| Follow
The Child is an initiative to help schools and teachers foster
student aspirations to promote student achievement through
an emphasis on personalized learning and assessment. Expanding
upon the spirit of No Child Left Behind, Follow The Child
focuses on measuring growth in the personal, social, physical,
and academic facets of each student's life and defining the
necessary support systems needed for each student's success.
This initiative helps to preserve the individual education
of each child as the defining purpose of New Hampshire 's
educational system.
Follow
The Child is not a prescribed set of uniform measures, but
rather a vision for child-centered learning that can be met
as each school and district best sees fit. This combination
of high expectations and flexibility helps to maintain the
diverse, local character of education in New Hampshire. Already,
several districts and schools have chosen to participate in
this exciting initiative. Follow The Child schools and districts
make a deep commitment to their students and staff, ensuring
that personalized learning and student well-being are at the
center of school policies.
During
the 2005-2006 school year, Commissioner Lyonel B. Tracy began
to describe his framework
for Follow The Child for educators and audiences across the
state. In 2006-2007 and beyond, the Department of Education
will help to implement this vision with outstanding professional
development opportunities in support of the Follow The Child
initiative. Held all over New Hampshire, these opportunities
will help to outfit teachers and administrators with the tools
and techniques necessary to create classrooms and schools
focused on the success, aspirations, and well-being of each
child.
No
Child Left Behind has made academic proficiency a national
conversation. It is essential that New Hampshire captures
this urgency and directs it into a whole-child approach that
exceeds the national standard. Through the personalization
of learning and the measuring of progress in all aspects of
a student's life, New Hampshire can provide an education that
helps students to increase their aspirations and reach their
fullest potential. Commissioner Tracy and the Department of
Education invite members of the educational community to join
together to make this initiative a reality for every student
in the state. The Quaglia Institute for student
aspirations has joined the Commissioner and the Department
to support Follow The Child.
Participating schools, districts, and organizations
Follow The Child Brochure. 
Link to
The Quaglia
Institute
Follow The Child Growth Model Information
The Follow The Child Growth Model
calculates growth targets for every student and tallies the number of students meeting these individual growth targets.
The Follow The Child Growth Model supplements the existing AYP index model. This proposal captures the spirit of No Child Left Behind and the urgency to move each child to academic proficiency.
The US Department of Education has awarded the DOE a 3-year, $3.2 million dollar Longitudinal Data Systems grant to:
- Build a comprehensive data warehouse with decision support software to support policy, management, and funding decisions. It will include customized interfaces, ad hoc query capabilities, training and support.
- Expand the Follow The Child Assistance Center, a longitudinal data system specifically designed for teachers. Adding the final two modules of Performance Pathways will let teachers create their own assessments and develop curriculum and lesson plans with built-in links to the State’s grade level expectations.
- Support the Governor’s P-16 Working Group to developing strategies for connecting P-12 and higher education data.
Complete description of the Follow The Child: New Hampshire’s Decision Support System
Press Release
"My
Voice Surveys"
My Voice
Student Aspirations Survey
The My Voice ©
Student Survey, developed by the Quaglia Institute for Student
Aspirations, asks students to respond to a series of statements
about their learning environment. Students' names
are not reported on the survey, important demographic questions
are asked to allow schools to further disaggregate and understand
the responses. The statements probe the conditions that affect
students' aspirations and, ultimately, their personal, social,
physical, and academic development. More information about the"My Voice Survey."
Follow
The Child Professional Development for Schools participating
in the My Voice© Survey.
New Hampshire Aggregate Reports for 2007-2008
New Hampshire Aggregate Reports for 2006-2007
Follow
The Child: An Initiative to Personalized Education Presentation
As
schools and districts begin to embrace the Follow The Child
initiative, the new standards for school approval, and High
School redesign programs, the probability for student success
continues to rise. Department members recently presented,
"Follow The Child: An Initiative to Personalized Education"
at the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development's
(ASCD) Annual Conference. This session, described how education
is personalized for each student by addressing the personal,
physical, social, and academic components of the whole child
which explained how the NH State Board of Education Standards
for School Approval allow schools the flexibility to award
credits for real-world and extended-learning opportunities.
Click here to view the
PowerPoint used for the presentation.
Invitation
to Educators to Become a Follow The Child Designated Teacher
A
key goal of Follow The Child is to improve the personal, social,
physical, and academic well-being of each New Hampshire student.
In doing so, the Commissioner of Education invites each educator
in the state to consider becoming a Follow The Child designated
teacher.
If
you are interested in learning more about the obligations
and benefits of such designation, the Department will host
a forum for potential candidates in the near future.
If
you would like to attend such a forum please send your Name,
Position, School, Telephone Number and Email Address to Patricia
Butler, NH Department of Education, 101 Pleasant Street, Concord,
NH 03301. You will not be asked to declare your intentions
until you have more information.
Resources:
The
New Hampshire Early Learning Guidelines (32 pages) encourages
active participation of families,
early childhood educators, community members, advocates, policymakers,
and others involved in the care, education, and development
of young children. The Guidelines address learning and development
appropriate for children from birth to entrance into kindergarten,
and can serve as a vehicle to advance policies, practices,
and learning opportunities that benefit New Hampshire's youngest
citizens.
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