tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1054497562184858857.post494671431079898112..comments2023-03-28T03:40:11.677-04:00Comments on Commissioner's Comments: Off to a good start on a new accountability systemDr. Stephen L. Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16880287602750084367noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1054497562184858857.post-81291697722563804692016-06-25T17:04:22.501-04:002016-06-25T17:04:22.501-04:00Thank you for consolidating our input....
As an e...Thank you for consolidating our input.... <br />As an engaged parent, I was glad to make the following points:<br /><br />1. Resources must be better allocated to fulfill the needs of our students, staff and school. We must establish a better way of correlating money spent to outcome to better ascertain some of our Return on Investment. This would help as we continuously strive to create and measure school success.<br /><br />2. I expect more support for Parent/Family Engagement. "Characteristics" that we value must be better defined so that we know when we have achieved it. For example, we seek measures and processes that have "reliability". What percentage of reliability must exist before we can label something as "reliable"? Realistically, 100% is too high and 50% is too low. How is it achieved? When parents & staff can better understand our goals, challenges and accomplishments, we can better support our children and better measure student success.<br /><br />3. Most teachers do a wonderful job! However, they must alternate their teaching strategies to adjust or better identify students' best learning styles. This must be done before students resign thinking they just are not smart enough when they might understand more when taught and study differently. (However, teachers must also discern when more focus, flexibility, or more pushing away from one's comfort zone is needed for students and teachers.) This can better ensure that all students are successful.<br /><br />4. Even though "inclusion" is important in the classroom, we must devise a fairer way of assessing tests and labeling test outcomes that includes recognition of student challenges. Ie., Is it fair to compare two students the same who run in a race and one student has two legs and another has one? I know it is not easy, as we want fair methods that include everyone and allow them all to feel a sense of pride for their individual situations and results. (We must also ensure that funding is available to execute mandatory 504 Plans under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) - which requires states to provide a “free appropriate public education” to all students with disabilities and IEPs for specific kinds of disabilities; other requirements under IDEA; as well as ample funding for gifted education.) This can also help to ensure that all students are successful and we can celebrate all students inclusively!<br /><br />For more of my parent's overview, see my blog http://edge.ascd.org/blogpost/dr-pruitt-in-kentucky-adopts-tv-frasiers-im-listening-1Brenda Martin, MBAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07331487904684176716noreply@blogger.com