The Learning Criteria to Support Rigor, Relevance and Relationships is a tool that helps schools move from talk to walk. Like other useful tools, it cannot sit in the toolbox and perform miracles. The more you use it, the more effective you become in measuring how successful your efforts are in promoting your fundamental beliefs. It will also allow you to pinpoint the areas where your greatest efforts and resources are needed.

Effectively implementing the Learning Criteria to Support Rig...Read more

Perhaps the single greatest indicator contributing to the overall culture of a school or educational organization over the past several years has been that of state test scores. These measurements, which inform us of whether or not we are preparing all students to meet the demands of the world in which they live, are indeed critical to the manner in which school culture is defined. Yet, as many of our staff and senior consultants have traveled across the United States in search of the nationâ...Read more

Folder: Turnaround Strategies

Students who are not reading at grade level by third grade are four times less likely to graduate from high school on time, and disadvantaged students who fall behind by third grade are 13 times less likely to graduate with their peers, according to new research. The author of the study said reading is taught until third grade, at which point students are expected to use reading skills to learn new material, meaning that students who fall behind likely will remain there.

Teachers give short quick assessments and make instructional decisions based on the data. Teachers give a 4-6 question assessment weekly that gauges whether each student is mastering the state standard/indicator or needs to be remediated. Teachers chart student progress and also, students chart their own progress and the next day the teacher provides either enrichment, to those who have met the standard, or remediation for those who have not. This short-cycle assessment tool lets a teacher...Read more

9th period is a required after school remediation for students who are not passing one or more classes at a three week grading period. Locations for 9th period are set up as such: two locations for math, one location for English, one location for science, one location for foreign language, and one location for all other subject areas/computer needs. In each area a certified teacher or teachers is present. Student tutors are also available in math, science, and foreign language. Students a...Read more

9th-10th mixed grade level looping of English classes using a balanced literacy model incorporating readers and writers workshop. All 9th and 10th graders are assigned to this English class, designed to meet the state standards prior to the end of their 10th grade year. Students loop with the same teacher for two years, while teachers utilize a two year English curriculum.

Folder: Adult Education

This study of four national English lan­guage arts college readiness standards sets compares content alignment and level of alignment of the standards statements in three comparison sets to a benchmark set, the American Diploma Project (ADP), and analyzes the cognitive complexity of all four sets. This study is part of SWREL's "Issues and Answers" series. Look for the dramatic differences in the number and types of standards across the 4 compared groups.

Year: 2006

The A. B. Combs Leadership Magnet Elementary School program is grounded in the belief that building cooperative relationships and nurturing responsibility, kindness, and good judgment are the basis for creating a successful community of learners. By developing the whole child — socially, emotionally, academically, and ethically — the program fosters a climate of principle-centered and personal leadership. It is Combs’ culture of continuous improvement and performance excellence, differe...Read more

Year: 2007

The A. B. Combs Leadership Magnet Elementary School program is grounded in the belief that building cooperative relationships and nurturing responsibility, kindness, and good judgment are the basis for creating a successful community of learners. By developing the whole child—socially, emotionally, academically, and ethically—the program fosters a climate of principle-centered and personal leadership. It is Combs’ culture of continuous improvement and performance excellence, differenti...Read more

Year: 2010

The A. B. Combs Leadership Magnet Elementary School (Combs) program is grounded in the belief that building cooperative relationships and nurturing responsibility, kindness, and good judgment are the basis for creating a successful community of learners. By developing the whole child—socially, emotionally, academically, and ethically—the program fosters a climate of principle-centered personal leadership. It is Combs’ culture of continuous improvement and performance excellence, differe...Read more