Nevada Plan to Ensure Equitable Access to Excellent Educators A Systemic Approach to Educator Equity: Carson City School District’s Aligned “Learner-Centered” System Leslie James, Nevada Department of Education Dr. Steven Pradere, Carson City School District Nevada Department of Education 1

Outcome of this presentation on a “learner-centered” system You ask & reflect on this question: Are our structures aligned districtwide - and does the district support the principal to implement a learner-centered system that supports each student to have equitable access to an effective teacher? 2

How do we ensure equitable access to effective educators? Through a systemic district-wide iterative learning process Data: We need to track the effectiveness of each educator & look at equity gaps at the student level in real time (hold the phone!) to effect adult and student learning 3

An aligned district-wide learner-centered system effects educator & student behavior In a “learner-centered” system the focus is on knowing “Is each student’s learning on target?” All structures are aligned to: track individual student progress in real time toward mastery of quarterly curriculum unit learning targets – & provide formative individualized educator learning support & student interventions 4

5 District Highlights: Race to the Top District Recipient: Nation’s Top Application Nevada’s first district to implement a 1:1 Lap Top Program (Grades 3-12) District Highlights: Race to the Top District Recipient: Nation’s Top Application Nevada’s first district to implement a 1:1 Lap Top Program (Grades 3-12) District Make-up 10 Schools 6 Elementary, 2 Middle Schools, 2 High Schools 7,500 Students 55% FRL 18% ELL 12% IEP 2% Native American, 2% Asian, 42% Hispanic,.5% black, 49% White,.2% Pacific Islander District Make-up 10 Schools 6 Elementary, 2 Middle Schools, 2 High Schools 7,500 Students 55% FRL 18% ELL 12% IEP 2% Native American, 2% Asian, 42% Hispanic,.5% black, 49% White,.2% Pacific Islander

6 Specific – Well Defined Learning Expectations Student Teacher Administrator

7 Specific – Well Defined Learning Expectations Common Course Learning Targets (Unit) (Curriculum) Common Course Assessments (Unit/Semester) (Assessment) Track Mastery by Learning Targets (Data System by LT) Aligning Learning / Performance Expectations Teacher Student Administrator

8 Teacher Student Course Summary Document 1.Unit 1 2.Unit 2 3.Unit 3 4._______ 5._______ 6._______ Unit Learning Guide Define student mastery for the unit 1.Learning Target 1 2._______ 3._______ 4._______ Common Unit Assessment Common Semester Assessments Student Mastery Data System Specific – Well Defined Learning Expectations Defining Learning / Performance Expectations

9 Teacher System of Aligned Classrooms Aligned Learning / Performance Expectations Course Summary Document 1.Unit 1 2.Unit 2 3.Unit 3 4._______ 5._______ 6._______ Unit Learning Guide Define student mastery for the unit 1.Learning Target 1 2._______ 3._______ 4._______ Common Unit Assessment Common Semester Assessments Student Mastery Data System

10 System of Aligned Classrooms – Across Schools Aligned Learning / Performance Expectations Course Summary Document 1.Unit 1 2.Unit 2 3.Unit 3 4._______ 5._______ 6._______ Unit Learning Guide Define student mastery for the unit 1.Learning Target 1 2._______ 3._________ ___ Common Unit Assessment Common Semester Assessments Student Mastery Data System School 1 School 2 School 4 School 5 School 3 School 6 Common Courses

What structures are aligned? Student academic standards Curriculum (Units) – Assessments (Unit/Semester) – Data System based on Learning Target (Unit)- Mastery Connect – student progress by LT in real time Pedagogy – Instruction clear focus on learning (Unit) – (Student + Teacher) formative assessment Professional Learning Communities (Unit Data) A classroom observation tool tied to the Nevada Educator Performance Framework (Unit) Classroom Observations – focused on unit learning 11

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Grade Total Pass All Fail 1 More % Pass All % fail one or more Total Pass All Fail 1 More % Pass All % fail one or more Total Pass All Fail 1 More % Pass All % fail one or more %24% %11% %8% %28% %20% %14% %23% %23% %13% Grade Total Pass All Fail 1 More % Pass All % fail one or more Total Pass All Fail 1 More % Pass All % fail one or more 9th grade %73% %81% 10th grade %77% %82% 11th grade %76% %83% 12th grade %89% %91%

Nevada Equity Plan Key Strategy Systemic “Learner-Centered” Infrastructure to Support Educators to be Effective Provide opportunities for NDE, superintendents, site-based administrators, teachers and other interested personnel to increase knowledge of why common curricular learning targets are important & how to create and implement a technology-enabled system to monitor and measure student progress on learning targets districtwide 14

Game changer – capacity to move whole schools staffs to effectiveness which also improves outcomes on many other district and school initiatives Ensure each student is on target – through formative data and educator learning Everyone knows what to do – district administrators, site-based administrators, teachers, students Students are taking more initiative for their learning – only the learner can learn (NEPF based on cognitive science) Replicable system – Other districts can adopt, and improve upon, this system relatively quickly Game Changer Benefits of a “Learner-Centered” system 15

16 Teacher Student Course Summary Document 1.Unit 1 2.Unit 2 3.Unit 3 4._______ 5._______ 6._______ Unit Learning Guide Define student mastery for the unit 1.Learning Target 1 2._______ 3._______ 4._______ Common Unit Assessment Common Semester Assessments Student Mastery Data System Specific – Well Defined Learning Expectations Teacher Equity: Aligning most effective teachers with neediest students

Are students on target to… Are students on target to… Graduate college and career ready? Complete courses? Meet quarterly curriculum learning targets? Graduate college and career ready? Complete courses? Meet quarterly curriculum learning targets? 17

We are all in it together… for student learning that leads to college and career readiness Schools support students Districts support schools State supports districts 18

Contact Information Nevada Department of Education Office of Educator Development & Support – Leslie James – Education Programs Professional Carson City School District – Steven Pradere PhD – Transformation Office Director