FHS Community Meeting 2

  • The second community meeting in the multi-step process to evaluate the FHS Innovation Plan and determine the future of the education system for Falcon Nation was held on March 5. Like the first meeting, the community gathered around a meal before diving in to the work. This time, a wonderful hand-prepared suite of soups was dished up by Principal DeGeorge. At 6:30pm, the work of the evening began. Mrs. DeGeorge and Mr. Hilts, chief education officer, provided a brief introduction that included the presentation of materials summarizing the first community meeting and supplemental materials that four small groups would use during the work of the night.
     

Small Group Topics & Instructions

  • Mrs. DeGeorge and Mr. Hilts presented four different aspects of the education system at Falcon High School for the evening's work:
    1. Expectations & Accountability
    2. Assessment & Feedback
    3. Documentation & Reporting
    4. Communication 
     
    The four small groups were asked to center their work for the evening on what should be kept in the preliminary plan design (developed directly from the work of the first meeting), and what, if anything, needed to be removed. The groups were also asked if there was anything that should be added to the preliminary plan design.

Group 1: Expectations & Accountability

  • The group focusing on expectations and accountability discussed what expectations should be of students and teachers in the education system at Falcon High School. They also shared ideas about how the expectations should be upheld when a new system is implemented. Here is a sampling of that small group work.
     
     
    During the 90 minute small group work time, each group, led by a parent facilitator, captured their likes and dislikes of the preliminary plan design and what should be removed or added. Watch the summary report from group 1:
     
     
If you are having trouble viewing the document, you may download the document.

Group 1: Expectations & Accountability Discussion

  • Group 1: Expectations & Accountability Discussion

    Posted by:

    Please review the videos from the expectations and accountability small group above. To help school leaders in constructing the educational system at Falcon High School, please respond to the following questions:Discussion Area

    1) Do you have questions about what the expectations and accountability group presented in their summary report?

    2) What would you like to take away from the preliminary plan design in terms of expectations and accountability?

    3) What would you like to add to the preliminary plan design in terms of expectations and accountability?

     
    Comments (0)

Group 2: Assessment & Feedback

  • The assessment and feedback group had the largest number of participants during the second meeting. This group was comprised of parents and teachers.
     
    In regards to homework, the group became animated at times. In particular, the primary point of disagreement centered around whether or not homework should be graded. Several participants shared their viewpoints about the merits of each option.
     
    It is important to note that the intensity of the discussion results from the passion that all of us feel about our children and students, but was never disrespectful. It is very apparent that we have a caring community of parents, teachers and administrators. Each of us want the best for every student at Falcon High School. 
     
     
    During the 90 minute small group work time, each group, led by a parent facilitator, captured their likes and dislikes of the preliminary plan design and what should be removed or added. Watch the summary report from group 2: 
     
If you are having trouble viewing the document, you may download the document.

Group 2: Assessment & Feedback Discussion

  • Group 2: Assessment and Feedback Discussion

    Posted by:

    Please review the videos from the assessment and feedback small group. To help school leaders in constructing the educational system at Falcon High School, please respond to the following questions:Discussion Area

    1) Do you have questions about what the assessment and feedback group presented in their summary report?

    2) What would you like to remove from the preliminary plan design in terms of assessment and feedback?

    3) What would you like to add to the preliminary plan design in terms of assessment and feedback?
    Comments (1)

Group 3: Documentation & Reporting

  • The documentation and reporting small group picks up right where group 2 ends. Once an assessment is given to a student and the student gets feedback on that assessment, how do we document that feedback? How is it reported to parents or to colleges? Here's the group's summary:
     
     
If you are having trouble viewing the document, you may download the document.

Group 3: Documentation & Reporting Discussion

  • Group 3: Documentation & Reporting Discussion

    Posted by:

    Please review the videos from the documentation and reporting small group. To help school leaders in constructing the educational system at Falcon High School, please respond to the following questions:
    Discussion Area
    1) Do you have questions about what the documentation and reporting group presented in their summary report?

    2) What would you like to remove from the preliminary plan design in terms of documentation and reporting?

