In the previous blog, we noted that the Southwestern Union Conference K-12 Educational System is beginning the process of transitioning to standards-based practices. This transition will be phased in over the next four years, beginning in the 2020-2021 school year.
Standards-based refers to integrated systems of instruction, assessment, grading, and reporting that are based on students demonstrating understanding or proficiency of the knowledge and skills they are expected to learn as they progress through their education. This concept aligns with the EDUCATION by Design Framework that emphasizes coherence among the key components of teaching and learning, leading to a shared vision.
Standards-based practices will provide a set of outcomes/metrics that will enable the measurement of the vision components of the EDUCATION by Design Framework. These outcomes include the areas of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and learning environment.
As with mission, the system’s core values and beliefs inform the desired or intended future state of an organization or enterprise in terms of its fundamental objectives relative to key, core areas—curriculum, instruction, assessment, environment. Vision is putting action to values and beliefs. In addition, the vision is grounded in research on best practices that show staff how they might get different results with different processes.
Furthermore, an organization must be intentional about articulating a truly shared vision that serves as a vehicle for linking faith identity and student achievement. School staff create a vision that leads to commitment to what they teach (curriculum), how they teach (instruction), how they assess (assessment), and how each person treats every other person (learning environment).
The Southwestern Union Office of Education is in the process of creating a shared vision that aligns the areas of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and the learning environment through the lens of standards-based practices.
