Moratorium Sustaining our goals and keeping the momentum moving by re-focusing our work – Strengthening instructional strategies – Focus on individual – Sustaining professional learning

Making Meaning of the Moratorium Legislation – one year pause in assessments related to certification of Learning Results Opportunity to re-balance the system and to focus on all components Major focus must be on instruction, using data to reach personalization for each child

Making Meaning of the Moratorium All school administrative units will report their status on the annual school approval form DOE will follow up with districts who proceed to understand what is happening in the district (compromise to legislation)

What is not included Assessments used to inform instruction Assessments for determining student progress for report card Pre-post testing Assessments that are part of adopted school board policies

Key questions Do the assessments being used at value to instruction? Do they motivate students? Are they seen as valuable by teachers? Are they reasonable in number? What is the impact on learning time?

Moratorium Questions

Breakthrough a sudden, dramatic and important discovery or development…[and/or] a significant … overcoming of a perceived obstacle, allowing the completion of a process.

Richard Elmore introduction: – “My work has led me to an increasing appreciation of the power and resilience of the default culture of public schools – the deeply rooted beliefs, structures, artifacts and symbols of an increasingly dysfunctional and obsolete set of institutions. – Default culture stretches, seemingly to a breaking point (tipping) point, and then snaps back to where it was.

Breakthrough Where to focus our attention – focused, ongoing learning for each and every teacher – Both individually and collectively – People change behavior before they change their beliefs – how to engage teachers and administrators in new practices – Shared vision and ownership are less a precondition for success than they are an outcome.

Breakthrough Learning in context is key Professional learning communities at the school level are crucial in establishing cultures in which teachers learn from one another Professional learning communities must be supported by administrators and district

Breakthrough Districts and states must integrate pressure and support so that everyone engages in capacity building with a focus on results. Capacity building is often neglected. Leadership is the turnkey to system transformation. Means working with a breakthrough focus and doing it through the development of other leaders.

Breakthrough Framework – Figure 6.1 Breakthrough By: Michael Fullan, Peter Hill, Carmel Crevola

Fullan’s work Returning to Maine the week of Sept 11 Report due by November His initial observations: – Significantly over built the LAS – Too much focus on assessment – Precision Instruction has a greater impact on student achievement – Need a greater focus on Literacy and mathematics

Advancing and Sustaining the work Supporting Professional Learning How might DOE help you to build capacity – Professional Teacher Development Centers? Focus on Induction Pedagogy Content – RFP Regional Support – PPD – Statewide Calendar