This Message Center is organized and operated by David Vitale HSED Competency Diploma

The committee was informed of a recent decision by the high school administration to award High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) program completers a Watertown Unified School District competency based diploma.  This diploma is identical to that received by students in the Alternative Learning Center competency program who complete an alternative course of studies.  The change will take effect with the class of 2009 and will have an immediate impact on the graduation rate calculated by the high school and reported to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.   

Measures of Academic Progress (MAPs Testing)

Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) is a state-aligned, computerized adaptive assessment program that provides educators with the information they need to improve teaching and learning. It has been discussed recently as a means to gain more instructionally useful information from which to make timely curricular, instructional, and professional development decisions.  Educators use the growth and achievement data from MAP to develop targeted instructional strategies and to plan school improvement. With the ability to test students up to four times a year, MAP test results help educators make student-focused, data-driven decisions. 

The discussion about MAPs will continue into the upcoming school year.  Among the decisions to be discussed with teaching and administrative staff include, testing areas, technology availability, frequency, cost, and the purpose behind the tests and their resultant data.

posted May 19, 2009 « back to Message Center home

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