RISC

Re-Inventing Schools Coalition (RISC)


Link to the Council for Continuous Improvement to follow MSAD 15 plans to move from a standards-referenced school system to a performance-based school system.

I am pleased to announce that MSAD #15 was selected to partner with the Department of Education and the Re-Inventing Schools Coalition (RISC) to be one of two school districts in the state that will be implementation sites for the transformation from a standards-referenced to a standards-based school system. The Department of Education researched school districts in the United States looking for models that successfully improved student achievement through standards-based design and who could fulfill the state’s promise of a “'learner centered education' where all students will graduate post-secondary, career and citizenship ready”.

The Department of Education selected RISC as a promising model for Maine Schools, and MSAD #15 has the opportunity to learn how to replicate their success and serve as a “lighthouse” for other Maine schools.  The RISC organization originated from successful schools in Alaska and was formed in 2002 with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  The RISC approach to learning organizes the total district around engaging students in the 21st century skills, who work at their developmental levels and advance to the next level when they have demonstrated proficiency in the required standards. After thoughtful planning and feedback from the community, the ultimate goal will be student graduation by the standards of Maine Learning Results as well as any locally developed standards that the community feels are important for our students. Graduation by standards is a long-term goal of this reorganization work.

Why Partner with the RISC and the Department of Education?

MSAD #15’s vision of education is a good fit with the RISC Model.  Our approach to education is currently aligned with the work of the RISC, and its experience and technical support can only help MSAD #15 go from “good to great” more quickly.   The RISC design is composed of shared vision, leadership, standards-based design and continuous improvement.   MSAD #15’s current vision and strategic plan are based on a partnership with staff, students, parents and community. Structures are in place to advance shared leadership and continuous improvement. We are working with standards-based design and have spent years creating assessments that measure the Learning Results and provide instructional information for improved student achievement.  Partnering with RISC will provide a framework that will ensure an effective and efficient school organization into the future.
 MSAD #15 and RISC agree on the following:

  1. All of our students can learn and meet standards.
  2. We are willing to reorganize ourselves to benefit our students.
  3. We can provide a comprehensive and measurable curriculum.
  4. We can expect more from our students.
  5. We should teach using the same rulebook.
  6. We can agree that 80-85% achievement is good, but not great.

Our District Report Card verifies our students are making progress in academics, but MSAD #15 must make a significant change in order to ensure that “all students meet the standards”.  Our dropout rate, while comparable to other districts, is within the 5% range, and we need to catch these students earlier so that they don’t get behind in school and disengage.   MSAD #15 wants to be a “great” school district where the community can say, “I’m pleased my children are getting their education at MSAD #15!”

What is standards-based?

A true standards-based system will define exactly what students should know and be able to do from one level to the next in all subjects.  This approach helps teachers, students and families know when students need extra help, and when they need more challenging work and a faster pace.  Standards drive instruction and reporting.

  1. Specific, clear school or district standards are identified in academic and cross-disciplinary areas.
  2. Developmental levels are articulated in each standards area.  There is a seamless continuum of learning K-12. 
  3. Students move through the levels at their own pace.
  4. Instruction, assessment and reporting systems are aligned with and flow from standards.
  5. The emphasis is on frequent classroom assessment in every content area at each developmental level, as the individual student is ready.
  6. Student performance is measured by required state assessments in core areas.
  7. Rubrics describe in behavioral terms what levels of student performance look like.  Where A-F grades are used, there is clarity and consistency among teachers.
  8. Students must be proficient in the standards to move ahead.
  9. Report cards describe students’ progress in mastering the developmental levels in each standards area.
  10. Graduation is achieved by performance.  Students graduate when they demonstrate performance at the graduation level in all standards areas, regardless of how many hours they have spent in their seats.

Student measurement topics (standards) will be developed by the Department of Education and MSAD #15, and all students must master these standards before they can move on to the next level.  District assessments will focus on the measurement topics, and the report card will eventually report student success on the standards. 

The next step

During the first week of August, a team of board members, administrators, teacher leaders, parents and students will attend a four day institute at the G-NG Middle School provided by the Department of Education and the RISC organization to help MSAD #15 create an implementation plan to transform to a standards-based school district.  The 09-10 school year will focus on building community consensus to move ahead with the RISC partnership.  This will require input from the community regarding the RISC model and agreement on the standards-based direction.  The School Board will be asking for community feedback during this first year before they make the decision to approve the RISC partnership. That decision will be made by June 30, 2010.    Until the community and the School Board approve the partnership with RISC, I do not expect that you will observe major changes in our curricula, assessments or report cards.

The schools and I will keep you updated on this important educational initiative.

Additional information regarding RISC:

Visit the Maine Dept. of Education's Website at http://www.maine.gov/education/sbs/index.html

PowerPoint presented to MSAD 15 School Board on July 22, 2009 - RISC Update

Additional information regarding RISC can be found by visiting our Performanced based wiki at http://msad15performancebasededucation.wikispaces.com/

 

Updated February 1, 2010