District/School Administration Administration
Education Reform

First Annual Implementation Report

GLOSSARY

authentic assessment (for students): Portfolio assessments, performance evaluations, open-ended exams, and other assessment instruments used to evaluate student performance on those work and life skills embodied in the Common Core of Learning

Common Core of Learning:What all students should know and be able to do upon graduation from high school

content standards: Specific measurable descriptions of what students should know and be able to do at the 4th, 8th, and 10th grade in each curriculum framework area

curriculum frameworks: Recommended teaching practices for fulfilling the Common Core of Learning

implementation activities: The fifty-four distinct initiatives that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Executive Office of Education undertook to implement the first year of the Education Reform Act of 1993

Individual Professional Development Plan: A description of each educator's objectives for professional growth and plan for fulfilling the objectives

interim indicators (school performance standards): The criteria which will be used to evaluate school and district performance over the next few years as the statewide student assessment system is developed

full certification: A five year renewable license to teach or administrate

portfolio assessments: A technique of evaluating student authentic performance based on the review of a series of distinct activities usually collected over an extended period of time and scored according to established standards

professional performance standards: (state) The part of the state guidelines for evaluating educational personnel that describes what specific, professional objectives should be used as a base for locally bargained standards

professional performance standards (local): Collectively bargained standards for the professional performance of educational personnel, based on state standards and used to evaluate and make employment decisions

professional licensure: State regulated minimal standards for legal employment as a teacher, guidance counselor, school psychologist, school librarian, school nurse, audio-visual media specialist, unified media specialist, school business administrator, principal, supervisor, director, assistant superintendent of schools, or superintendent of schools consisting of three parts: 1) provisional certification, 2) full certification, and 3) recertification.

professional standards: Commonly held beliefs about effective teaching and school administration that provide a base for professional licensure and professional performance standards of employment

professional teacher status: The legal status which replaces tenure to protect teachers with three years of seniority from dismissal except for inefficiency, incompetency, incapacity, conduct unbecoming a teacher, insubordination, failure to satisfy performance standards, or other just cause

provisional certification: The initial license that an educator receives which focuses on ensuring adequate content knowledge

recertification: The process in which educators renew their full certificate(s) at least every five years by demonstrating successful completion of an individual professional development plan

statewide evaluation guidelines: Guidelines established by the Board that form a base for a locally bargained process in which professional evaluations will occur

District Professional Development Plan: A plan and budget developed by each superintendent and school committee describing how the educators in that district will advance their professional objectives and fulfill their recertification requirements

school performance standards:Standards established by the Board of Education which will be used to generate school profiles and evaluate school performance or underperformance

student performance standards: The specific level of performance required to receive a certificate of competency, mastery, or occupational proficiency

standards: Agreed upon expectations of satisfactory performance (see content standards, professional performance standards, student performance standards, school performance standards)

strategic goals: The five goals of the Education Reform Implementation Plan approved by the Board of Education

Previous

Return to Table of Contents