Educational Practices Reference Guide v.2022.08

Educational Practices Reference Guide

? 2019 Cognia, Inc.

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Table of Contents

Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................................5 Healthy Culture of Learning ....................................................................................................................................6

Keys to a culture of learning.................................................................................................................................6 Cultivating and sustaining institutional culture...............................................................................................6 Learner well-being .........................................................................................................................................6 Support of growth and well-being ..................................................................................................................7 Positive relationships .....................................................................................................................................7 Effective collegiality and collaboration...........................................................................................................7 Strengthening professional practice ..............................................................................................................8

Leadership for Learning ..........................................................................................................................................9 Keys to leadership for learning ............................................................................................................................9 Purpose statement ........................................................................................................................................9 Leadership in action research .......................................................................................................................9 Empowerment to support leadership growth.................................................................................................9 Continuous improvement process ...............................................................................................................10 Governing authority .....................................................................................................................................10 Policy content ..............................................................................................................................................10 Additional resources...........................................................................................................................................11 National School Board Association .............................................................................................................11 National Association of Independent Schools .............................................................................................11 National Collegiate Athletic Association ......................................................................................................11 Cognia resources.........................................................................................................................................11

Engagement of Learning .......................................................................................................................................12 Keys to engagement of learning ........................................................................................................................12 Curriculum and instruction .................................................................................................................................12 Best practices in curriculum ...............................................................................................................................12 Early learning...............................................................................................................................................12 Primary and elementary levels ....................................................................................................................13 Middle school and junior high levels............................................................................................................13 High school and secondary levels ...............................................................................................................13 Supplementary institutions ..........................................................................................................................14 Digital learning institutions...........................................................................................................................14 International institutions...............................................................................................................................14 Best practices in instruction ...............................................................................................................................14 Instructional time..........................................................................................................................................15 Instructional time for digital learning institutions..........................................................................................15

Educational Practices Reference Guide

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Instructional planning time...........................................................................................................................15 Growth in Learning.................................................................................................................................................16

Keys to growth in learning..................................................................................................................................16 Data and input from a variety of sources.....................................................................................................16 Action research............................................................................................................................................16 Evaluation of instructional programs and organizational conditions ...........................................................17 Interventions ................................................................................................................................................17 Educational and career focus ......................................................................................................................18 Evaluation of professional learning..............................................................................................................18 Balanced assessments................................................................................................................................18 Proficiency-based learning ..........................................................................................................................19 Programs that support adult learners ..........................................................................................................19

Additional early learning guidelines.....................................................................................................................20 Additional digital learning guidelines...................................................................................................................22

Authenticity of learner work................................................................................................................................22 Learner engagement..........................................................................................................................................22 Awarding course credits and grades..................................................................................................................23 Graduation requirements ...................................................................................................................................23 Credit recovery...................................................................................................................................................23 Marketing and promotion ...................................................................................................................................23 Third-party curriculum and assessments ...........................................................................................................24 Technology infrastructure...................................................................................................................................24 Position on high school equivalency ..................................................................................................................24

Background .................................................................................................................................................. 25 Position statement .......................................................................................................................................25 Terms and definitions ..................................................................................................................................25 Utilization of essential resources .........................................................................................................................27 Professional learning..........................................................................................................................................27 Professional qualifications..................................................................................................................................27 Instructional personnel qualifications ..........................................................................................................27 Early learning staff qualifications .................................................................................................................27 Superintendent qualifications ......................................................................................................................28 School and district administrator qualifications ...........................................................................................28 Counselor and media specialist qualifications.............................................................................................28 Non-teaching professional staff qualifications .............................................................................................28 Paraprofessional staff qualifications ............................................................................................................28 Digital learning programs/courses staff qualifications .................................................................................28

Educational Practices Reference Guide

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Staffing levels for administrative, counseling, and media staff ..........................................................................28 Class size and teacher-to-learner ratios ............................................................................................................29 Early learning teacher-to-learner ratios..............................................................................................................29 Digital learning teacher-to-learner ratios............................................................................................................30 Library/media services .......................................................................................................................................30

Best practice recommendations ..................................................................................................................30 Fiscal management............................................................................................................................................30

Annual financial audits.................................................................................................................................31 Security and crisis management........................................................................................................................31

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Introduction

This Educational Practices Reference Guide provides examples of educational practices that are aligned with the Cognia Performance Standards. It is not designed to take the place of the Cognia Performance Standards, Assurances, or Policies and Procedures, nor is it comprehensive of all educational best practices. Rather, it is a guide that is designed to be supplemental to these primary resources, and Cognia recognizes that there are many pathways to continuous improvement success. The practices highlighted in this guide address those areas where Cognia is most often asked for examples, benchmarks, or guideposts of good educational practice. The guide is organized into practices that support the four key characteristics of the standards: 1. Culture of Learning 2. Leadership for Learning 3. Engagement of Learning 4. Growth in Learning Please note that this guide also provides information related to Early Learning and Digital Learning institutions. Institutions seeking further guidance in these areas are strongly encouraged to review the Cognia Performance Standards, the assurances for Early Learning Schools, and/or the assurances related to Digital Learning.

Educational Practices Reference Guide v.2022,07.22

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