Department of Defense Education Activity

Goal 1: Student Excellence

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Student Excellence

Students are at the heart of all DoDEA does. DoDEA is committed to preparing each student to maximize his or her academic growth and well-being for college, career, and life. DoDEA will implement two Strategic Initiatives in pursuit of Student Excellence: data-informed instruction and transition to college and career. These initiatives are designed to take on the challenge of providing instruction to students that is rigorous, differentiated, and meets the needs of DoDEA’s diverse student population.

Data-Informed Instruction

With the implementation of College and Career Ready Standard (CCRS) for Math and Literacy, DoDEA improved the quality of instruction through the adoption of new standards and materials.  DoDEA must now couple these innovations with the appropriate use of assessments to further advance student learning.  When fully developed, the DoDEA Comprehensive Assessment System (DoDEA CAS) will include both summative and formative components that will provide the data required to differentiate instruction.  It is essential that DoDEA equips educators with professional learning to deliver and utilize the results of these assessments and supplies them with necessary technology and other tools.

Successful Transition to College and Career

Over the last several years, DoDEA made significant progress toward identifying career pathways and developing programs to assist students’ postsecondary transition.  However, there is still work to be done to make certain students at all grade levels are given the academic foundation, social and emotional skills, and counseling services necessary to be ready for college or career.  These efforts must be strengthened by policies that encourage students to participate in innovative dual-enrollment and apprenticeship programs and allow DoDEA to assess its success by tracking its current students post-graduation.

Students are at the heart of all DoDEA does.

Goal 1- Strategic Initiative 1.1:

Data-Informed Instruction - Provide all students with instruction that is aligned to rigorous standards and is differentiated based on an appropriate assessment system and the needs of individual learners.

Critical Success Factors:

  1. Systemic Accountability for Learning: In order to create expectations for school, district, and organizational performance to facilitate recognition and support, we will develop an assessment system and other data tools to continuously improve.
  2. Equitable Learning Experiences for All Students: In order to provide equal opportunities for students to learn, we will implement programs and supports to address achievement gaps between racial, ethnic, ability, and other identified groups.
  3. Differentiated Instruction for All Students: In order to directly meet each student’s academic and developmental needs, we will provide tiered support in the classroom and through extracurricular activities
  4. Access to Rigorous Instruction: In order to provide multiple opportunities for students to access high level coursework at every DoDEA school, regardless of location or size, we will develop and sustain advanced academic options for all students.
  5. 21st Century Learning Environments: In order to proactively address the dynamic needs of learners, we will manage school facilities and technologies that facilitate 21st century teaching and learning strategies and provide professional learning for educators in making appropriate use of those tools to provide rigorous and tiered instruction.
  6. Common Understanding of the DoDEA Comprehensive Assessment System: In order to advance the impactful use of assessment results, we will clearly define and appropriately communicate with stakeholders the vision for how, when, and why assessments are used in DoDEA and how they will inform instruction.
  7. Balanced Assessment: In order to maintain the focus on instruction in classrooms rather than testing, we will sustain an ongoing process to evaluate length, frequency, focus, and use of assessments.
  8. Efficient Implementation: In order to facilitate curriculum implementation and accessible assessments, we will manage and coordinate infrastructure requirements at all levels.
Goal 1- Strategic Initiative 1.2:

Successful Transition to College and Career- Develop comprehensive programs to support students throughout their primary and secondary education for their transition into college and career.

Critical Success Factors:

  1. Support for Social and Emotional Learning: In order to develop the broad set of skills required for navigating college, career, and life in all students, we will deliver comprehensive programming to foster social, emotional, and wellness skills as well as resiliency.
  2. College and Career Exposure: In order to prepare students for college and career opportunities, we will implement and maintain innovative programs that expose all students to a variety of military and civilian career paths and post-secondary options. 
  3. Clear and Appropriate Policy for College and Career Ready: In order to drive alignment and innovation in programming, we will communicate the definition of college and career ready through policy that establishes specific measurements and sets expectations for student success.
  4. Aligned Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment to Support College and Career Success: In order for all students to achieve their greatest potential, we will refine and develop programming beginning in elementary school to support the development of all aspects of college and career readiness.
  5. Rigorous Career Clusters: In order to maximize students’ access to challenging careers, we will continually enhance comprehensive and rigorous career and technical education programs that are strengthened by cutting edge technology and materials.
  6. Expert College and Career Counseling Services: In order to support students in the college admissions and career selection processes, we will develop ongoing training for counselors regarding financial aid and planning options, college climate, and awareness of requirements to successfully prepare for military and civilian career avenues.