Identify Existing School Policies and Practices to Support Graduation PortfolioDescription
In order to successfully implement a graduation portfolio system, it is necessary to have the appropriate school policies and support structures in place. Schools should review their existing policies and practices for those that will provide support for a School-Wide Diploma Assessment and make plans for changes or additions as needed.
Things to Consider
School policies and structures should support teachers in the ongoing process of developing portfolio tasks or entries, monitoring student progress, and evaluating tasks/entries and final graduation portfolios. Students need instruction, appropriate support, and opportunities to acquire knowledge and skills to successfully complete the tasks for their portfolios. Time, resources, and personnel are also needed for the management of students' collections of evidence: either physical or electronic storage space, time for students entering or collecting tasks, time for evaluation of portfolios, a communication plan regarding student progress, and personnel to oversee the graduation portfolio system.
Tools
School Support Structure Rubric
The school support structures rubric is intended as a guide when examining school policies and structures that are needed to implement and sustain a graduation portfolio system. It is meant only as a guide; additional structures may be needed for supporting specific components of a school's graduation portfolio that are not included in this rubric.
You can use this rubric as a self-study guide to determine where the district/school is in the implementation process and to plan future steps and needs. The district may find that there are structures that are in place and well developed and there will be other areas that need immediate attention.
