About the BEC

COSA Seaside Conference

June 25, 2009

Presenter

Tamra Busch-JohnsenBusiness Education Compact

Rebecca SteinkeProficiency Intern, BEC

Business Education Compact

About the BEC

Who is the BEC?

Established: 1984, Non-profit

Service area: State of Oregon

Clients: Business, industry, public

sector

Education institutions (K-20)

Board of Directors: 15 education members

15 business members

About the BEC

BEC Vision & Mission

Teachers inspire learningStudents engage in learningBusinesses thriveV

isio

n

We make learning real by:

Connecting the classroom and workplace with hands-on, innovative learning experiences for students and teachers

Creating and leading working partnerships with business and education

Advocating for quality education in Oregon

Mis

sio

n

About the BEC

Student Internships

Year-round internships make learning real

High school: sample potential career fields

College: apply classroom learning

Highlights

~2,500 students placed

High school through doctoral candidates

Diverse jobs in diverse industries

Impact

About the BEC

Educator Excellence Program

Enhances ability to provide career advice to students

Interns solve real business problems

Teachers connect experiences to classroom

Highlights

> 1,000

internships

1,700 workplace visitations

Radically changes curriculum and learning

Impact

About the BEC

National Engineers Month

24 supporting companies

400 engineers visited 975 classrooms

26,800 students reached across 22 Oregon counties

Since 1995 launch:

~ 275,000 students reached

Impact 2009

Engineers visit K-12 classrooms each February

Students engage in hands-on activities

Generates excitement for STEM (science, technology, engineering & math)

Highlights

About the BEC

Teacher Development InitiativeProficiency-based Teaching and Learning

Assess students’ knowledge/skills strictly on demonstrated proficiency in state standards

Support wider use of proficiency in new high school diploma requirements

Provide training for K-12 educators on proficiency practices and strategies

Highlights

Produces higher student achievement in all classes—including math!

Dramatically lowers drop out rates

Hundreds of schools and districts served —from Coos Bay to Redmond to Union-Baker

~1,000 teachers have participated in BEC workshops

Impact

About the BEC

BEC Board Members

Business Members Education Members

Buchanan Angeli Altschul & Sullivan Beaverton School District

Intel Corporation Colton School District

Legacy Health System Forest Grove School District

Microsoft Marylhurst University

NIKE, Inc. NW Regional ESD

Oregon Building Congress Oregon Department of Education

Portland General Electric Oregon Education Association

Precision Wire Components PAVTEC/ PCC

The Standard Portland Community College

Vernier Software & Technology Portland Public Schools

Washington Mutual Portland State University

Western Oregon University

West Linn-Wilsonville SD

About the BEC

Change in Education is Needed

Unacceptable gap between output of education system and needs of economy and communities

• 30% of entering 9th grades don’t finish high school in four years

• 40% of those who do graduate are not ready to succeed in postsecondary education

• More than 25% of college freshmen need remedial classes in reading, writing & math

Outdated delivery system to help students reach necessary levels of achievement

About the BEC

Carnegie Unit of Credit

Teacher –centered approach

Teacher sets the instructional pace

Promotes passive learners

Behavior often reflected in grades

Leads to grade inflation (high GPA – low SAT)

About the BEC

What’s not working about how we teach and evaluate students now?

Practices that are connected to grading

Attendance

Attitude

Behavior

Effort

Extra Credit

Glitter & sparkle

About the BEC

Proficiency Defined

Routinely demonstrating ability to know and understand standards

Targeted level of achievement (Oregon State Standards)

Students demonstrate proficiency in the standards by subject, course and/or grade level

Students move ahead by demonstrating knowledge and skills regardless of time spent in a classroom

About the BEC

Sufficiency & Proficiency

Sufficiency is the 1st question: Does the student have enough evidence to show he understands and can apply the standards identified for the project?

Proficiency is the 2nd question: Does the collection of evidence reflect a proficient level of understanding and application of knowledge and skills?

