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Participatory Mindset Path Toward A K-12 Graduation Goal
We owe it to the children and families that we serve to ensure they know how much their attendance, engagement, and anticipated graduation matters! As a team, it will take the entire village to embrace the challenges and present the opportunities as we continue navigating school closures, reopenings, hybrid models, remote learning, and all other changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us, to include our students and our families, are facing unimaginable circumstances which require grace and understanding. Much like us, students do not need anyone to feel sorry for them; but they do need someone to highlight available options, consequences of their actions, and the tiered support available to them during the time of a storm.
Surely, obstacles will present themselves during the marathon of life; but if we are willing to support each other along the way, those hurdles can be surpassed! Let’s Do this Together! As the old adage says “tough times don’t last, tough people do!” It will take all of us making contributions to serve and support the goals of each student along their journey.
Those deposits from contributions made, no matter how small, can be the catalysts that may propel someone to their next incremental milestone in the race. So, when you’ve tried all that you can to help a student, stay encouraged and seek the assistance of another team member to run the last leg of the race. The support we provide students through every grade level promotion gets them closer to the culminating graduation stage(s) throughout their lives! When each of those goals are reached, we all WIN! Stay encouraged!
Dr. Julius Hamlin
OSQ Associate Director
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Promotion of Quality Leadership
Leaders across the Commonwealth work diligently to promote quality in their schools. Please take some time to recognize those leaders.
The Office of School Quality is happy to announce the names of school leaders who were recognized for their leadership in the Master Schedule. You can view the list of individuals on this document
Based upon this month's theme of Graduation and Completion Index (GCI), nominate a principal who has embodied exceptional leadership in any of the following criteria. Complete the nomination form by February 25, 2021, for consideration.
The principal implements, monitors, and evaluates the GCI by using the following criteria:
- cohort planning;
- college, career, and civic readiness;
- data collection;
- data analysis and causation; and
- communication.
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Support for High-Quality Educational Environments
School divisions can increase opportunities for students to graduate by offering multiple, alternate paths to meet the rigorous expectations of a standard diploma. While effectively preventing student dropout and increasing graduation rates requires a holistic approach of holding all students to rigorous requirements and providing individual support, offering multiple pathways provides high school students at-risk of dropping out flexible options to stay on-track to graduate. Strategies for offering multiple pathways for students to earn graduation credits include flexible and innovative scheduling, online classes and credit recovery, work experience credit, and engaging CTE courses.
This research brief from Hanover Research reviews research and best practices for providing students with alternative options and pathways for meeting the requirements of a standard diploma. Division and school leaders can use this resource to support students at-risk for dropping out or not graduating from high school.
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Q-Tip
Each month, we will feature one of our tools from our revised Academic Review Toolkit.
The school-level academic review is designed to help schools identify and analyze instructional and organizational factors affecting student achievement. The focus of the review process is on the systems, processes, and practices that are being implemented at the school level.
This month’s feature is the Graduation and Completion Index (GCI)Tool. Take a Quick-look to reflect on your school’s current practices based on the criteria to help improve the school’s continuous improvement efforts.
The GCI Tool is a larger tool specific for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating graduation and completion with the following criteria: cohort planning; college, career, and civic readiness; data collection; data analysis and causation; and communication.
If you would like additional training or technical assistance to implement this tool, complete this Registration Form by February 25, 2021.
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Collaboration Corner
SPOTLIGHT: Languages and Profile of a Virginia Graduate
New WIDA ELD Standards Framework
New WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition: Kindergarten-Grade 12 is now available for download. WIDA will offer a Q&A webinar series on the new 2020 ELD Standards Framework.
EL Survey and EL Instruction Newsletter
Your ideas are appreciated! Help VDOE’s EL Instructional Specialist plan state-wide professional learning in 2021. Take a few minutes to respond to this survey and share your preferences. In addition if you interested in receiving updates on new resources, opportunities for webinars, and links to other instructional resources directly to your inbox sign up for the EL Instruction Newsletter.
New World Language Teaching Methods Online Course
This is a new asynchronous online course in World Language Teaching Methods at UVA. EDIS 5490-World Languages Teaching Methods will be available from February 1–May 6. PreK-12 educators may be eligible for discounted tuition. For more information, email Courtney Sullivan.
Profiles into Practice Project
The Commonwealth Learning Partnership participants to complete an online survey about the knowledge and use of the Profiles of a Virginia Graduate, Educator, and Leader. The data gathered will assist to better understand how equity is promoted throughout Virginia. For questions, contact Dr. DeMulder of the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University at 703-993-8326.
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Reminders
OMEGA Reimbursements: School Improvement Grant (SIG) Awards
Divisions are reminded that SIG reimbursements must be submitted to OMEGA at least once a month, as this allows the OSQ and the division to monitor the spend-down of the SIG funds
Save the Dates
OSQ will hold a virtual leadership conference on April 15 & 16, 2021. More information will be available soon in our upcoming bulletins.
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Any feedback about this communication is greatly appreciated. If you have a topic you would like to see in a future monthly edition of Quality Quick Takes, contact OSQ at OSQ@doe.virginia.gov.
This monthly communication is intended for school and division leadership throughout the Commonwealth.
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