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Standards-Based Reporting in Lawrence Public Schools
The Lawrence Public Schools' standards-based reporting of student achievement is a result of collaborative efforts with teachers and administrators. Teachers representing elementary and middle school education, special education, art, music and physical education worked in partnership with district curriculum, instruction and assessment staff to update district progress report indicators. This standards-based reporting system has been in place, kindergarten through grade 6, since 2003, and reflects current learning goals (also called standards) for the district and the state of Kansas. Learning is the message the district wishes to communicate to parents and students.
Each state defines yearly standards of learning or specific goals for students to reach at each grade level, kindergarten through grade 12. The report provides a “snap-shot" of student learning at a specific point in time. It reflects grade-level expectations, student achievement and individual progress toward the identified standards. The report also indicates where additional enrichment or supports are needed.
Goals of a Standards-Based Reporting System:
- Clearly identify expected learning outcomes for each content and grade level
- Provide more detailed feedback about student learning for students and families
- Report strengths, challenges and next steps in a student’s learning
- Clearly identify student behaviors and report the impact of students' behavior on their learning
When using this standards-based progress report, it’s important to note:
- On a standards-based report, a mark of “S” is the expected goal for students, which indicates that the student is meeting requirements of the academic standards for his/her grade level.
- A mark of “M” is making progress in working within the expectation of his/her grade level.
- A mark of "E" or “T” indicates that student performance is VERY high above or far below grade-level expectations.
On the Marking Legend, the letters are not as significant as the descriptor that coincides with each letter and explains both the progress toward meeting grade-level (or course) standards and the degree to which the student is performing.
Successful Learner Behaviors are student behaviors that impact learning and success beyond the school years. These are highlighted and reported separate from academic learning and achievement. Employers report that new entrants to the workforce need not only the basic skills - reading, writing and math - but that in the 21st century business world, possessing a range of applied skills directly related to the workplace is critical to success. When asked to rank skills in terms of their importance in the workplace, employers put professionalism, teamwork and oral communication at the top of the list.
Source: Are They Really Ready to Work?: Employers' Perspectives on the Basic Knowledge and Applied Skills of New Entrants to the 21st Century U.S. Workforce. 2006 b y The Conference Board, Inc., the Partnership for21st Century Skills, Corporate Voices for Working Families, and the Society for Human Resource Management.
If you have questions about understanding the Lawrence Public Schools' elementary or sixth-grade progress report, please contact Angelique Kobler, (785) 330-2440.
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