1. Eastern Carver County Schools – District 112
Preparing each learner for success: The redesign journey of the Schools of Eastern Carver County
Eastern Carver County Schools – District 112

2. The Charge
Redesign the secondary schools of Eastern Carver County to prepare students for a future we can not predict.

3. Teachers Conference
1703

4. Students today can’t prepare bark to calculate their problems
Students today can’t prepare bark to calculate their problems. They depend on their slates which are more expensive. What will they do when the slate is dropped and it breaks? They will be unable to write!
What if… Karl Fisch
Thornburg, David. Edutrends 2010: Restructuring, Technology, and the Future of Education. Starsong Publications, 1992.

5. Principals Association
1815

6. Students today depend on paper too much
Students today depend on paper too much. They don’t know how to write on a slate without getting chalk dust all over themselves. They can’t clean a slate properly. What will they do when they run out of paper?

7. National Association of Teachers
1907

8. Students today depend too much upon ink
Students today depend too much upon ink. They don’t know how to use a pen knife to sharpen a pencil. Pen and ink will never replace the pencil.

9. The Rural American Teacher
1928

10. Students today depend upon store bought ink
Students today depend upon store bought ink. They don’t know how to make their own. When they run out of ink they will be unable to write words or ciphers until their next trip to the settlement. This is a sad commentary on modern education.

11. Federal Teachers
1950

12. Ballpoint pens will be the ruin of education in our country
Ballpoint pens will be the ruin of education in our country. Students use these devices and then throw them away. The American values of thrift and frugality are being discarded. Business and banks will never allow such expensive luxuries.
It is 2007 and there is no shortage of issues in education. It is great to have people back. With it comes the energy and the passion. We are passionate about so many thing. Big issues and what sometimes seem to be simple things. I was at a meeting he other day and the energy and excitement was high. The topic of conversation….. New toilet paper and towel dispensers in the bathrooms… have you seen them? People were almost giddy as they talked in almost loving ways about how easy the toilet paper turned and how they could easily get a long piece instead of having to piece together small pieces that kept ripping off. Concern about softness… elementary would have like the sensors for our smallest learners. Jim Bach was delayed. And in 2007 there are other issues too.

13. The Teams Secondary Redesign Team
50+ teachers, administrators, students, and community members
Meeting monthly, reading literature, creating vision, mission, core principles, and strategies
Building Core Teams
Team for each of five secondary schools (three middle schools and two high schools – one to be built and opened)

14. Secondary Schools Mission
To prepare each learner
for
successful completion of a
 post-secondary educational  program,
life-long learning,
career opportunities,
and meaningful contributions as a citizen
of the local and global community by
providing personalized, rigorous,
and relevant learning experiences.

15. Core Principles Six interdependent core principles guide our work
Safe and nurturing environment
Engaged learners
Strong partnerships
Integrated curriculum, instruction & assessment
Excellent educational team
Dynamic organization

16. A Realization
No one jumps a 20 foot chasm in two 10 foot jumps. – Miguel Guhlin

17. Jumping the Chasm – Revolutionary Change
Open a new high school
Transition to three middle schools
Reorganize staff in buildings
Change school boundaries
Change daily schedule
Change graduation requirements
Implement houses
Implement 9th and 10th interdisciplinary teams
Modify curriculum in every department
Curriculum maps for every course
Areas of interest and programs of study
Capstone courses
Accelerated courses
Mastery learning implementation

18. Graduation Requirements
What do we want our students to know, do, understand, and be like?

19. Curriculum Impact of Redesign
Primary goal was to redesign course offerings to meet our new vision and develop a more focused academic program
All content areas underwent a review process of existing courses
Courses were eliminated, redesigned, or new courses were developed
Curriculum maps were developed for all secondary courses
All electives were organized within four areas of interest

20. Areas of Interest Arts and Communication Global Studies
Health and Social Sciences
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

21. Programs of Study

22. Capstone Course Graduation Requirement
Students will fulfill their graduation requirement by completing a culminating experience in a Capstone course within a program of study. Capstone courses will reflect best practices in project-based learning and focus in one or more the following areas:
Internships & Mentoring
Research & Product Development
Publishing & Exhibition
Real Solutions for Community & Global Problems

23. Time is a variable….
learning is our constant.

24. Accelerated Courses
Science
English
Full-year Physics (9th gr) compacted into Physics X (9th gr, 1st sem)
Full-year Chemistry (10th gr) compacted into Chemistry X (9th gr, 2nd sem)
Same content, 2.0 credit/yr
Remove much direct instruction, repetition, and practice
Assume higher math ability and motivation
English 9, 10, and 11 compacted into English X (9th-10th gr)
Same standards, 1.5 credit/yr
Add depth, rigor, independence in reading selections and analysis
Assume higher reading/ writing ability and motivation

25. Accelerated Courses X classes by invitation only Benefits for students
Identification rubric mainly based on standardized test scores at 95th percentile over multiple years
Criteria identifies 10-15% of our students
Of identified students, 10-20% opt out
Benefits for students
Challenges student with faster pace (and more depth and complexity in English)
Creates opportunity for additional courses in student schedules

26. Mastery Learning in District 112
Collaborative process led by teacher leaders
Identified common proficiencies based on foundational standards (necessary for success within course or future courses)
Common assessment system
Students must show mastery to earn credit for course

27. Mastery Learning in Science
Regular assessments (quizzes, individual skill checks)
Quick feedback
Frequent and repeated opportunity to demonstrate mastery throughout course
Individualized assessments created by locally developed software
Formative data informs remediation and extension needs for students
Continual reinforcement of foundational standards

28. Mastery Learning - Lessons Learned
Students can master foundational standards
Focus needs to shift from teaching to learning
Student lack of prior knowledge/skills mitigated
Gains in student achievement observed
Student efficacy increased

29. Preliminary Results
A promising start

30. Results – AP: Continued Fast Growth

31. Results – AP: Quantity AND Quality
2007
691 AP enrollments
35% took AND passed AP Exam
2010
1,093 AP enrollments
49% took AND passed AP Exam

32. Results - ACT Class of 2007 (533 graduates) 452 students took ACT
22.4 average composite score
Class of 2010 (540 graduates)
521 students took ACT
23.7 average composite score

33. Eastern Carver County Schools – District 112
The Journey Continues… Questions… contact us Lynn Scearcy David Brecht
Eastern Carver County Schools – District 112