Middle Level Liaisons Presentations/Discussions from the March Meeting held at the Albany Marriott

Assessment Literacy and Performance Based Assessment – Jennifer Borgioli Assessments can be used to produce learning…not just measure it Assessment is the strategic collection of evidence of student learning Cannot claim assessment is valid if do not have some form of articulated test map Cannot claim assessment is reliable if don’t have statistics to back that claim The higher the stakes of the assessment, the more we need to play by the rules

Evidence Based Claims and Teacher Evaluation Rubrics – Michelle Helmer and Marcy Sweetman Evidence Based Claims (EBC) are part of NYS Model Curriculum from Odell Assists teachers in implementing CCLS and the Shifts in Instruction; can be used by more than just ELA teachers Engagement in this type of learning from students usually places teachers in the “highly effective” range of the teacher evaluation rubric

Calkins Rd MS

Developmental Responsiveness Art Cluster: Math Cluster: 31 (7 th ) kids in – Int Algrebra 95% or higher – Dr. Bones School Connectedness: sense of attachment and commitment – 3 dimensions Student-peer, Student-community, student- teacher

Continuation from Previous Slide School connection team (5-7 members) assess staff connectedness (assess thru survey monkey) Jan-March short 5-6 questions, Easily adapted to your own school and circumstances Try to get 100% participation of staff Goal: every student is “known” by three adults Assessing the students: survey earlier than the staff Nov- Jan – 15 question survey equal distribution of questions to determine the three areas of connectedness – Ascertain a mean for each student – Analyze data in 4 steps Tiered interventions based on analysis

A Decade Later: Revisiting the Essential Elements - History of the 7 Essential Elements - What are the 7 Essential Elements? - Where can I learn more? - Revisiting the 7 Essential Elements: Our Work Today

Essential Elements Historic Timeline 1992?Essential Elements developed by NYSED’s Middle Level Education program in conjunction with NYSMSA, Middle Level Liaisons (that’s us!) and the NYC Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform. Liaisons’ research study associates Essential Elements with student achievement on NYS assessments Essential Elements revised. NYS Regents adopt Policy Statement on Middle Level Education (“Young adolescents from ages 10 to 14 are undergoing personal transformations...”) The Policy Statement explicitly states that it is premised on the Essential Elements. (“This policy statement reflects these seven key factors.”) ?Tools are developed to assist middle schools evaluate themselves in comparison to the Essential Elements and implement the Elements. These include detailed rubrics and protocols.

What are the Seven Essential Elements? A philosophy and mission that reflect the intellectual and developmental needs and characteristics of young adolescents. An educational program that is comprehensive, challenging, purposeful, integrated, relevant, and standards-based. An organization and structure that support both academic excellence and personal development. Classroom instruction appropriate to the needs and characteristics of young adolescents provided by skilled and knowledgeable teachers. Strong educational leadership and a building administration that encourage, facilitate, and sustain involvement, participation, and leadership. A network of academic and personal support available for all students. Professional learning and staff development for all staff that are ongoing, planned, purposeful, and collaboratively developed.

Learning More The official document from NYSED Regents Policy Statement from NYSED Assessment Rubrics from NYSMSA Implementation Protocols (Awareness, Needs Assessment, School Improvement) from NYSMA Wiki

Revisiting the Essential Elements: What’s new since 2003?

Revisiting the Essential Elements: Our job today 1.Divide into eight table groups. Each table group needs one person with a computer with Internet Access 2.Download the Word version (the numbered version) of the Essential Elements from the NYSMSA website Each table group will be assigned one of the seven essential elements plus the conclusion section. 4.With your table, discuss how new developments in the last ten years may have affected your assigned element. 5.There are three ways to mark implications or possible revisions: - Use the “New Comment” feature on the “Review” task bar to add comments. - Use the “Track Changes” feature to strikeout, add, etc. 6. the document to Steve

Middle Liaison’s Meeting Teacher Evaluation Debrief as we approach The End of Year 1 March 14, 2013

Essential Questions Where has APPR taken us? Where will APPR take us?

Objective By the end the of our discussion principals will learn from colleagues and associates from across NYS what their experiences have been with APPR.

APPR Table Discussion Teacher Evaluation Debrief What are your current successes in your building or district with the implementation of APPR?

APPR Table Discussion Teacher Evaluation Debrief What are your current challenges in your building or district using the APPR selected evaluation tool?

APPR Table Discussion Teacher Evaluation Debrief What suggestions do you have as solutions for the current challenges?

APPR Table Discussion Teacher Evaluation Debrief What are you doing to ensure inter-rater reliability among principals in the building or district?

APPR Table Discussion Teacher Evaluation Debrief How are you managing your evaluation tool focusing on the level of instructional quality, not quantity of instructional indicators observed in each domain or dimension? i.e. Teachers looking at the rubric as a checklist.

APPR Table Discussion Teacher Evaluation Debrief What problems or challenges can you predict that can be addressed by policy makers and/or SED? What suggestions would you offer for offer policy makers and/or SED as we have update our APPR Plan by July?

Essential Elements School to Watch Program Overview Presenter Marybeth Casey – NYSED Associate and EESTW State Director. Contact information is EESTW is a State and National recognition program as well as a vehicle for school improvement. It is run by a partnership of organizations including NYSED, NYSMSA, NYSMLL, and NYSUT The National Program aligns to the Regents Policy Statement on ML Education and the Seven Essential Elements of a Standards focused ML School and Program promoting high achieving, developmentally responsive, socially equitable middle schools across the country There are 27 EESTW schools in NY and 350+ across the country in 19 participating States Schools interested in learning more about the program can view the overview power point on this site or visit

The New York State Middle School Association and St. Joseph’s College Present: Teaching for Tomorrow: Integrating the Common Core for Middle-Level Success Teaching for Tomorrow: Integrating the Common Core for Middle-Level Success offers a variety of workshops to suit your needs. This conference brings together the unique qualities of middle-level education, the essential elements and the common core. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from practitioners who have successfully integrated the common core into their practice. After attending this conference, you’ll walk away with practical strategies for teaching that you can use tomorrow. Highlighted opportunities provided by the Teaching for Tomorrow Conference: - Presentations by Long Island’s best practitioners - A fresh take on the Common Core State Standards - Essential Elements Schools-to-Watch Presenters - 21st Century Learning Technology Workshops - Vendor exhibit that focuses on middle-level academic products and services If you are interested in becoming a presenter please submit the Call for Presenters form by clicking here: Call for Presenter Application If you are interested in purchasing a vendor booth please click here: Vendor Booth Purchase Form