performance
objectives
The law (s. 118.43(4)(c)) requires that each achievement guarantee contract include a description of the school's performance objectives for the academic achievement of its pupils and the means to be used to evaluate success in attaining the objectives.
Performance objectives must also include:
- under s.118.43(4)(c)1, where applicable, improvement in the scores on the Wisconsin reading comprehension test (formerly the third grade reading test);
- under s.118.43(4)(c)2, the attainment of any educational goals adopted by the school board;
- under s.118.43(4)(c)3, professional development with the objective of improving pupil academic achievement; and
- under s.118.43(4)(c)4, methods by which the school involves pupils, parents or guardians of pupils and other school district residents in decisions affecting the school.
1. Definition - For the purpose of the SAGE contract performance objectives will consist of content, performance and proficiency standards in reading, language arts and mathematics established by the school/district for each grade covered by SAGE program.
- A content standard describes what the students will be expected to know and be able to do as a result of being enrolled in each grade covered by the SAGE program;
- A performance standard describes what students will be asked to do to provide evidence they have met each of the content standards;
- A proficiency standard indicates the degree of proficiency represented by various levels of achievement on the performance standards.
Forms for the identification of these standards will be provided as part of the contract development materials for schools starting the program in 1998-99 and will be provided annually thereafter. The department recommends that each SAGE school identify 3 to 5 key objectives in each of the required subjects at each grade level. A school may identify more objectives, and may also include objectives in other subjects or learning domains. The department may ask for information on the current level of performance of the children in the grades to be covered by the SAGE program and how that performance compares to other children and schools in the district, if applicable, and for the school's current goals for improvement in academic achievement regarding English/ language arts and mathematics, at minimum.
2. Wisconsin Reading Comprehension Test (third grade reading test - WRCT) - The department will ask each school to establish objectives for improvement in the reading comprehension test scores.
3. District Educational Goals - The department will ask that each contract include a copy of any existing educational goals established by the district and the school applicable to the grades covered by the SAGE program, a description of the extent to which the school and the pupils in the school have attained the goals and the methods used for determining attainment, and the school's plans, if any, for achieving district goals or improving on the current level of performance.
4. Professional Development - The department will ask for information on the number and type of existing district staff development programs intended to help teachers in the SAGE grades improve pupil achievement and the district's plans, if any, to implement or modify such programs. The department will also ask that district plans, if any, indicate staff development related to implementation of curriculum developed for use in SAGE classrooms, implementation of methods to be used to evaluate success in achieving performance objectives, creation of individual professional development plans, and instructional techniques most effective for use in classes of 15 students or less.
5. Collaborative Decision-Making - The contract must include a description of the methods by which the school involves pupils, parents, and other district residents in decisions affecting the school. The department will also ask for the school's plan, if any, for implementing such a process if none currently exists or for modifying existing practices; any goals for increasing student, parent, and community involvement; and data the school will provide to document achievement of such goals.
