Focus on High-Quality Academics
Define the instructional changes needed for the new school year and cultivate a thriving data culture to ensure every student has access to the instructional strategies, resources and supports necessary to successfully engage with and master grade-level content.
High-Quality Academics Series Instruction Companion
Academics: Overview of Comprehensive Academic Processes for Assessment and Data Utilization
As we plan for the 2021- 2022 school year, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), PA Intermediate Units (IUs) and Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) provides this series for school leaders with the goal of helping teachers, support staff, families, and students emerge from these unprecedented times and start a new school year stronger than ever. The Focus on High-Quality Academics defines the assessment and instructional changes needed for the new school year. The series will address how to create and cultivate a thriving data culture which ensures every student has access to the instructional strategies, resources, and supports necessary to successfully engage with and master grade-level content.
Academics: Analyze and Interpret
The purpose of this session is to engage educators in a discussion related to analyzing and interpreting data, implementing data analysis protocols to inform instruction, and ensuring collaboration among educators to make data-informed curricular decisions.
Academics: Instruction
The purpose of this session is to engage educators in a discussion related to their future curriculum and instructional changes, and to provide resources to support their professional development needs. Focusing on a highly developed assessment system that includes a balanced approach to using formal and informal assessments, classroom-based evidence showing growth over time, and involving students in the evaluation of their own work.
Academics: Reflect, Monitor and Share
The purpose of this session is to engage educators in a discussion related to the importance of student data and the necessity for teacher reflection, monitoring of student progress, and sharing with parents and caregivers. Focusing on data as the focal point for improving educational practice and engaging parents in the learning.
Accelerated Learning – Assessment Series
Assessment Literacy and Designing Local Assessments
Formatives, Diagnostics, Summatives and Benchmarks – OH MY! All assessments have a purpose; giving the educator a glimpse into the mind of their participant and making decisions with the information. Join staff from IU5 and IU22 to dissect the science behind creating an assessment that is valid and reliable via proper alignment to standards, free of bias and fair, proper depth of knowledge, and developmentally appropriate.
Creating a Local Assessment Plan
An assessment plan is a document that outlines the student learning goals to be assessed during a specific period of time. A complete plan provides brief descriptions of assessment methods, the data the assessments will provide and how those data will be used to improve teaching and learning. This session will provide participants with a background on the development of local assessment plans followed by a review of practical examples.
Data Analysis Protocols and Communicating Student Progress
Data are everywhere and to make the best use of these data schools need to decide what data to look at and the need to adopt agreed upon system of how to look at these data. Data protocols provide systematic approaches that school can follow to explore data in a consistent and deliberate manner. They offer structure to data conversations, provide for an efficient use of time, and ensure that all voices are heard. This session will provide participants with a background in data protocols and their practical application in understanding and communicating school data.