Defining Student Success – ENDS
Buena Vista School District Board of Education has defined Student Success through a Learner Profile known as the 7 C’s and four supporting goals for students. These are are known as the District ENDS and monitored by the Board of Education monthly.
Global END: Buena Vista School District exists to ensure every student reaches the peak of success by being curious, connected, constructive, critically competent, creative, collaborative, and character-centered at a cost demonstrating good stewardship of District resources.
ENDS 1: Students are capable of building relationships with others, solving conflicts positively, and contributing to their community
ENDS 2: Students have the academic knowledge, skills, and critical thinking to pursue their individual post-secondary goals
ENDS 3: Students demonstrate the resiliency and character needed to face the personal and practical challenges of life
ENDS 4: Students are proud of and inspired by their school experience
Measuring Student Success
One of the core values of Student-Centered Accountability (S-CAP) is that student success is defined through multiple measures. A single test score is simply not enough to evaluate, monitor, or guide continuous improvement of organizations. The use of a single, annual test over simplifies the complexities of student growth and is not able to measure the dispositions businesses value today – like collaboration, problem-solving, integrity, reliability, gratitude, and initiative. For this reason, S-CAP districts have expanded the measures used monitor student success and organized into three major categories:
Academic Competence and Critical Thinking includes the annual state tests (CMAS, PSAT and SAT) as well as other academic measures like elementary reading, NWEA, and district assessments. S-CAP districts are also observing critical thinking in students and standardizing measures.
Learning Dispositions are the traits students and citizens demonstrate who contribute to their communities and live with prosperity. S-CAP districts believe the school experience is intended to help develop these strong character qualities in youth along with basic, essential knowledge and skills. Being involved in school and activities is both a means of developing these traits as well as an indicator of long term development of positive character. Learning dispositions include traits such as the ability to resolve conflicts positively, to face the challenges of life with resiliency, to be reliable, to act with integrity, to serve others, to be reflective, and to know one’s gifts and interests. Measures such as attendance and participation, surveys, and teacher observations are utilized to monitor learning dispositions.
Post Secondary Readiness means a student is equipped to pursue a quality of life. The student has had the opportunity to examine interests and skills and is prepared to enter the workforce, continue education at a college or training center, enter the military, or other interest. Measures such as graduation and drop out rates, entrance to college/trade school, capstone projects, and alumni surveys are used to monitor a district’s success in this area.