligible for 4-year college/university in the CA system Our FGCB students are four times more likely to obtain a 4-year degree than their peers
Rigor, Relevance, Relationships & Results
State Standards Academic Skills Leadership Skills Project Learning Arts Technology
Rigor
RESULTS Graduation Portfolio UC/CSU Courses CHSEE CA Standards Tests
Relevance Relationships
Community Personalization Advisory Team
Academic Rigor
Tests, Quizzes, Reports, Recitations
KNOWLEDGE
(Acquisition) Exhibitions, Demonstrations
UNDERSTANDING
(Application of knowledge)
REFLECTION
(Growth over time) Portfolios, Journals, Observations
We Ask Ourselves:
What we want our students to know and do?
How will we know when they have learned it?
What will we do when some of them do not learn it?
ES Graduation Goals
Proficiency / mastery in core subject areas (math, science, English/language arts, social studies, visual and performing arts) Demonstration of Envision Leadership Skills (communication, critical thinking, collaboration, project management, creative expression, problem solving) Use of technology and design in creating and presenting ideas across disciplines
Introduction about oneself and the portfolio At least one certified core content area task in: social studies, English/Language Arts, science, math, visual & performing Arts Reflective summaries Internship Artifact/Reflection Multi-media Oral Presentation Research paper
Envision Schools Graduation Portfolio A Digital Arrangement of Work
ES Assessment System
Breadth - Completion of UC/CSU requirements & achievement of proficient or advanced on state standards assessments Depth and mastery - Completion of multiple projects and tasks across and within core subject areas to provide evidence of student’s understanding and application of content and skills Growth over time - Student performances and work archived for the purposes of benchmarking and reflection
What Data Do We Collect?
Student Achievement Student Engagement Student Growth Faculty Performance Faculty Engagement/Satisfaction Parent Engagement/Satisfaction Equity 15
What Do We Need to Know?
How many students are scoring at each level of proficiency?
What percentage of students meet or exceed proficiency levels?
In which skills or knowledge areas do students have the more difficulty?
What are the names of students who need intensive support?
Student dashboard
Student engagement Student development Student outcomes Metric
School attendance Attendance in tutoring, extra skills period, summer school (if recommended) Annual academic growth (students below grade level) Pre- and post-assessments in Reading, Writing, and Math 9th - 10th grade exhibition performance 11th – 12th grade graduation portfolio CAT 6/STAR scores High School Exit Exam SAT College-ready HS graduation 4-year college acceptance 4-year college enrollment 4-year college graduation (within 6 years)
Target
>95% >95% On track to graduate from Envision in 5 years Passing Proficient or better On track to complete; complete with proficiency Proficient or better Passing Score of 1000 or above (CA average) Graduation within 5 years At least 1 acceptance Enroll within 1 year of HS graduation Graduate within 5 years
Embedded Inquiry Process
End-of-Year School Leadership Institute: Collect Data/Analyze Data/Identify Gaps/Plan to Close Gaps Monthly school-hosted Leadership PD Days Analyze Data/Reflect on gaps and benchmarks/Plan PD for faculty within and across schools/Critique School Plans School Performance Assessment (Exhibition)
Key Supports
Developing trust and relationships Being clear about outcomes Fostering data-driven inquiry Striving for coherence -- aligning resources Dedicating time to achieving outcomes Finding good technology tools Supporting strong school leadership
Challenges
Building trust around data and public practice Ensuring the inquiry process extends to each teacher/classroom Cultivating a demand for data Finding good tools for maintaining and analyzing data Maintaining a focus on the gaps
Assess Your Own Cycle of Improvement
What Do You Collect and Use?
What data do you collect?
What data do you use?
How
do you use the data?
What more do you need to know?
What do you need to do to get it?
Share Your Assessment with Others
Sharing . . .
What are your strengths and “best practices”?
Where are your gaps and challenges?
What resources might you apply to these challenges?
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