District 58Instructional Model

Review CouncilBoard of Education Update

June 5, 2019

What is the Instructional Model Review Council?

◦ Comprised of teachers, administrators and parents

◦ Held 5 meetings between February-April, 2019

◦ Committee charge comes from Goal 1 - Focusing on Learning

◦ Consideration of instructional needs from a pedagogical, developmental and instructional lens

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Instructional Model Review Council Process

First Meeting

◦ Reviewed Strategic Plan, District facilities and program overviews

◦ Considered our own personal beliefs upon joining council

◦ Asked “What will we need to answer the questions we are charged with?◦ Research

◦ Academic, Developmental, Social-Emotional

◦ Conversations on values◦ Variety of perspectives

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Instructional Model Review Council Process

Digging into the Research...

◦ Several studies on academic impact of school design

◦ Review of “Why Some Schools Do Better” - large scale study of middle grades practices and outcomes

◦ Studies on social-emotional and developmental needs of “young adolescents” (ages 10-15)

◦ John Hattie and the AMLE “This We Believe”

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Instructional Model Review Council Process

Beyond the empirical...

◦ Strategic Plan Survey Results◦ Open-ended response to question

on Strengths and Challenges of neighborhood school model

◦ DuPage County Middle School Configurations

◦ Curriculum - learning standards and our current resources

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What does it all tell us?

◦ Conclusions of the research◦ Instructional Model - inconclusive!◦ Transitions are challenging◦ Relationships are significant◦ Strong curriculum, resources,

instructional strategy, SEL focus is critical

◦ Local decisions will be based on community values as well as research/data

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How does this inform our next steps?

Instructional Model Review Council Members were asked how they would respond to the question: “What two or three things are most important to you in an instructional model for young adolescents?”

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Council Member Responses

“Making big schools feel smaller”◦ Social/Emotional Support ◦ Structure that allows shared students,

opportunities for strong relationships (teaming)

◦ Collaborative teaching environments that are conducive to small group learning opportunities

◦ Programs and opportunities designed to meet individual students’ needs

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Council Member Responses

Considering the needs of the *whole* young adolescent child◦ Social/Emotional Support ◦ Understanding of young adolescent

development and how to inform instructional practices to best support

◦ Providing educational opportunities that consistently include student choice and student voice

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Council Member Responses

Clear vision, structure & support◦ Articulating the “middle school

model” philosophy◦ Allowing for flexibility - instructional

delivery, physical space, interventions and student support…

◦ Ongoing support for teachers and parents, particularly if we transition to 6th-8th grade middle schools

◦ Collaborative teaching model, allowing for student support and interdisciplinary interaction (teams)

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Getting to the “big” question...

Instructional Model Review Council Members were asked how they would respond to the question: “Do you believe District 58 should explore the feasibility of 6th-8th grade middle schools?”

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Yes...

◦ Creates more distance between transitions (6th-7th and 8th-High school) and allows families a longer period of time to connect with middle schools; creates a greater sense of belonging for students

◦ Tremendous benefits to students◦ New opportunities ◦ Depth of content exploration◦ Minimizes transitions

◦ Provides curricular and instructional cohesion for young adolescents

◦ Supports the developmental needs of young adolescents

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...with the following caveats or qualifiers

◦ Teams must be strongly considered◦ Provided we can organize in a way to

address the social/emotional and developmental needs of the students (big difference between 6th and 8th grader)

◦ With the understanding that we are incorporating the true middle school philosophy

◦ We can’t just “move 6th over” because of space.

◦ Strong district-wide curriculum, instruction and opportunities for collaboration continue to exist

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◦ IMRC will have an opportunity to review the initial draft of the Master Facility Plan (Fall 2019)

◦ IMRC will begin a review of instructional delivery in District 58 beginning in Fall 2019, following the outline of Objective 1.2.b

Next Steps for the Instructional Model Review Council...