In March 2009, Kentucky’s General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1. Passage of this bill established the implementation of a program review to be included as part of a new assessment and accountability model. A Program Review is
…a systematic method of analyzing components of an instructional program, including instructional practices, aligned and enacted curriculum, student work samples, formative and summative assessments, professional development and support services, and administrative support and monitoring KRS 158.6453(1)(i)
Program reviews have been written for three (3) areas: Arts & Humanities, Writing, and Practical Living and Career Studies. They will serve a number of purposes, which include
· improving the quality teaching and learning for all students in all programs
· allowing equal access to all students the skills that will assist them in being productive citizens
· allowing student demonstration of understanding beyond a paper-and-pencil test
· ensuring a school-wide natural integration of the program skills across all contents, beyond the program areas
The review of a program should be an on-going, year-round, reflective process. Through careful review schools will be able to identify strengths, which can be shared with other programs within the building. A careful review will also allow for the identification of weaknesses and areas of growth. It is to a school’s advantage to communicate the program review process and documents to all staff. As staff identifies their roles in supporting school programs, they can contribute to the process of evidence identification and program improvement.
Here you will find drafts of the three (3) program reviews as well as resources that can assist schools and districts in improving their programs.
Additional links of interest:
AdvancED - KDE
21st Century Skills Framework
Highly Effective Teaching and Learning
Kentucky Educational Television, in collaboration with the Kentucky Department of Education has developed 5 self-paced modules which describe the program review process. They can be found at http://www.teachersdomain.org/special/kysbo/
Kentucky Teacher, the Kentucky Department of Education’s award-winning publication, has published articles that demonstrate how the program reviews can lead to improvement in traditionally non-tested areas.
Program Reviews a shift from test-centered to program-centered
Eastern Kentucky Program Reviews a cooperative effort
Program Reviews Questions and Answers