Dedicated Discovery is devoted to developing collegial relationships where everyone is working together to achieve our shared goals. It is our desire to provide relevant, authentic experiences which instill a curiosity and a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. By embracing the diversity and individuality of all we will ensure positive contributors to our democratic society.

• Seamless Curriculum: "Community Connections Across Contents" Create a method where teachers can utilize and incorporate all subjects and create relevance to community issues. 
• Constructive Learning: "Embracing the Two Faces of Learning: Joy and Struggle" We believe in creating a commitment for learning where students learn perseverance through building connections with peers and adults.
• Meaningful Evaluation: "Discuss-Reflect-Accept/Reject" This model will internalize what works and change what does not.
• Building Citizenship: "Positive Approaches to Traditional Procedures" Our approach to discipline aims to build, rehabilitate and strengthen character, allowing for growth and personal commitment.
• Teacher Teamwork: "Teamwork: A Personal Commitment" We believe that teachers must be empowered  to develop into a community of collegial professionals.
• Achieving Vision:  "T.L.C. Teachers Learning Continuously"  It is our goal to create opportunities for positive, meaningful  professional development that is ongoing and customized to teachers' needs.

Vision:

The vision of meaningful evaluation is that the learning community will examine their progress, reflect upon it, and the develop a course of action in order to improve it.  Learners will construct meaning out of what they experienced.  Through this reflection the learners will reassess their needs and move forward in this learning cycle.  As Arthur Costa has said, "The purpose of this evaluation is to help the students learn self-evaluation."  (CAT intro, pg. iii)

Driving Force:

• How can we change the current test driven assessment?
• How can we create a fair and individual assessment for a diverse student population? 
• How can we involve students in ongoing assessment of their peers?
• How can we involve students in ongoing self-reflection?
• How can we aid the teacher in the collection of data?
• How can we simplify the analysis of the collected data?
• How can we determine clear and positive construction of learning?

Available Information:

• Faculty/Student surveys
• Current Norm-Testing
• Alternate forms of assessment
• Peer coaching
• Evidence of existing instuments
• Evidence of student learning
• Desired objectives are being accomplished

Data Story:

The collection of data would allow us to sucessfully monitor the progress of our reassessment techniques and instruments.  This will encourage the continual reworking of ideas and experiences of the learner. 

Community Report:

Our district will have an annual schoolwide report (newsletter/school web page) which will inform the community of the rational for teaching and assessing in a variety of ways.  It will also demonstrate how assessment is embedded in learning activities.

Foward Action:

Our engine of change hopes to accomplish district wide assessment change.

• Infuse the arts (ex: Music, Theater, Drama, Literature)
• Provide social skills for collaborative learning
• Avalibility of funds for the implementation of creative expression
• Make learning meaningful
• Make learning fun by arousing students curiosity
• Create Life-Long Learners