1. Two Roads Diverged... Jason Ellingson Collins-Maxwell CSD August 7, 2014

2. Purpose Promising practices / philosophies Promising practices / philosophies Celebrate our successes Celebrate our successes Learn from our mistakes Learn from our mistakes Challenge our thinking Challenge our thinking Join in the journey Join in the journey

3. Start With Why We are a district that is relationship-driven. We are a district that is relationship-driven. We know every student – well. We know every student – well. We form strong relationships with colleagues and parents and community. We form strong relationships with colleagues and parents and community. So... If we know better, can we do better? So... If we know better, can we do better? Why = Better system to know the learner, grow the learner Why = Better system to know the learner, grow the learner

4. Starting Out CBE Forum, December 2011 CBE Forum, December 2011 Applied for waiver in spring 2012 Applied for waiver in spring 2012 SIAC meetings SIAC meetings Board meeting Board meeting Application process Application process Legislature approves competency pathways in spring 2012 Legislature approves competency pathways in spring 2012

5. SIAC/Board meetings What we learned: What we learned: Parents LOVED concept – kids engaged, focused on their interests, self-pacing Parents LOVED concept – kids engaged, focused on their interests, self-pacing Parents struggled with process – eligibility, scholarships, transportation, lunch, scheduling Parents struggled with process – eligibility, scholarships, transportation, lunch, scheduling Staff felt the same way – but also had to implement it and explain it Staff felt the same way – but also had to implement it and explain it

6. Structures to Support KASAB for stakeholders (students, staff, admin) KASAB for stakeholders (students, staff, admin) Knowledge Knowledge Attitude Attitude Skills Skills Aspirations Aspirations Behaviors Behaviors Theory of Change/Action Theory of Change/Action Continuously revising Continuously revising

7. Mistakes Thought we were communicating well Thought we were communicating well Thought we were going slow Thought we were going slow Thought we had people convinced Thought we had people convinced Result – STAFF RESISTANCE Result – STAFF RESISTANCE

8. Current Reality / Desired State Took a deep breath in 2012-2013 Took a deep breath in 2012-2013 Look at current instructional strategies Look at current instructional strategies Examines philosophies and practices that helped or hindered learning in our district system Examines philosophies and practices that helped or hindered learning in our district system Answered every question Answered every question Shared there was no ulterior motive Shared there was no ulterior motive Reviewed the DE’s CBE Pathways principles Reviewed the DE’s CBE Pathways principles

9. CBE Pathway Principles Students Advance Upon Proficiency Students Advance Upon Proficiency Competencies Include Explicit, Measurable, and Transferable Learning Objectives that Empower Students Competencies Include Explicit, Measurable, and Transferable Learning Objectives that Empower Students Assessment Is Meaningful and a Positive Learning Experience for Students Assessment Is Meaningful and a Positive Learning Experience for Students Students Receive Rapid, Differentiated Support Based on Their Individual Learning Needs Students Receive Rapid, Differentiated Support Based on Their Individual Learning Needs Learning Outcomes Emphasize Competencies that Include Application and Creation of Knowledge along with Development of Important Skills and Dispositions Learning Outcomes Emphasize Competencies that Include Application and Creation of Knowledge along with Development of Important Skills and Dispositions

10. Professional Development Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW) Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW) Teacher task Teacher task Student work sample Student work sample Instruction Instruction Instructional Changes Instructional Changes Standards-based grading, CGI, and other innovations Standards-based grading, CGI, and other innovations Technology integration - fall 2012 Technology integration - fall 2012 Increased technology at elementary Increased technology at elementary 6-12 1:1 iPad initiative 6-12 1:1 iPad initiative

11. Iowa CBE Collaborative 10 districts to pilot CBE structures and practices 10 districts to pilot CBE structures and practices Working on writing competencies, assessing competencies and changing instructional practices (Curr/Inst/Assess) Working on writing competencies, assessing competencies and changing instructional practices (Curr/Inst/Assess) Participants – 2 nd grade, 3 rd grade, 4 th grade, 6-12 vocal, K-12 TAG, elementary principal, secondary principal, superintendent Participants – 2 nd grade, 3 rd grade, 4 th grade, 6-12 vocal, K-12 TAG, elementary principal, secondary principal, superintendent

12. Currently Making connections to current work Making connections to current work Look at our ten district student learning goals – transform the goals into competencies Look at our ten district student learning goals – transform the goals into competencies Looking at changes in learning facilitation, leadership, and policy/governance Looking at changes in learning facilitation, leadership, and policy/governance Piloted C4K/MTSS last year – seeing connections Piloted C4K/MTSS last year – seeing connections

13. Internal Supports Professional Library Professional Library GoogleSite for information form CBE Collaborative GoogleSite for information form CBE Collaborative Collaborative members sharing new learning with colleagues Collaborative members sharing new learning with colleagues Updates to the SIAC and board Updates to the SIAC and board

14. External Supports Iowa ASCD Iowa ASCD Website of resources Website of resources CBE Conference in 2013, 2014 CBE Conference in 2013, 2014 CompetencyWorks (www.competencyworks.org) CompetencyWorks (www.competencyworks.org)www.competencyworks.org ASCD – Whole Child Initiative ASCD – Whole Child Initiative Iowa Department of Education Iowa Department of Education

15. Books to Read Off the Clock by Bramante and Colby Off the Clock by Bramante and Colby Inevitable by Schwahn and McGarvey Inevitable by Schwahn and McGarvey Delivering on the Promise – by DeLorenzo, et al Delivering on the Promise – by DeLorenzo, et al

16. Next Steps (Inside) Special education Special education How will this work? How will this work? Are there legal implications? Are there legal implications? At-Risk At-Risk Will CBE practices increase engagement? Will CBE practices increase engagement? System System Does this change funding, graduation, eligibility, and scholarships? Does this change funding, graduation, eligibility, and scholarships? Implement the work of the Collaborative Implement the work of the Collaborative

17. Next Steps (Outside) Add information section to district website Add information section to district website Continue discussions at SIAC, open houses and other community meeting Continue discussions at SIAC, open houses and other community meeting Add information to monthly newsletter Add information to monthly newsletter

18. Contact Information Jason Ellingson Jason Ellingson jellingson@collins-maxwell.k12.ia.us jellingson@collins-maxwell.k12.ia.us jellingson@collins-maxwell.k12.ia.us 515-387-1115, ext. 1100 515-387-1115, ext. 1100 @jasonellingson @jasonellingson