Raising the Standard : An Eight-Step Action Guide for Schools and Communities

Mastery and skill through higher standards! Learn how to transform your school through an effective standards-based system. This straightforward action guide, now in its second edition, is about real, day-to-day practicea??not theory. It tells the story of reform through the hard work of actual districtsa??ordinary communities that have made an extraordinary commitment to world-class schoolsa??and translates their success into a series of steps every school can follow. No more diplomas for just spending time in school! The authors outline a system that emphasizes mastery and skilla??the bottom line for students, schools, and districts. Written in an easy-to-read style for both the interested layperson and the professional, this book is a no-nonsense, step-by-step guide to raising school standards. From building public demand to holding students accountable, the authors provide a plan and the tools to implement reform successfully. A useful action checklist helps you keep track of progress. In addition, for the professional wanting more in-depth detail, this book includes: CD-ROMa??easy access to voluminous material including in-depth explanations, anecdotes, samples, and examples Online supplementa??Goal Linea??with connections to sites outlined in the book and regular updates through software and the Internet In a new section full of examples, the authors show how charter and other individual schools can leap ahead of their states and districts by benchmarking their standards, aligning their curriculum, and conducting academic analysis to assess progress. This new section also illustrates the importance of creating fair and effective teacher evaluations at the school level to reward good practice. This book will be a valuable resource for any school or district that wants to increase its academic standards. Cosponsored by Standards Work.