Eden Prairie Schools (District #272) Annual Report on Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Achievement

Eden Prairie Schools (District #272) Annual Report on Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Achievement

Student Achievement Goals for Meeting State Academic Standards Reading and Mathematics Goals: We will reduce the gap in reading and math achievement by 50% by 2018 for each student. Aligning Eden Prairie Schools as a Professional Learning Community: A Collaborative Culture with a Focus on Learning for All Power Standards and Learning Targets: Collaborative teams (grade levels and departments) choose power standards based on criteria of endurance, leverage, and readiness. Power standards are unwrapped to create learning targets written in student-friendly language ( I can statements) Teams ensure vertical alignment of power standards through the CIC process. District alignment of grade level and department standards becomes Eden Prairie s guaranteed and viable curriculum. Plan for Increased Student Learning: Shift in focus from teaching to learning Organize into collaborative teams Developing norms and protocols for collaborative work Establishing building schedules to support frequent mtgs Common Assessments Collaborative teams develop common summative assessments of course/unit power standards. Results are used to communicate student achievement and to improve courses/ units of study. Teams develop frequent common formative assessments based on specific learning targets to inform instruction during the learning process. Assessment results are shared and reviewed during collaborative team meetings. Intervention/Enrichment Collaborative teams use the results of common formative assessments to develop timely, targeted intervention and enrichment learning opportunities.

Eden Prairie MCA Scores Above State Averages Results from the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) tests have been released and Eden Prairie Schools continue to outpace state averages. Students showed improvement in science scores across the board, and many grades showed improved math scores compared to 2012 and/or 2011, despite a change in how the math test was administered this year. The MCA reading test is an exception. It was the first year that teachers statewide began instructing students using new Common Core English Language Standards. New standards required a new reading assessment, and district administrators expected the test to be more difficult. While Eden Prairie students scored well above state standards, the scores are lower when compared to 2012. At face value, this might appear disappointing, however school administrators here and across the state, were not surprised. The new test was an assessment of different standards and a comparison to previous years does not give an accurate picture of the growth our students made. Reading (Grades 3-8, and 10) We knew this was coming when they changed to the Common Core Standards, said Stephen West, executive director of educational services for the district. We are not surprised the reading results dropped, and in fact are pleased at how high above the state averages our students scored in spite of significant changes in the rigor of the test. West said that the district s professional learning community (PLC) approach will continue to play an important part in ensuring that Eden Prairie students meet or exceed the new standard. A new collaboration of teacher teams, called pure content teaming, groups teachers of students in grades 7 through 12 by subject to increase consistency across grade levels. It also improves recognition of what is working for students, and where changes need to be made. The emphasis is on the learning more than the teaching, said West. It is focused on our students. MCA Reading Results by Grade Grade Last spring, Minnesota transitioned to a new MCA reading test that is geared to measure student preparedness for college and career. In the past, a student could be fairly successful with an occasional educated guess, but the new MCA reading test forces students to think critically and to break down a question into multiple parts in order to arrive at the right answer. Because the tests taken in spring 2013 (the MCA III) were focused on measuring different standards, they are not directly comparable to the MCA tests of spring 2012 (MCA II). 2013 EPS Reading Subgroups District vs State This year s test sets a new baseline, West said. The key to this will be next year s scores, when the new Common Core Standards are tested again. Then we will be able to make a true comparison. While literally every school in the state experienced a drop in their year-to-year comparison, that drop varied widely. Eden Prairie s average dropped 15 percent, which is less than most districts in the state. Also, the district s students consistently performed higher than the state average across every grade level and in every subgroup measured.