    3) What would you like to add to the preliminary plan design in terms of documentation and reporting?
    Comments (1)

Group 4: Communication

  • The communication small group was provided with all of the communication regarding standards-based grading and the FHS Innovation Plan in a large binder. The group was also provided with grading system communications materials from several other school districts across the country.
     
     

Group 4: Communication Discussion

  • Group 4: Communications Discussion

    Posted by:

    Please review the videos from the communication small group. To help school leaders in constructing the educational system at Falcon High School, please respond to the following questions:Discussion Area

    1) Do you have questions about what the communication group presented in their summary report?

    2) What would you like to remove from the preliminary plan design in terms of communication?

    3) What would you like to add to the preliminary plan design in terms of communication?
    Comments (0)

Meeting 2 Final Thoughts

  • Based on the work of the first meeting, a preliminary design for the educational program at Falcon High School, beginning in fall 2015 was presented. The second meeting focused on this plan and what needs to be changed, added or removed. Small groups focused on the plan with respect to three areas:

    1. Expectations & Accountability
    2. Assessment & Feedback
    3. Documentation & Reporting 

    Preliminary Plan Design 

     

    Priority Purposes

    Priority Characteristics to Preserve or Establish

    Priority Characteristics to Eliminate or Prevent

    PREPARATION

    ·      Students are prepared for life after high school, whether academic study, vocational learning, business, service, or leadership.

    ·      Students are prepared with personal character traits like critical thinking and problem solving that will help them contribute successfully to society.

    ·      Students are prepared with practical life skills for communications, finances, productivity, and organization.

    ·      Students are prepared to succeed on individual pathways determined by their strengths and preferences.

     

    INDIVIDUALIZED

    ·      Multiple forms of assessments give opportunities for different kinds of learners to demonstrate their mastery.

    ·      Teachers use formative assessments to reveal the status of current learning and identify needs for further learning.

    ·      Assessments and feedback are consistent across teachers through the use of common rubrics and explicit learning goals for comprehension and performance.

    ·      Feedback is timely and targeted to give students direction about what they need to improve.

    UNGRADED HOMEWORK

    ·      Feedback on homework should include guidance as well as recorded scores that impact each student’s overall grade.

    EASY OR FREQUENT RETAKES

    ·      Retest or retake opportunities must not motivate low effort on the first attempt.

    INCONSISTENCY

    ·      Teachers should apply the same academic and work quality standards to the same kinds of assignments and assessments.

    GRADE DEFLATION

    ·      Grades should reflect increased rigor and improved performance, not confusion or novel reporting systems.

    COMMUNICATION

    ·      Assessment grades and feedback tell parents and students how the student is progressing toward mastery of content and skills.

    ·      Transcripts and profiles communicate to colleges in language that is clear, familiar, and comparable to other schools.

    ·      Grades and feedback inform students about their strengths and weaknesses.

    ·      Assessments measure and report performance quality defined by a rubric or detailed syllabus.

    CLEAR ACCOUNTABILITY

    ·      Accountability expectations are clearly defined for students, parents, and teachers.

     

    SOFT ACCOUNTABILITY

    ·      Expectations for student completion or performance are unclear or inconsistent.

    ·      Expectations for teacher feedback and reporting are unknown or unenforced.

     

    FAMILIARITY

    ·     Report cards use familiar grading language and reflect effort as well as comprehension and skill.

    ·     Transcripts use language and formatting that matches what college admissions and scholarship committees expect.

    OBSCURE LANGUAGE OR PROTOCOLS

    ·     Phrases like “modified majority” or “mode minus one” create confusion and require frequent redefinition.

    One small group at the second meeting worked on how a new education system should be communicated to the different audiences of the FHS community.

    Principal DeGeorge and her team are crafting a formal plan proposal to be presented at the March 25 Board of Education work session.

     
    If you missed either of the community meetings, please take the opportunity to have your voice heard by participating in the discussions above or on the first meeting pages. Any comments will be included with work that continues by several of the small groups from the second meeting to build a new education system for Falcon Nation.