Department of Defense Education Activity

Goal 1: Student Excellence

goal-1

Student Excellence

Students are at the heart of all DoDEA does, and DoDEA is committed to preparing each student for the college, career, and life choices they will make. COVID-19 forced a dramatic change in a short period, and DoDEA implemented and expanded remote learning platforms for students. DoDEA will continue with two Strategic Initiatives in pursuit of the Student Excellence Goal: data-informed instruction and successful transition to college and career. These Initiatives will support instruction that is rigorous, differentiated, and that meets the needs of DoDEA’s diverse student population.

Data-Informed Instruction

DoDEA improved education quality, beginning in school year 15/16 by implementing new College and Career Ready Standards (CCRS) and instructional materials. Measuring the effectiveness of these changes and making future changes require balanced assessments that track performance. Under this Strategic Initiative, DoDEA will track summative and formative assessment data through the DoDEA Comprehensive Assessment System (DoDEA CAS) to further advance student learning. In school year 19/20, circumstances surrounding COVID-19 required that DoDEA cancel the administration of the summative assessment. DoDEA CAS will resume in school year 20/21. DoDEA educators must be empowered and supported by ongoing professional learning to deliver and use assessment results. It will be especially important in the coming year to consider how DoDEA educators are using virtual learning spaces to create fair, equitable, and differentiated learning experiences and assessments for all students.

Successful Transition to College and Career

DoDEA has made significant progress toward identifying career pathways and developing programs to help students transition to college. DoDEA will continue to ensure that students at all grade levels are provided with the academic foundation, social and emotional skills, and counseling services necessary to be ready for college or a career. DoDEA will strengthen these efforts, both in traditional school settings and via digital learning, through policies that encourage students to participate in innovative dual-enrollment and apprenticeship programs and that allow DoDEA to measure success by tracking students after graduation.

Educate, Engage, and Empower military-connected students to succeed in a dynamic world.

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. Equitable Learning Experiences for All Students: In order to provide equitable opportunities for students to learn, we will implement programs and supports to address achievement gaps between racial, ethnic, ability, and other identified groups.
  2. Differentiated Instruction for All Students: To directly meet each student’s academic and developmental potential, we will provide rigorous instruction and tiered support for all students at all schools, regardless of location or size.
  3. 21st Century Learning Environments: 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.
  4. Common Understanding of the DoDEA Comprehensive Assessment System: COMPLETE
  5. Balanced Assessment: We will maintain the focus on instruction in classrooms rather than testing by sustaining an ongoing process to evaluate the length, frequency, focus, and use of assessments.
  6. Efficient Implementation: As we facilitate curriculum implementation and accessible assessments, we will support, manage, and
    coordinate logistical, IT, communication, and procurement 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 for all students, we will deliver comprehensive programming and support partnerships that foster social, emotional, resilience, and wellness skills.
  2. College and Career Exposure: We will prepare students for college and career opportunities by supporting counselors and other educators as they expose all students to a variety of military and civilian career paths and post-secondary options through rigorous career clusters and other innovative programs.