1 Committee On Public Secondary Schools Standards for Accreditation Effective 2011 New England Association of Schools & Colleges 3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100 Burlington, MA Tel Fax
2 Committee On Public Secondary Schools TEACHING AND LEARNING STANDARDS CORE VALUES, BELIEFS, AND LEARNING EXPECTATIONS CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION ASSESSMENT OF AND FOR STUDENT LEARNING
3 Teaching and Learning Standard 1 Core Values, Beliefs, and Learning Expectations Effective schools identify core values and beliefs about learning that function as explicit foundational commitments to students and the community. Decision-making remains focused on and aligned with these critical commitments. Core values and beliefs manifest themselves in research-based, school-wide 21 st century learning expectations. Every component of the school is driven by the core values and beliefs and supports all students achievement of the school s learning expectations. 1. The school community engages in a dynamic, collaborative, and inclusive process informed by current research-based best practices to identify and commit to its core values and beliefs about learning. 2. The school has challenging and measurable 21 st century learning expectations for all students which address academic, social, and civic competencies, and are defined by school-wide analytic rubrics that identify targeted high levels of achievement. 3. The school s core values, beliefs, and 21 st century learning expectations are actively reflected in the culture of the school, drive curriculum, instruction, and assessment in every classroom, and guide the school s policies, procedures, decisions, and resource allocations. 4. The school regularly reviews and revises its core values, beliefs, and 21 st century learning expectations based on research, multiple data sources, as well as district and school community priorities.
4 Teaching and Learning Standard 2 Curriculum The written and taught curriculum is designed to result in all students achieving the school's 21 st century expectations for student learning. The written curriculum is the framework within which a school aligns and personalizes the school's 21 st century learning expectations. The curriculum includes a purposefully designed set of course offerings, co-curricular programs, and other learning opportunities. The curriculum reflects the school s core values, beliefs, and learning expectations. The curriculum is collaboratively developed, implemented, reviewed, and revised based on analysis of student performance and current research. 1. The curriculum is purposefully designed to ensure that all students practice and achieve each of the school's 21 st century learning expectations. 2. The curriculum is written in a common format that includes: units of study with essential questions, concepts, content, and skills the school s 21 st century learning expectations instructional strategies assessment practices that include the use of school-wide analytic and course-specific rubrics. 3. The curriculum emphasizes depth of understanding and application of knowledge through: inquiry and problem-solving higher order thinking cross-disciplinary learning authentic learning opportunities both in and out of school informed and ethical use of technology. 4. There is clear alignment between the written and taught curriculum. 5. Effective curricular coordination and vertical articulation exist between and among all academic areas within the school as well as with sending schools in the district. 6. Staffing levels, instructional materials, technology, equipment, supplies, facilities, and the resources of the library/media center are sufficient to fully implement the curriculum, including the co-curricular programs and other learning opportunities. 7. The district provides the school s professional staff with sufficient personnel, time, and financial resources for ongoing and collaborative development, evaluation, and revision of the curriculum using assessment results and current research.
5 Teaching and Learning Standard 3 Instruction The quality of