Activity Directions: Develop Shared Understanding of Effective Policy

This activity can be used as part of an exploration process designed to develop an understanding of effective policies in a standards based education. Educators will be involved in discussions to identify how the policies support or create barriers to a standards based education system. 

Learning Objective

This activity is designed to help educators explore and gain a shared understanding of standards based education.

Time

45 minutes or more 

Preparation

1. Identify a leadership team that represents broad stakeholder groups (parents, special population teachers, elective teachers, counselors, students, etc.) and academic content area.
2. Provide copies of the policies that guide teaching and learning at the school for each person within the team.  
3. Print out copies of the Policy Inventory or share a link to the Handout: Policy Inventory for each member of the team.

Directions

1. Discuss the current policy at the site level, including how the policy supports a standards based system as well as possible barriers to equitable standards implementation.
2. Record in the left column how the policy supports a standards based system in the Handout: Policy Inventory. (If needed, please review Overview: Standards-Based Education System.)
3. Record in the right column how the policy is a possible barrier to standards based education Implementation.
4. Add additional policies to Handout: Policy Inventory as needed.