REPORTS TO THE BOARD

Teaching and Learning Report

To: Michael Green

From: Asha Riley

Date: December 12, 2017

Re: Teaching and Learning

National Science Foundation Grant:

In collaboration with the ESD 112, we are exploring opportunities to increase STEM based learning in our middle and high school classrooms. Recently we opted to be included in a grant request from National Science Foundation. Ultimately, our goal is to describe and develop pathways for rural school districts that are aiming to integrate STEM-based instruction. The project will ensure integration of all the STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and provide career-related opportunities for students in grades PreK-12.  If we are awarded the grant, we would participate in the strategic plan outlined in the attached document.

School Accountability Update Coming Soon:

We have important information coming from OSPI this month regarding the new accountability framework contained in Washington’s ESSA plan.

In mid to late-December, a preliminary data set will be released by OSPI to our school districts. This data set will be aligned to the state’s new accountability framework. There are some major technical changes in the new framework that will significantly increase the number of schools to be identified for supports. Here’s why:

• The new framework reduces the reliance on high-stakes state assessments as a measurement for schools, and now includes student growth, graduation rates, English Learner progress, and school quality indicators: (chronic absenteeism, ninth-grade success rates, and dual credit opportunities.)

• The n-size of 20 will be used and will combine three years of data (previously n-size of 10 was reported annually)

In January, we will have more opportunities to learn how the data was compiled and to review our district’s data. By mid-February, all data will be finalized and schools will be identified for Comprehensive or Targeted Supports. Public release of the data will occur in late February or early March. Newly identified teams will have the opportunity to come to the ESDs in March/April to determine next steps and begin creation of their plans.

6-12 Math Adoption Progress:

Our committee met again on 11/30. The committee meeting notes are attached as well as the reviews for the last three curricula we investigated. At the conclusion of our meeting, I asked each participant to rank the five options. As a result, two choices have risen to the top of the committees list, CPM Education and Open Up (see votes attached).

Our next meeting will take place on December 13th with a presenter from CPM Education via Skype. We will receive the developer’s presentation of their curriculum and then address our list of questions about the resource to the company. At the conclusion of the skype session, we will vet the information they provided to confirm accuracy and determine whether or not to proceed with a pilot of the resource.