Why Learning Teams Work

Factors that contribute to a shared sense of responsibility and fully functioning learning teams at Dallas Center-Grimes include:

• A clearly articulated focus about which practices teachers need to learn to improve student learning;
• A common vision that being student-focused is the district’s priority, and everybody is individually and collectively responsible for student achievement;
• The expectation that all staff will engage in professional learning and use their professional development time to accomplish student learning goals;
• Protected time built into the workday for collaboration; and
• Leadership demonstrated at every level of the organization.

Student Results

Scholastic Math Inventory

Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District uses the Scholastic Math Inventory to assess all middle school students (grades 6-8) in math standards. This assessment aligns to the Iowa Common Core. In 2011-12, the percentage of students who scored below proficiency decreased, while the percentage of students ranked advanced increased in all three grades.

Iowa Assessments

On the Iowa Assessments, the number of students in grades 7-11 rated proficient in math increased from 2010 to 2012.

The percentage of students rated proficient in reading, science, and social studies on the Iowa Assessments at the secondary level also showed growth. In 2012, more than 90% of the students in grades 9-11 rated proficient in science and social studies and more than 87% in reading.

In 2012, more than 80% of students in grades 3-11 rated proficient in all subtests of the Iowa Assessments for the first time.

When the district first started using formative assessment practices in 2009, 7.5% of students were on Individualized Education Programs. By 2012, that number dropped to 6.6%. This is consistent with Dylan Wiliam and Paul Black’s (2010) assertion that formative assessment has the greatest impact on struggling learners.

Source: Iowa Testing Service.