21 st Century Innovation Team: Wallingford’s Plan of Action WPS 21st Century Innovation Project 2013

WPS 21st Century Innovation Project 2013

21st Century Innovation Team:Wallingford’s Plan of Action


The 21st Century Innovation Team

• Think Tank • Sabbatical • Review Board • Application process

Origin

• Build capacity for research• Sustain innovative ideas• Support strategic plan• Develop leadership capacity

Goals

• Implement strategic plan• Improve student learning• Sustain cutting edge research projects

Objectives


Sponsorship for the 21st Century Innovation Project

Business and Community Support


The Process

Data collection

Interviews, surveys,

observations

Research, visits,

conferencesDesign a Plan Next Steps

Data Collection: Initial Findings

77%



82.4%



WallingfordGap is comparable to

Connecticut, but growing yearly

ConnecticutGap is greater than national

averages

NationSignificant achievement gaps



The Process

Data collection


observations

Research, visits,

conferences

Design a Plan Next Steps


Interviews, Surveys, and Observations


Interviews, Surveys, and Observations

Metacognitive Skills

Real Life

Learning

Technology

Explore

Careers

Personalized Learning

More Rigor


The Process

Data collection


observations

Research, visits,

conferences



Research, Visits, and Conferences

MULTIPLE INNOVATIVE PATHWAYS FOR LEARNING

CapstoneProjects

Internships

Independent Learning Time

Blended Learning, Bring Your Own Device

Project-based Learning

Personalized Learning

Grade Level Themes

Academies

Innovative Practices


AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO LEARNING THAT IS SYSTEMIC AND

SUSTAINABLE

Establish core values and beliefs

Shared ownership of student learning

High expectations for all

Rubrics for assessing soft skills

Student and teacher empowerment

Mastery-based grading, reporting and graduation

Research, Visits, and Conferences


The Process

Data collection


observations

Research, visits,

conferences


Teacher and Administrator

Evaluation

District Performance

Index

SRBI, Scientifically

Research-Based

Interventions

NEASC New England

Association of Schools and

Colleges

Common Core State Standards

StudentSuccess

Plans

Data Collection: Further Findings

External Influences


Dropouts aremore likely….

Dropouts areless likely….

Smoke

Become unemployed

Receive public assistance

Commit crimes

Become incarcerated

Vote

Stay healthy

Receive job-based health insurance and pension plans

Make civic contributions

Raising graduation rates would save taxpayers money, greatly expand tax revenues, boost employment, reduce crime, and

improve civic involvement.



Grade 4• Poor Attendance• Low grades

Grade 6

• Attendance- 80% or lower• F in English or Math• Failing classroom behavior• Declining grades from fifth to sixth

grade

Grade 8

• Attendance- 80% or lower• F in English or Math• Significant drop in attendance starting

in grade 6

Grade 9• Attendance- 80% or lower• Failing a core subject• Falling behind on credits/ not being promoted• Declining GPA from eighth to ninth grade

Data Collection: Further Findings: Research-based Predictors for Dropping Out


• Did not like school• Did not feel like they belonged• Could not get along with teachers or students• Not motivated to work hard• Poor grades, could not keep up


Lack of Student

Engagement



Remediation Courses Taken at State CollegesState- 71%Lyman Hall- 75%Sheehan- 66%

State College Completion in 6 YearsState- 41%Lyman Hall- 41%Sheehan- 49%

% of Students Taking AP ExamsState- 27%Lyman Hall- 17%Sheehan- 15%

*Does not include E.C.E. program students

Opportunities for

Improvement



The Process

Data collection


observations

Research, visits,

conferences


• Growth mindset for changing school culture

• District wide behavior management system characterized by formative discipline strategies

• Shared ownership of student learning• Parents and businesses as learning

partners• Standards-based grading, reporting,

and graduation

100% Graduation• Internships, apprenticeships-

independent learning project• Career and college prep- AP boot

camp, credit recovery• Grade 9- learning plans, exploratory

courses, soft skills• Schools within schools based on

careers- grade level themes• Development of an interest-based

personal learning network

High school

• Themed projects (PBL model)- including engineering

• Service learning projects by team• Team teaching- mixed groups• Personalized instruction• Flexible pathways to learning• Create an online identity- digital

citizenship

Middle school• Interdisciplinary project-based learning

(Renzulli enrichment clusters)• Student leadership opportunities• Student learning plans with goals (to

prepare for SSP)• Intensive intervention strategies

(advisory, Check and Connect)• Student authoring of blogs, wikis, and

podcasts

3-5 Elementary school

• Experiential learning through projects• Dual language immersion program• Teams with extended looping• Catch program to identify and track at-

risk students• Use technology to flatten the

classroom

K-2 Elementary school

• Align pre-school programs that follow WPS guidelines

• Birth to 5 outreach program and alignment

• Structured play in Pre-K and K

Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten

Design a Plan


Personalized learning is…

“Paced to learning needs, tailored to learning preferences, and tailored to the specific interests of different learners…. (it) encompasses differentiation and individualization.” (Rethinking Learning, Barbara Bray, Creative Learning Strategist)


“Empowering students to pursue their (individual interests and) passions while encouraging them to take more responsibility for their education.” (Leadership in Action – New England Secondary School Consortium 2012)


