The Department of Curriculum and Instruction oversees the curriculum, assessment and instructional improvement initiatives within the district. Student learning is the driving force behind the KASD goals and increased student achievement so that all students are prepared for college and careers after their K-12 education.
The district utilizes professional learning communities (PLCs) to drive instructional change, student learning, and other main goals connected to our Strategic Plan. Strategic Plan Pillars of Academic Success, Culture and Climate, Community Engagement, and Finance and Facilities provide the basis for PLC conversations connected to equity and student learning. The strategic plan can be found here.
The five primary questions we focus on centering around equity and student learning include:
- Where are we going? (defining grade level learning expectations, defining learning goals and success criteria for students, identifying barriers to learning)
- Where are we now? (current performance of students, identifying gaps, utilizing internal and external student data and evidence to guide instruction)
- How do we move learning forward? (discuss learning approaches, plan effective instruction strategies, share strategies amongst the team)
- What did we learn today? (outward learning–what did students learn; inward learning–what did we learn/reflect on)
- Who benefited and who did not benefit? (discuss trends in learning outcomes, overview outcomes for subgroups of students, plan ways to provide equitable learning for all students)
Research-based instructional practices based on the Gradual Release of Responsibility/Workshop model are employed PK-12 to provide high quality instruction and differentiation opportunities.
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