Taking Center Stage – Act II (TCSII)

A Portal for Middle Grades Educators

DOCUMENT LIBRARY

Professional Considerations
California’s Middle Schools:
Prepared to Close the Achievement Gap

• Periodic review of a school’s mission and vision statements provides direction and focus for all staff. Is your school vision consistent with the middle grades philosophy and standards-based education? Has your staff developed a consistent professional development plan? Share your thoughts about what it means to have a student-centered standards-based program.
  
  
• Delivering standards-based education to all students. How has your staff organized to increase reading levels in your school? In what ways have you and your staff considered algebra preparation for all your students? Have collaborative discussions and planning with feeder elementary schools and destination high schools taken place about what students should know and be able to do in all content areas?
  
  
• Content area teachers know the value of articulation with high school staff. Has your staff been a part of discussions with high school staff about California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) criteria? What is (would be) the role and responsibility of each? Have mathematics teachers discussed how to get all students prepared for algebra? What new strategies will be required to ensure success on the CAHSEE  for struggling students? Accelerated students? Students with special needs?
  
  
• The California Middle Grades Partnership Network has played a major role in implementing standards-based middle grades reform. Have you had opportunities to review the frameworks and standards and share issues, challenges, and concerns about standards-based education with colleagues at your site? With colleagues in your district? Middle grades educators in your county? How can sharing with colleagues help your school implement the findings and recommendations found in Taking Center Stage? Become a state-of-the-art middle school? Explore knowledge and research about increased academic and intellectual development for your students?
  
  
• As middle schools respond to the various state initiatives, a need will arise to clarify new roles for educational stakeholders. How have you helped students, their families, and community supporters understand the transition to standards-based education and assessment? What will it mean to hold everyone accountable? Teachers and administrators? Students and families? Policymakers and community supporters? What will you need from each to ensure student success?