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Board Community Dialogue - May 30, 2023

Child Success - How do you define success for your child? - Flyer

	How do you define success for your child/student? How important are standardized test scores in determining the success of your child/student? Are there non-academic metrics you use in determining the success of your child/student? If so, which ones and why? What lessons have you learned in raising or teaching children that greatly aid their success? What things seem to serve as impediments to the success of your child/student?
	Define Success Academic standards (district level) Discipline based on expectations Happiness - desire to learn Continual improvement Standardized Tests Students need access to accommodations Non-Academic Metrics of Success Confidence, patience, social skills, respect Communication skills Reading, writing, and arithmetic Lessons Learned You have to meet kids where they are Parents are the first teachers Impediments No home support
	How do you define success? Love of learning Subject matter mastery Happy & Passionate Reaching full potential Exposure Critical thinking Post-school preparedness Holistic view The right fit for your child Retention Use parent surveys too! Check-in with them, offer more workshops, etc. Help with IEP process How important are standardized tests? A baseline Should be explained better to parents-keep parents informed Maybe school-directed workshops on tests? State tests change very frequently; it's confusing Hard to translate to other states/ districts Non-academic metrics of success? Connections to the school community Extracurricular participation Student surveys? SEL emphasis Staying in class, out of suspension Lessons about raising/teaching kids? Supportive, involved, informed parents Getting parents to conferences Staff need to make positive phone calls and be supportive of students Parents model learning + work ethic Parent-child discussions Ask students what they need! Avoid over-programming Teachers should connect with students Controlling tech at home & in class Impediments to success? Misbehaving peers Parents need to model behavior Lack of teacher supports Funding Need more mentorship programs Peer-to-peer mentoring Career coaches Counselor: Student ratios Lack of personal/case study data? Department Director of Student Services has data on this Students falling behind Staffing ratios across the board
	LESSONED LEARNED Growth Mindset Encouragement Positivity Clear Expectations Failure is not a bad thing - not the end You are your child’s advocate Students/children need to have a voice/agency in their learning Respecting other opinions (civility) IMPEDIMENTS Lack of counseling (academic/career) Lack of finance for academic extracurricular (parent income becomes a barrier) Lack of parental communication/instruction to support student success Bias / Lived Experiences if we don't understand how they can impact others
	DEFINE SUCCESS Improvement (Grades, but not the sole factor) Growth in innovate, problem solve, leadership - growth over time Academic Outcomes - Application (Thought process) Special Needs All the support services & open minded transition opps. they need Attitude that our kids can Individual success & collective success THOUGHTS ON STANDARDIZED TESTS Essential Stakeholders Good as a tool - Not the only item Identify barriers to learning opportunity Snapshot of the larger picture - larger portfolio Necessary evil NON ACADEMIC METRICS Prob. Solve Passion/excitement Curiosity Collaboration Belonging/community Clubs, advocacy for each other, agency Extracurricular Self-regulation Self-esteem Diverse representation
	Are the testing methods appropriate given the ages of the students taking them? Why aren't school boards complaining to the state about this? KIDS NEED STRONG FOUNDATIONS IN READING + MATH. Curiosity Phonics BOTTOM LINE: Every kid is different, but why are so many being moved up when they can't read? (for example) “reading” is diff. from COMPREHENSION Clear, measurable standards (grade-level benchmarks?) Curiosity Phonics SUCCESS emotional? social? academics? standardized test scores grades adulting? URGENCY, i.e., plan for academic support RSVP = intimidating + attendance Mtgs. @ alternate times TRACKING? SUMMER SCHOOL? TUTORING? PARENT VOLUNTEERS? EXIT INTERVIEWS to learn why families leave Personal Networking?