Richard A. Zagranski (editor) - Understanding Standards-Based Education: A Practical Guide for Teachers and Administrators

UNDERSTANDING
Standards-Based
EDUCATION

UNDERSTANDING
Standards-Based
EDUCATION

A Practical Guide
for Teachers and
Administrators

Richard Zagranski
William T. Whigham
Patrice L. Dardenne

Copyright 2008 by Corwin Press.

All rights reserved. When forms and sample documents are included, their use is authorized only by educators, local school sites, and/or noncommercial or nonprofit entities who have purchased the book. Except for that usage, no part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

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Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Zagranski, Richard.
Understanding standards-based education: a practical guide for teachers and administrators/Richard Zagranski, William T. Whigham, Patrice L. Dardenne.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-4129-5571-3 (cloth)
ISBN 978-1-4129-5572-0 (pbk.)

1. EducationStandardsUnited StatesHandbooks, manuals, etc.

2. Educational accountabilityUnited StatesHandbooks, manuals, etc.

3. Educational evaluationUnited StatesHandbooks, manuals, etc.

I. Whigham, William T. II. Dardenne, Patrice L. III. Title.

A famous scientist said that the decade from 1950 to 1960 doubled the knowledge base that had previously been acquired since the beginning of recorded time. Since 1960, that knowledge base has continued to double with even more frequency. Technological development has occurred at such a rapid pace that school systems have struggled to keep up, always searching for meaningful instruction and not for faddish components that burn out quickly. Reinventing the modern school actually meant going back to the driving goal of standards-based education: what should a student know and be able to do, and how can an educator verify that the student can apply the skills successfully, repeatedly, and consistently in a variety of situations. Our premise is that Education is the ability to do, not just the capacity to know. In that light, this book provides the tools and understandings that are necessary to make a difference. Everyone, from the administrator to the teacher, student, and parent, clearly understands the expectations and accountability to achieve the goal of quality education.

The book is laid out in user-friendly language and guides the readers through the steps of the standards-based process. The text provides examples and assessment pieces for all of the stakeholders to measure the levels of success and to provide an ongoing process of adjustment and revision. The text shows how to use the standards-based method to change learning from teacher input models to learner output ones. Using a Pyramid of Responsibility as a guide (identified in ), everyone involved in the education process is held accountable for the learning.

Corwin Press gratefully thanks the following peer-reviewers for their contributions to this book:

Dr. Vaughn Rhudy
Teacher
Shady Spring High School
Shady Spring, WV

John Scholten
Superintendent
Glen Lake Community Schools
Maple City, MI

Patricia Baker
Teacher, NBCT Middle Childhood Generalist
Mary Walter Elementary School
Bealeton, VA

Amanda Mayeaux
Teacher
Dutchtown Middle School
Geismat, LA

Russ Adams
Principal
MOC-Floyd Valley High
Orange City, IA

Erica Ann Faginski
Principal
Michael E. Smith Middle School
South Hadley, MA

Richard Zagranski was a teacher for 40 years at South Hadley High School, South Hadley, Massachusetts. During that time he also held the following administrative positions: English Department Chairman, District Curriculum Coordinator for English, Chairman of the Teacher Evaluation Committee, Chairman of the Reaccreditation Committee, and Chairman of the Philosophy and Objectives Committee. In addition, he has been an Adjunct Instructor at both Holyoke Community College and at Fitchburg State College, both in Massachusetts. Currently, he is a standards-based consultant working with school systems in and around the New England area. The information and techniques presented in this guide are field-tested approaches, which he has refined through research and trial and error.

William T. Whigham has been a teacher for more than 30 years in both middle and high schools, during which time he has served as an Interim Assistant Principal, Cochairman of the District Curriculum Committee, Grants Manager, Director of Physical Education and Athletics, Adjunct Instructor for Student Teachers at Springfield College, Adjunct Instructor at Fitchburg State College, and standards-based consultant. He is the author of the first No Child Left Behind implementation program used by the South Hadley, Massachusetts, school system. He is currently working with Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts, in the future teachers program, bringing in accountability and assessment standards. Likewise, he serves as a standards-based consultant in the New England region.

Patrice L. Dardenne has been involved in education for more than 30 years, during which time he has served as Assistant Superintendent for Accountability (responsible for the development, implementation, and operation of the school systems assessment systems, data management systems, NCLB grant program, curriculum, and technology initiatives), Interim Superintendent, Assistant to the Superintendent for Management Services (including professional development programs for the staff), Adjunct Instructor at American International College, Director of Special Education, and Dean of Students/Guidance Counselor. Likewise he has served as an evaluation consultant and an educational software consultant in Monterey, California, working with the school district to institute assessment and data management services. He was recently appointed to the position of Superintendent of Schools in Hatfield, Massachusetts.