Key Characteristic 4: Growth in Learning

STANDARD # 26

Leaders regularly evaluate instructional programs and organizational conditions to improve instruction and advance learning.

Elements

Leaders implement a documented process to determine the effectiveness of the institution’s curriculum and instruction, including staffing and resources.
Leaders use analyzed current and trend data and stakeholder input to make decisions about retaining, changing, or replacing programs and practices.

Evidence

Curriculum effectiveness is directly measured in assessments which are aligned to standardized assessments like Bilingual Seal. The feedback forms available in website for any stakeholder to provide feedback and feedbacks in teacher groups were used for necessary updates and decide on priority improvement.

Evidence 1: Refer to the MNTS syllabus overview in the website under https://www.mntamilschool.org/mnts-syllabus-overview/. This talks about the evolution of the intuitive courseware and the materials. Feedback forms (https://www.mntamilschool.org/syllabus-feedback-forms/) categorized by the levels and conferences are used to continuously enrich the syllabus and material. The syllabus is fully aligned with ACTFL and CEFR national learning standards.

Evidence 2: Review “Assessment Methodology” section in the MNTS Tamil School website https://www.mntamilschool.org/grading/. This provides a strong framework for assessment which is consistent and regular exercise. The assessment report, performance data and perception data are the critical inputs to the planning. School has a continuous Improvement framework following Plan Do Check Act cycle. School analyses the assessment data and continuously re-invest in the improvements. The improvements are on various dimensions like, Teacher Training and enablement, Instruction methodology, curriculum, learning management system and technology infrastructure etc.

Evidence 3: Review “Conferences” section in the Parents handbook to understand on how parents teachers conference is used as a powerful tool for feedback. This medium is used for teachers to share the proficiency levels of the students and for the Parents to share the feedback on the curriculum, instruction methodology, tools and process. This way the Parents and Students actively engage in refining the learning curriculum and instructional methodology.

Evidence 4: Refer to school board section in the website; https://www.mntamilschool.org/school-board/. The Organization structure has been enhanced under 2 broader categories: Academic Council and Administrative Council. The Academic Council is further grouped under a 3 broader topics; Syllabus, Process, Teacher Training/assessment and Infrastructure. This enhanced structure reflects on its commitment towards continuous improvements on these 4 areas. Academic Council and Administrative Council connects periodically for assessing the performance data, perception data and the information gathered through informal and formal medium and devising the improvement actions.