SECTION 7.1 ALIGNMENT OF CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT

Lead teachers are instrumental in designing the curriculum around the Illinois Learning Standards.  When new curriculum is adopted, the text books are chosen by coordination with Learning Standards. 

Science

Courses are updated periodically (often prior to or in tandem with the adoption of a new textbook). During this process the curriculum is checked and edited or rewritten to be in alignment with the state learning standards. This is done by a group of teachers who will be involved in teaching the class. Instructional units and assessments are developed that correspond with the standards and all materials are duplicated and put in to binders so that no matter who is assigned to the course they will have access to the curriculum.

English

In English, we have been aligning the state standards to our curriculum through work with the Standards Aligned Classroom committee.  Members of the department have worked together to create rubrics for sixth through eleventh grades that specify the standards met through the writing projects identified and provide a common assessment for every teacher to use with the project. This, in turn, unifies instruction as well, to ensure that each teacher is emphasizing similar skills within the unit.

Math

To align curriculum and instruction, we have increase communication between teachers in the same grade level, between the different grade levels, and between the different content areas, from K through high school. We have evaluated gaps, unnecessary repetition, and continuity from grade level to grade level. We have evaluated, enriched, and realigned the curriculum to meet the standards. The elementary schools have developed curriculum maps for grades K-5, as a guideline for a common curriculum. We have also worked toward developing standard aligned common assessments. It is our goal in the elementary and middle schools to develop a pre, mid, and post common assessment for each grade level. The high school administers common final exam assessments for each math course. The middle school also administers the common high school final exams for Algebra I. This year we will be giving a common final exam for Pre-Algebra in both the middle and high schools. Administrative support has greatly enhanced the ability to improve curriculum and instruction. The middle school has adjusted their daily schedules to provide time for core planning and common content planning. This allotted time has strengthened communication between teachers in different grade levels and different content areas, providing an opportunity for the teachers to work together to improve curriculum, instruction, and assessments.

Continual communication and teamwork will aide the on-going task of building curriculum, improving instruction, and developing common assessments.

Level 3 Implementation:

The plan shows clear alignment of curriculum, instruction, and assessment with ILS in at least three areas in all grades.

SECTION 7.2 STANDARDS-ALIGNED CLASSROOMS

• The Illinois Learning Standards are available on the school website under Curriculum and Instruction.  This is available to teachers, students, and parents.
• Each teacher has been given a current copy of the Learning Standards for his or her subject and is expected to keep a record of which standards are being covered in each unit.
• Learning Standards are discussed during the teacher evaluation process in our building. 
• Each teacher must list goals and objectives at the end of each school year.  The administration discusses these goals and emphasizes the use of Learning Standards to achieve the academic goals.
• The ILS are central to the weekly department level meetings and common assessments used at CMS.

Level 3 Implementation:

The plan describes extensive implementation of standards-aligned classrooms.

SECTION 7.3 ILS PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES

The Standards Aligned Classroom (SAC) initiative by the state has had a team of CMS core teachers working within the building on designing assessments based on the Standards for the past three years.  During the 2005-2006 school year, CMS became a school-wide implementation site of the Standards Aligned Classroom initiative.  All teachers were given the opportunity to participate on the state funded SAC team that pays the teachers a stipend and gives college credit for completing the training.  All CMS teachers were trained on how to create rubrics to assess the Learning Standards and then applied that training through the creation and implementation of a common school-wide discipline rubric and a common school-wide content area reading extended response rubric.  

Level 3 Implementation:

The plan describes extensive practices and procedures related to implementation of ILS.

7.4 REVIEW OF ILS PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES

Each teacher was given a copy of the Illinois Assessment Framework for his/her content area.  During weekly department meetings throughout the school year, CMS staff members have worked together to ensure that ILS are systematically addressed through instruction and common assessments.  Planned summer curriculum work also gives staff time to review practices and procedures related to implementation of the ILS.

Level 3 Implementation:

The plan describes an ongoing, systematic review and revision of practices and procedures related to implementation of ILS.