One of the biggest complaints from parents and students in a traditional public education setting is that kids are expected to meet standards based on test scores, and the result is an educational method that leaves some children behind. You may have even heard the comparison of too rigid an instruction method is like trying to measure how well a fish could ride a bicycle. With this in mind, many parents are looking for a more personalized, data-driven instructional method based on the actual needs of the students.
Data-driven does not mean just basing things on test scores. In this article, instructors from the best private school in Clearwater, FL with Lakeside Christian School dive into what data-driven instruction means and how it can change your child’s experience and prepare them for college and beyond.
Data-driven instruction is achieved by using information gathered while learning to determine what should be taught next. In the classroom, this data usually comes from formative and summative information and is assessed by the individual educators, rather than by the school board or administration who may not know your child well (or at all in a public school setting).
Formative data is information gathered by the teacher as instruction and learning are occurring. For example, paying attention to how the class does on a particular topic or individual lesson plan. Summative data is gathered at the end of a specified learning period — this can be either the end of a unit or a specific amount of time. Using both of these forms of data, teachers can evaluate if the class or individual is ready to move on to the next topic or if they would benefit from a different type of learning.
If you are thinking that test scores are part of the data that creates data-driven instruction, you are not wrong. However, there are a few major differences:
You can see that with data-driven instruction, the students are evaluated on a more individual basis, in the classroom with the instructors they see every day. Test-score led instruction usually will involve a high number of failures in order for the school board or even higher up the ladder, the state or federal government, to evaluate and decide if the curriculum should be changed. This can take years to make any real change, leaving teachers, students, and parents increasingly frustrated as the expectations stay the same year-in and year-out.
Now that we understand what data-driven is, it is important to touch on the how in regard to the impact on lesson plans.
As we mentioned above, data-driven instruction means your child receives a tailored educational plan that will work to either eliminate academic gaps, or propel them forward if they are already on track. Without assessment (and there are multiple kinds of assessment), it’s impossible to determine if a student is on track or not, and if this can’t be determined, students fall through the cracks and essential skills may be lost.
When this data is analyzed, teachers will be able to immediately see if their teaching is effective for each student. Based on the data collected, they may decide to change the lessons by creating smaller groups concentrated on the skills with which students are struggling, or change teaching methods entirely. This means the teachers aren’t teaching content to students. They are teaching students essential content. They might choose to change the delivery of the content until they find the right fit for each individual student.
Data-driven also changes lessons because it doesn’t matter what size the classroom is. Each student receives the education they need in order to close academic gaps and get on track for college preparedness.
This sounds like something you might see in the younger grades more than older, but it is important in high school as well. Finding the right private high school in Clearwater, FL that offers data-driven instruction can help your middle or high-schooler as well.
Public schools have many great qualities, but the fact is, they may not have the time or resources to provide data-driven instruction. Finding a Clearwater private school may give your child a more focused experience with personalized attention. It is important to note, not every private school offers data-led or data-driven instruction, and the concept is still growing in popularity. But the right school for your family should meet your educational goals, data-led or otherwise. This will give your child the upper hand when it is time to apply for college and will ensure that no child is left behind.
Lakeside Christian School has been practicing data-driven instruction in K-5 for several years and has noticed a marked improvement in scores. Academic gaps are closing and off-track students are quickly catching up.
Lakeside Christian School is among the best private schools in Clearwater FL, and uses a tailored approach to your child’s education. If you’re interested in learning more about how we challenge all of our students to achieve their academic and personal goals, give us a call.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, one of best private schools in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
Recently, the State of Florida announced the passage of HB 7045 through the Florida House of Representatives (79-36 vote) and Florida State Senate (25-14 vote) which makes changes to a few private school scholarship programs. It is now ready to go to Gov. Ron DeSantis for a final signature. These changes are one step closer to expanding the private school voucher program in a major way for parents, and giving greater opportunities for school choice to families.
If you are hoping to understand how these changes might affect your family, Lakeside Christian School, a Christian private school in Clearwater, FL, shares some of the biggest impacts in this brief article. These changes apply to both private high schools in Clearwater, FL as well as private middle and elementary schools.
In a nutshell, House Bill 7045 is all about expanding school choice. According to the Florida Senate, the bill includes:
“School Choice; Revises student eligibility requirements under Family Empowerment Scholarship program to include students with disabilities; revises provisions related to calculation of maximum amount of scholarship funds granted to a student with disabilities; revises provisions related to funding and payment of scholarships awarded under program; providing requirements for use of funds under program; revising program administration obligations; repeals Gardiner Scholarship Program; provides for future repeal of John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; providing certain students with disabilities are eligible for enrollment in transition-to-work programs; revising amount of eligible contributions used for administrative expenses by an eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization under Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.”
You can read House Bill 7045 in its entirety here. Let’s break down what these changes actually look like:
Many private schools offer discounted tuition for active-duty military members, however in some cases they may have qualified for tuition assistance. However, with the passage of HB 7045, more military members would have access to private school vouchers. With this bill, all active-duty military members will automatically be eligible for a state scholarship for private schools through either the Step Up for Students program or the Family Empowerment Program.
However, families must submit an application before June 4th for a 100% award.
Another major expansion to scholarships due to HB7045 comes for families who have adopted a child from the foster care system. These families will now automatically qualify for a scholarship voucher.
The deadline for families to apply for this scholarship voucher is also June 4.
The biggest change coming as a result of HB 7045 is the consolidation of the Gardiner and McKay scholarship programs, which serve students with family needs. These would be combined with the Step Up or Family Empowerment Scholarship program, which are currently in place to serve a broad population of low-to-middle-income families.
It should be noted that currently the McKay and Step Up scholarships do not cover 100% of tuition costs.
Currently, the McKay scholarship is available to all students currently in the Florida Public School system who have a qualified IEP or 504 plan for specific learning issues. The Step Up scholarship is available to all Florida residents with students in grades K-12 whose families meet specific income requirements.
However, with the combination of these scholarships, there will also be a change to the financial eligibility. HB 7045 will increase the maximum income eligibility to receive vouchers to 375% of the federal poverty level. For example, that would mean that a family for 4 making around $100,000 per year would qualify.
Further, all families who currently have a child with either the Gardiner or the McKay Scholarships will automatically receive a Step Up or Family Empowerment Scholarship for their other students, regardless of the family income. Meaning that if the family has one child in the school on a scholarship, that child’s siblings will qualify.
At this time, the bill does not appear to address any changes to the FACTS scholarship. The FACTS scholarship is available to all parents who desire that their student attend Lakeside Christian School. This is an income-based scholarship designed to help create more affordable tuition.
For many families, scholarship programs are the key to unlocking your child’s full potential at a private school in Clearwater, FL. These scholarships are just a few of the many options that families who want to provide their children with a private education can explore. Remember, the deadline to apply for some of these scholarships is June 4th.
While public schools offer a myriad of positive benefits, many families are taking time post-Covid to explore what is best for their individual child.
With over 40 years of experience and a diverse student body of children from families of all socioeconomic backgrounds and income levels, Lakeside Christian School is built on the biblical principles of loving God and loving others. This care is demonstrated through the warm, respectful relationships among staff and between staff and students, and uses a tailored approach to your child’s education. If you’re interested in learning more about how we challenge all of our students to achieve their academic and personal goals, give us a call.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, a private school in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
Are you ready to join the Lakeside Christian School community? Contact us, and schedule a tour today.
Parents of Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan, Click Here.