Empowering students to pull learning in rather than educators pushing it in (Don Cornwall, 21st Century Innovation Project Review Board member)


Student-centered learning bases the foundation of the educational program on the interests of the child, the needs of the learner and an understanding of how children learn. (NextEd Report from Connecticut Association for Public School Superintendents)

Personalized Learning in the Wallingford 100 Plan


Personalized Learning in the Wallingford 100 Plan

21st Century

Innovation Project

Curriculum

Technology

Community Connections

Structure

• Extended learning opportunities• Standards-based assessment • Authentic, performance-based

learning• Learning plans with personal goals• Exploratory courses• Experiential learning through

projects

• Personal learning network• Student digital identity

development• Student authoring online

• Flexible pathways to learning• Academies or schools within

schools• Structures and endorsements

for career pathways

• Student leadership• Service learning• Connect with the community

through mentors• Development of core value

rubrics and assessments of competency skills WPS 21st Century Innovation Project 2013

Design a Plan: High School First

High School

Traditional structure remains

unchanged

NEASC, Common core,

SRBI

DPI data- graduation

and subgroups

Research about

dropouts

AP and Remediation

data

Interviews, surveys, and observations


Wallingford 100 Plan for Career and College Readiness

Academic Levels of Re-invention

Social Emotional

Federal and State Initiatives

Personalized

Learning Proposals

Social Emotional Proposals

Federal and State Initiatives

Smarter Balanced

Assessments

Teacher and Administrator

Evaluation

Standards-based: Grades

Report cardsDiploma

Core Value Rubrics

Competencies

School climate

Bullying

Common Core State Standards

Authentic, Performance

-based Learning

Advisory Scientific Research-Based

Interventions

Capstone Projects

Student Success Plans

InternshipsAcademies

Credit Recovery

PartnershipsFlexible Levels

Catch

Check and Connect

Instructional Strategies-

Mindset

Community Core Values

OutcomeMeasures

Pedagogy

Structures

Core Values



The Process

Data collection


observations

Research, visits,

conferences


Theory of Action for Implementation

Success

Factors

Leverage Points

Design Features Implementati

on Contingencie

s

• Research-based policies and practices

State legislation Board of Education

policies• Systemic and sustainable

innovation embedded in District Strategic Plan

• Standards-based assessment• Structures and Endorsements for Career Pathways

• Teacher and Administrator evaluation

• Common Core State Standards• Capstone projects• Extended learning opportunities

• Student Success Plans

• Capacity building structures

• Communication with parents and the community

• Community support to build local will

• District and administrator leadership


Community Core Values


Develop 2013-2014

Improve/ Pilot2014-2015

Implement 2015-2016

Assess and Revise 2016-2017

Community Core Values and Wallingford 100 Proposals Aligned with District Strategic Plan

Unified Reporting System Using Mastery Standards

Grading, Interim Reports, Report Cards, Graduation Transcripts

District Standards and AccountabilityFocus on Graduation Standards (Content Area and Cross-Curricular)Recommended Process Devised by New England Secondary School ConsortiumAlign standards with Common Core, Performance Task and Student Learning Outcomes/ Learning TargetsBalanced score card for schools and district

Systemic Social and Emotional ProcessPositive Behavioral Interventions and SupportsCheck and Connect

Build Local Will Utilize existing Parent Teacher Advisory Councils and Student Advisory Groups to communicate and

educate the community Develop Structures and Endorsements for Career Pathways Focus on articulation agreements with local colleges, universities, and local businesses

Build Capacity StructuresEmbedded Professional DevelopmentIndividual Learning Plans (Student Success Plans)

2 New Innovation Teams High School Team 3-5 Team

High School Team K-2 Team

High School Team Middle School Team

High School Team Middle School Team

Next Steps:Wallingford 100 Plan for Career and College Readiness


Wallingford Public Schools,

with families and community,

will distinguish itself with innovativeteaching and learning experiences

in a safe and supportiveenvironment.

Our goal is to ignite learningand excellence in every child so that each

becomes a life-long contributor tothe local and global communities.

• 21st Century Innovation Team• Aquaculture Programming• International Business – E Commerce• Contemporary Global Issues• WPS Cookie Project• University Collaborative with UNH and QU

• PTAC, PTO, Family Education Nights• High School Transition Fair• Parent SEE Leadership Training• Adult Education ELL Family Literacy• Collaboration with SCOW• Business Think Tank• March Madness for Mindset

• School Climate Teams and Surveys• District Climate Steering Committee• Security Upgrades• Responsive Classroom • Positive Behavior Supports• Coordinated Health and Wellness Team

• Wallingford 100• League of Innovative Schools• Pathways to Prosperity• Student Success Plans• 2 Credit Algebra• High School Intervention• Contemporary Global Issues course unleveled

• Junior Achievement China Initiative• World Language Expansion• Community Partnerships• Senior Prom at the Senior Center• Community Art Space

WHAT WAS ONCE A VISION . . . IS BECOMING A REALITY . . .


Changing Mindset with 100% Community Support for 100% Engaged Students and 100% Graduation


Documents

21 st Century Innovation Team: Wallingford’s Plan of Action WPS 21st Century Innovation Project 2013