As we continue our journey that began with the Common Core of Learning 2 decades ago 97 Maine Learning Results Revised Standards in 2007
Learned from educators who have worked diligently on behalf of young people they support on a daily basis Educators are virtually unanimous in concluding that there is more emphasis on student achievement, more attention to data, more professional collaboration, and greater coherence and consistency across the State. Standards based reform has been beneficial to both educators and student.
In 2006 when we engaged every school district in a conversation in preparation for Michael Fullan’s visit the data confirmed that while educators supported standards based reform, they were dissatisfied with some aspects of the implementation. Dr. Fullan recommended that the Department set priorities, develop frameworks to ensure that educators develop skills and knowledge they need and foster lateral capacity building across schools and SAUs that will insure a system that continues to improve year to year Dr. Fullan noted in his 2006 report that a shift to a standards-based system would enable Maine students to have equitable opportunities to achieve high levels regardless of where they lived We remain deeply committed to this underlying principle of ensuring opportunity to learn for all learners and has articulated this vision for education in Maine
Dr. Fullan’s work defined for us the elements that are essential core elements to reaching systems of expert data-driven instruction that results in daily continuous improvement for all students in all classrooms. Personalization- putting each individual learner at the center of learning Precision – Instruction that is precise to the needs of each learner Professional Learning – understanding that professional learning “in context” is the only learning that changes classroom instruction How can we meet the promise? We need to take charge at the classroom level, empower students It isn’t standards alone – we’ve learned that from experience We need to unpack the system, and recognize the process can’t move forward unless we recognize what fundamental skills and knowledge are needed
Learning from our past the Department intends to build upon its collaboration with SAU’s and truly meet the promise as it was envisioned when the Task Force for Maine Learning Results Graduation Stakeholder discussions/ Shannon Welsh leadership Recommended a goal of achieving a standards-based system Develop a framework Define rubrics/ Curriculum Coordinators were meeting with Bob Marzano
Suggested to us that RISC had truly implemented
Instruction that is precise Directly tied to where the students is on the continuum of learning Conley’s work
