Becoming a Standards - based District Created by Illinois State Board of Education Content Specialists

Do you want…  A greater focus on learning standards?  Better communication with students and families on academic performance?  Increased student engagement in learning?

If you do… You are a perfect candidate to become a Standards-based Reporting District!

How to Proceed 1.Learn from the experts 2.Plan your Transition 3.Expand the Learning 4.Get Going 5.Reflect and Adjust

1. Learn from the Experts Establish a Standards-based Reporting Committee consisting of a cadre of teachers and administrators

1. Learn from the Experts Do your research  Read about the philosophy of SBR  Hold discussions with other districts who have made the transition  Be brave and jump in It won’t be perfect, but what you are doing now isn’t either!

1. Learn from the Experts Recommended resources:

2. Plan Your Transition  Design a system that evaluates and reports student attainment of the standards  Consider report card changes  Explore Standards-based grading concepts with your team and other educators in your district

 Key Question: Who is your primary audience? Make certain the information on the card is appropriately worded for your audience and reflects its purpose Define the Purpose for your Report Card 2. Plan Your Transition

 Is it to inform student achievement to parents and others?  Is it to for student self evaluation?  Is it to select students for certain educational paths? PRINT THIS ON YOUR REPORT CARD Define the Purpose for your Report Card 2. Plan Your Transition

Develop the Reporting Standards Consider separating the 3 Types of Learning Goals: 1. Product 2. Process 3. Progress

Here is an example of an Elementary Standards - based Report Card template

Here is a possible example of a High School report card that reports Learning Goals separately.

3. Expand the Learning  Educate teachers on the SBR evaluation ideas of evaluating students on their mastery of the standards  Clarify that academic grades will be separated out from behavior grades  Create cadres of grade level or subject area teachers to begin discussions on ways to record and evaluate in this SBR system

Address Some Essential Steps in SBR Development  What is the purpose of the report card?  How often will report cards be sent home?  Will a specific report card be developed for each grade level, or will a more general report card be used across several grade levels?  What product, process, and progress standards should be reported?

 Establish Performance Indicators  Develop the Reporting Form  Educate Parents  Pilot and Revise 4. Get Going

Considerations Costs  Initial and ongoing training of staff  Creation of forms  Educating the community on the transition  Structural and organizational changes

Considerations  How will you educate your staff on the standards - based philosophy?  Is your district educated on the New Illinois Learning Standards (NILS)?  How will you respond to opposition?  Where will you begin, report card, common assessments, or professional development?

5. Reflect and Adjust  What worked well with the piloting schools?  What did those involved feel they still needed  What needs to be changed moving forward?

Summing Up  Become educated on Standards-based Reporting  Set a timeline and stick to it  Provide ongoing support and education  Be flexible  Keep the your purpose in mind

References Great Lakes West Comprehensive Center. (2011). Summary of survey findings on standards-based assessment and grading. Unpublished raw data,. Guskey, T. R. (2013). Essential questions about standards, assessments, grading and reporting. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, A Sage Company. O’Connor, K. (2002). How to grade for learning. (3rd ed.). United States: Corwin, A Sage Company. O'Shea, M. (2005). From standards to success. Alexandria, VA: ASCD. Reeves, D. (2004). Making standards work. (3rd ed.). Englewood, CO: Advanced Learning Press. Guskey, T. (2009). Practical solutions for serious problems in standards-based grading. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, A Sage Company.

Standards Based Grading Committee Contact information can be found on the Illinois Standards-Based WebsiteIllinois Standards-Based Website

Contact Information For further information regarding this presentation contact: Sue Mainville Instructional Assistant ISBE