There is extensive research regarding what makes a great school. Although there are many intangible components, research supports that high performing Pennsylvania schools and school systems tend to have six common elements: a. Standards – Pennsylvania’s Core Standards define what students should know and beable to do as a result of instruction.
b. Assessments – Assessments offer tools and resources to support the process ofassessing, evaluating, and documenting student learning in order to improve professional practice and increase student achievement.
c. Curriculum Framework – Drawn from the Pennsylvania Core Standards, the Curriculum Framework is a set of teaching topics by subject and grade level further defined using Big Ideas, Concepts, Competencies, Essential Questions, and Vocabulary d. Instruction – Pennsylvania has adopted the Charlotte Danielson Framework for Teaching as the overarching vision for effective instruction in the commonwealth. Themodel focuses the complex activity of teaching by defining four domains of teaching responsibility:
• Planning and preparation • Classroom environment • Instruction • Professional responsibilities
e. Materials and Resources – Support standards align instruction and include Voluntary Model Curriculum, learning progressions, units, lesson plans and multimedia content examples for use in planning and delivering instruction. • Learning progressions span grades K-12 and include what all students should know and be able to do as a result of successfully moving through grades K-8 and by taking specific courses in grades 9-12. f. Safe and Supportive Schools – Supplies resources and exemplars to promote active studentengagement in a safe and positive learning environment. Areas within the element include the following:
• Engagement • Safety • Environment
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