About the BEC

Proficiency Based Teaching and Learning – Paradigm Shift

Role of the Teacher

Role of the Student

Grading

Seat Time vs. Proficiency

Instruction

K-12 system

About the BEC

Proficiency Based Teaching and Learning – Role of Teacher

Facilitator or coach

Personalization of learning

Learning outcomes planned between student and teacher

Class instruction varies

Class Group Individual Online College Class Internship

About the BEC

Proficiency Based Teaching and Learning – Role of Student

Ownership of their learning

Self-directed

Passive learner to active learner

Personalized learning

About the BEC

Proficiency Based Teaching and Learning – Grading Changes

Grades reflect what students know, not what they do

“Zero” is not an option

Students have multiple opportunities to meet each standard in multiple ways

Daily work and class work are considered practicing for the standard and generally not collected

Class credit given when students demonstrate they have met all the standards

About the BEC

Proficiency Based Teaching and Learning – Proficiency into

Grades

Grades of A, B, C and I A = Mastery of the Standards B = Exceed in the Standards C = Meets the Standards I = In progress

Personal Traits graded under CRL

About the BEC

Serving Students Through Proficiency

Compact content

Identify what a student knows and can do

Communicate clearly what a student needs to learn

Differentiate for each student or groups of students based on levels of proficiency

Allow students to create their own learning contracts

Develop learning plans that target areas where students need to concentrate

Communicate more effectively with parents about levels of student achievement

About the BEC

6 Perspectives of Grading

GRADING . . . Is not essential for learning

Is complicated

Is subjective and emotional

Is inescapable

Has a limited research base

Has no single best practice

(How to Grade for Learning, Ken O’Connor—2005)

About the BEC

Results

Redmond High School Enrollment – 0% of freshmen dropped out of

Redmond High School with no planned destination compared to 18% from the previous year

Discipline – 9.2% of office referrals compared to 40.9%

Students who failed 2 or more courses – less than 3.8% compared to 17.9%

About the BEC

Results (cont’d)

Scappoose High School 52 out of 55 freshmen who consistently failed in

math passed Pre Algebra/Algebra

Forest Grove High School Math teacher reports the highest success rate she

has ever seen in her class

About the BEC

Science Strands—Oaks Testing 2009

10 out of 12 Earth

Science Standards

Assessed in a PB Model

About the BEC

Science Strands—Oaks Testing 2009

Traditional Teaching

and Assessment

About the BEC

Science Strands—Oaks Testing 2009

100% Life Science

Standards Assessed in a PB Model

About the BEC

Math Scores—Scappoose

Scappoose Math vs. State Math Scores

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2004/2005 2005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008 2008/2009

School Year

% P

asse

d 1

0th

Gra

de

Mat

h

Tes

t Scappoose

State

About the BEC

Science Scores—Scappoose

Scappoose Science vs. State Science Scores

01020304050607080

2004

/200

5

2005

/200

6

2006

/200

7

2007

/200

8

2008

/200

9

School Year

% P

asse

d 1

0th

Gra

de

Sci

ence

Tes

t

Scappoose

State

About the BEC

How does this impact the Drop Out Rate?

Scappoose vs. State Drop Out Rates

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

44.5

5

2004

/200

5

2005

/200

6

2006

/200

7

2007

/200

8

School Year

% D

rop

Ou

t

Drop Out Rates

Drop Out Rates State

About the BEC

Workshops Statistics Through May 09

Total Schools: 184 Total Districts/Org: 103 Total Participants: 838 Total Counties: 25

About the BEC

Proficiency Based Teaching and Learning – Challenges

Complex change in instruction

Professional development for teachers and administrators

Resources/Time

Supportive school leadership

Clear communication to parents

About the BEC

Resources:

Get Ready Oregon! Website

http://www.getreadyoregon.org/

About the BEC

Contact Information

Business Education Compact12655 SW Center St. Suite 430

Beaverton, Oregon 97005www.becpdx.org

Tamra Busch-JohnsenExecutive Director503-646-0242 ext. 24tbuschjo@becpdx.org