Understanding Standards-Based Education: A Practical Guide for Teachers and Administrators

"Just what the educational doctor ordered. Written in an easy-to-understand format, this guide contains excellent explanations and valuable models, guidelines, checklists, unit designs, and lesson designs to help teachers implement standards-based education in their classrooms."
―Vaughn G. Rhudy, Teacher
Shady Spring High School, WV

"Zagranski, Whigham, and Dardenne tame the beast of accountability for principals, teachers, and parents by articulately defining what is really expected. A real guide for demystifying the complex world of standards-based education."
―Erica Ann Faginski, Principal
Michael E. Smith Middle School, South Hadley, MA

Transforming your curriculum into a standards-based model: What every educator needs to know!

This comprehensive handbook offers a data-driven curriculum design process to help educators meet today′s standards of performance and assessment. Based on decades of hands-on experience, Richard Zagranski, William T. Whigham, and Patrice L. Dardenne provide a clear set of expectations and responsibilities for stakeholders at all three levels of the educational pyramid: teachers, teacher leaders/coordinators, and administrators. Their user-friendly approach, which both incorporates and looks beyond NCLB, shows readers how to take a standard, transform it into a performance objective, and design a corresponding assessment piece. The text includes:

• Standards-based guidelines and action plans
• Ready-to-use charts, rubrics, and templates
• Real-world examples and assessment methods
• Step-by-step instructions to ensure sustainability
• Chapter summaries and a glossary for easy reference

Understanding Standards-Based Education leads educators through a well-defined course of curriculum revision and presents all participants with specific, need-to-know information for accomplishing mandated goals.

Richard A. Zagranski was a teacher for 40 years at South Hadley High School, South Hadley, MA. During that time he also held the following administrative positions: English Department Chairman; District Curriculum Coordinator for English; Chairman of the Teacher Evaluation Committee; Chairman of the Reaccreditation Committee; and Chairman of the Philosophy and Objectives Committee In addition, he has been an Adjunct Instructor at both Holyoke Community College as well as at Fitchburg State College, both in Massachusetts. Currently, he is a Standards-Based Consultant working with school systems in and around the New England area. The information and techniques presented in this Guide are field-tested approaches, which he has refined through research and trial and error.

William Whigham has been a teacher for over 30 years in both middle and high schools, during which time he has served as an Interim Assistant Principal, Co-Chairman of the District Curriculum Committee, Grants Manager, Director of Physical Education and Athletics, Adjunct Instructor for Student Teachers at Springfield College, Adjunct Instructor at Fitchburg State College, and Standards-Based Consultant. He is the author of the first NCLB implementation program used by the South Hadley, MA, school system. He is currently working with Springfield College, Springfield, MA, in the future teachers program bringing in accountability and assessment standards. Likewise, he serves as a Standards-Based Consultant in the New England region.

Patrice Dardenne has been involved in education for over 30 years during which time he has served as Assistant Superintendent for Accountability (responsible for the development, implementation, and operation of the school system’s assessment systems, data management systems, NCLB grant program, curriculum and technology initiatives), Interim Superintendent, Assistant to the Superintendent for Management Services (including professional development programs for the staff), Adjunct Instructor at American International College, Director of Special Education, and Dean of Students/Guidance Counselor. Likewise he has served as an Evaluation Consultant and an Educational Software Consultant in Monterey, California, working with the school district to institute assessment and data management services. He was just appointed to the position of Superintendent of Schools in Hatfield, Massachusetts.