Education Now 2.0 - Part II "A Work in Progress"

After 100+ years the public school system has now come to a point in time when the following characteristics are becoming a reality in practice.

Learning for ALL

J or Nike Curve (Continuous student achievement growth

Focus on Results (Customization for Individual Learners)

Equity and Quality (System able to overcome social challenges)

Data Driven

Research Based

Continuous System Renewal

Learner-Centered

Principle-Centered

Instructional Alignment to National Common Core "Anchor" Standards

Assessment for Learning (grading to enhance learning)

Move on When Ready” (seat time no longer entrenched)

The Fountain Hills Unified School District has mirrored some of these needed changes with the following initiatives and implementations:

FHUSD Building Effective School Plans reflect Common Core Standards (CCS) Initiative

New mathematics curriculum for 2011-12 CCS aligned

ATI Galileo Benchmarks three times annually

Building Data Walls in place

Principals reporting quarterly to School Board on "leading indicator" student achievement data

All campuses wireless allowing for mobile devices and personal technology access

Software support in place and practice grades K-8

Redesigned building specific walkthrough templates developed

Building level teams and administrators receiving PD360 training with access to CCS module

Marketing now available for print, for social network, for website and new mobile website

Flexible technology devices becoming more available in addition to "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD)

Online course development for regular credit as well as credit retrieval in-house and with outside vendor

Despite these evolving changes "the work" continues as 2.0 will not meet the needs of a changing educational, worldwide culture of competition. Foundationally, our classroom teachers must continue to focus on effective classroom lessons anchored by authentic college prep/career ready reading and writing. Non-fiction text must dramatically increase both in quality, quantity and complexity. "Checks for understanding" must increase in regularity and for all students. Finally, our curriculum in the classroom, must truly represent the Common Core stressing the standards "anchors" or "power" standards. As negative and painful the recent journey of public education has been for many educators, the current journey offers opportunity to meet the needs of all learners - this is our mission. Let us take control of the conversation and the continuing, necessary systemic changes.