This year s MCA math assessments also changed in a significant way and affected the outcome of scores, compared to last year. In 2011-12, the state allowed districts the option to let students retake the MCA math assessment up to three times. Needless to say, student s scores improved the more times they took the test, and the result was an across the board increase in student scores when compared to the previous year. This year, the state returned to a single test administration model, allowing students to take the math test only once. So math scores, when compared to last year s multiple-test model, show a decrease. However, when compared to the 2010-11 test year (when the single test model was also in use), Eden Prairie students in grades 3, 6, 7 and 11 increased their math scores. Math (Grades 3-8, and 11) These numbers pose some interpretive challenges, said West. The 2012 results were likely inflated due to the multiple opportunities kids had to take the test. The 2013 improvements and declines cannot be well understood without also looking at the 2011 test results. The good news again, is that Eden Prairie students math scores consistently out-scored the state average. In addition, every subgroup also scored above the state average. EPS Math Results for MCA Trend Data EPS Math Results District vs State Grade Level

Science (Grades 5, 8 and once in high school) EPS Science Results 2012 vs 2013 The district s focus on the new science standards resulted in positive results in the science MCA scores. New standards were established in 2011-12 and STEM principals are embedded in the standards for every grade level. STEM is the integrated teaching of science, technology, engineering and math concepts. Compared to last year s scores, district students improved 2 to 4 percent. When compared to state averages, Eden Prairie s 5th and 8th graders scored 10 and 12 percent higher, respectively. At the high school level the district score is an impressive 18 percent higher than the state average. In addition, every subgroup scored higher than the state average. This was the second year that students took the MCA III version of the science test. The increased proficiency across grade levels and subgroups is very positive, West said. We went deep into these new standards over the past two years, and our STEM work and a focus on those embedded STEM principals will continue to be an important part of our strategy.

All EP staff will effectively demonstrate culturally relevant/ responsive concepts and practices to achieve racial equity All staff will incorporate professional learning into their daily work. All staff will integrate/utilize technology to increase student achievement and engagement. All staff will demonstrate depth and growth of content knowledgeand pedagogy. Staff Development Goals All staff new to Eden Prairie is prepared to effectively reach EP students. All staff will demonstrate effective use of data and achievement results to inform and differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all learners. Site p.d. goals are aligned with the district p.d. goals and support adult learning to attain the student achievement goals. District Testing Plan Available Online The Testing Plan is available at www.edenpr.org. It includes state and district assessments anticipated for the school year along with information on who takes the tests, when they are administered, how the results are used, and the objectives of the assessment program. Historical student achievement data is available on the Minnesota Department of Education website. School Improvement Plans Eden Prairie Improvement Plans were focused on improving student achievement primarily through the work of the collaborative teams. 1. The overall system improvement occurred through the continued implementation of collaborative teams. We believe that as staff members work together to learn about the standards and benchmarks and create power standards, learning targets and common assessments, the efforts will result in high expectations and achievement for all students. In addition, we continue to emphasize the importance of relationships and culturally relevant instructional practices to ensure high expectations and high student engagement for all students. 2. Also, when licensed non-teaching staff members meet regularly to discuss the students they serve and how to better support the students, families and staff, they contribute to student achievement in the system. 3. Each collaborative team developed a student achievement goal based on achievement data. This goal helped to focus the work of the team for the year or for a segment of the course. Curriculum Advisory Committee Statement of Purpose: The Eden Prairie Schools recognizes that involvement of the community is essential to carry out the overall educational mission of the District. To ensure this involvement, the Eden Prairie Schools has established a process for curriculum review to support our processes and decision-making and to meet the requirements of Statute M.S. 120B.11 and district policy 616. The role of the Curriculum Advisory Committee (CAC) is to review and comment and, when appropriate, recommend to the School Board rigorous academic standards, student achievement goals and measures, assessments, and program evaluations In the Eden Prairie Schools, the CAC is a group of parents, staff, students, community members and school administrators who come to learn about the district curriculum, instruction, assessments, and program evaluation and serve in an advisory capacity. Meeting Schedule: Four times/year, additional meetings if needed Membership The CAC, to the extent possible, is representative of the diversity of the community served by the District and the schools within the District. The CAC include staff, parents, students and other community members. Members in 2012-2013 included: Suzanne Stordahl, Max Smith, Kelly Sawyer, Nicole Cronin, Sarah Sheehan, Darryl Stanton, Julie Osborn, Terri Johnson, Patrice Erickson, Darrin Stuhr, Beth Fletcher, Dr. Padmini Udupa, Alexa Smith, Jeff Aamot, and Dr. Janet Pladson People interested in membership on the CAC contact: Janet Pladson by October 30, 2013.