How Well Do We Attend to the Whole Student?

A longstanding stated core value of SAU39 is that we attend to the whole student. This translates into measuring student progress across three discrete areas: academics, functional skills, and social-emotional learning (SEL).

To do so requires tracking a balanced set of metrics that reflect both traditional academic achievement and the development of crucial life skills. Below are some metrics that are often used for each category:

1. Academic Progress:

To assess academic progress, schools focus on the core subject areas (reading, writing, math, science, and social studies) and measure both growth and mastery.

Metrics:

• Standardized Test Scores: Use assessments like state exams or national standardized tests to track performance over time.

• Grade Point Average (GPA): Track overall academic performance and trends in individual subjects.

• Classroom Assessments: Regular formative and summative assessments (quizzes, exams, projects) to evaluate content knowledge.

• Learning Gains: Track the progress students make from year to year (e.g., comparing current year performance to previous year results).

• Subject Mastery: The percentage of students meeting grade-level expectations in core subjects (e.g., reading comprehension, basic math operations).

• Literacy and Numeracy Proficiency: Benchmark assessments in early education that track progress in reading (e.g., fluency, comprehension) and math (e.g., calculation, problem-solving).

• Progress Towards Individual Education Plan (IEP) Goals (if applicable): For students with disabilities, track the completion of goals set in their IEPs, which might cover academic or functional skills.

 

2. Functional Skills:

Functional skills are those life skills that enable students to navigate daily life and engage in tasks that are needed in school and beyond (e.g., independence, self-management, basic problem-solving).

Metrics:

• Adaptive Behavior Assessments: These measure a student’s ability to perform daily living skills, such as communication, self-care, and social skills. Tools like the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales can be used for this.

• Task Completion: Track how well students can independently complete age-appropriate tasks like organizing materials, following multi-step instructions, or managing time.

• Self-Management and Organizational Skills: Metrics like homework completion rate, time management, and organization of schoolwork (e.g., use of planners, organization of folders).

• Functional Academics: Assess the ability to apply academic knowledge in real-life contexts, such as using math to manage money or reading instructions to complete a task.

• Life Skills Progress: Measure the development of practical life skills (e.g., budgeting, basic cooking, safety awareness, job readiness).

 

3. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL):

SEL is crucial for helping students build emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, and resilience. Tracking SEL progress requires a combination of self-report tools, teacher observations, and peer interactions.

Metrics:

• Emotional Regulation: Monitor how students manage their emotions in stressful or challenging situations. This can be observed via classroom behavior or through self-reporting tools (e.g., how well students are able to calm down after becoming upset).

• Self-Awareness: Assess how well students understand their emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and values. Tools like self-reflection surveys or teacher evaluations can help here.

• Relationship Skills: Track students’ ability to form positive relationships with peers and adults. This could include measuring conflict resolution skills, teamwork, and communication.

• Social Awareness: Evaluate how well students show empathy, recognize the perspectives of others, and understand social norms. This can be assessed through peer feedback and teacher observation of group work.

• Growth in Coping Strategies: Measure the development of healthy coping mechanisms for stress, frustration, and other negative emotions (e.g., mindfulness, seeking help, or using positive self-talk).

• Behavioral Observations: Document how students interact with others, how often they exhibit behaviors like kindness, assertiveness, or empathy in social settings.

• SEL Surveys or Self-Reports: Tools like the CASEL SEL framework assessments, which involve students rating their own behaviors, could offer insights into the SEL competencies they feel confident in.

 

Holistic Progress Tracking

While tracking these metrics separately is valuable, the most useful approach combines them in a way that paints a complete picture of student progress. Here are some additional methods that help that process:

• Personalized Learning Plans: For students with unique needs, develop individualized progress metrics across these domains.

• Teacher and Peer Feedback: Use qualitative data from teachers and peers to measure social skills and functional skill development.

• Portfolios: Encourage students to document their learning in an electronic or physical portfolio, which can showcase their academic, functional, and social-emotional progress.

• Parent Feedback: Engage parents in tracking their child’s progress at home, particularly for functional and SEL skills.

• Regular Check-Ins and Surveys: Conduct periodic check-ins with students (e.g., quarterly SEL surveys, academic progress reports) to gauge growth and areas for further development.

By tracking all these metrics, schools get a comprehensive view of student progress and create a more tailored approach to supporting each student's growth across multiple areas.

Two key questions emerge for our SAU administrators and school boards. How many of these metrics do we track?  Where can parents and other residents view them?