North Dakota
Standards-Based Learning

Our North Dakota Standards-Based Learning (NDSBL) implementation team is excited to announce the release of the new NDSBL website!

This new site was designed for YOU, bringing easier access to NDSBL resources while also gaining a streamlined way to receive implementation support for your school as our resource bank continues to grow.

Get to Know the New NDSBL Website

Whether you are new to standards-based learning or ready to take your next step in your implementation journey, you will find something here to advance your thinking and your work
 
  • Overview of NDSBL and responses to Frequently Asked Questions
  • Implementation support for systems and system leaders
    • NDSBL Toolkit – New! 
  • Resources to support classroom implementation
    • ND priority standards
    • Aligned proficiency scales – K-12 Health, Science & Social Studies scales now available!
    • Aligned student-friendly scales – K-12 Health, Science & Social Studies scales coming soon!
    • Sample instructional units
    • Examples of practice from ND educators
  • Professional Learning supports
    • Workshop opportunities (in person and online) - New!
    • Archived webinars
  • NDSBL newsletters (archived)

Check out the NDSBL website today to learn how to maximize student success through high-quality curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

How can I use this information in my role?

Superintendents

Are you looking for more information about the pathway to SBL?  Would you like to know how to engage your leadership team, educators, students, families, and stakeholders in the important conversations and crucial processes behind this shift?  It is so much more than just changing a report card!  If you are wondering where to start, what steps you may have overlooked, or where to turn next, go to www.ndsbl.org/implementation/ to access the NDSBL Toolkit.

Principals

A school leader raised the following question during the webinar, The Design Principles of Proficiency Scales: “The prospect of...writing proficiency scales is incredibly daunting.  I’m not sure we have all of the resources or time to do all of that work.  Based on that, what do you recommend?”  Dr. Robert Marzano’s response to that educator supports our NDSBL approach: “Steal them from somebody else.  You do not have to start from scratch.  Take them as the starting place.  What’s here that we want to keep?  What’s here we want to change?  What’s not here we want to add?”  The NDSBL work is referenced at 35:00 of this webinar for this purpose, and we wholeheartedly support Dr. Marzano’s recommendation.  We intend for you to make local modifications as you adopt the ND priority standards and scales.  We do this work at a state scale because we prefer you spend your resources refining processes and focusing on classroom implementation and student learning rather than spending years in the initial development.  NDSBL is here to help you work smarter, not harder!  Go to www.ndsbl.org/resources/ to access North Dakota proficiency scales across five content areas.

Instructional Coaches

How can you help communicate the meaning of standards-based learning and its essential components through key language and examples from your district’s classrooms?  Visit our NDSBL overview and FAQs at www.ndsbl.org/about/ for an example.  Locally, what information is important to share with students, families, school board members, external stakeholders, etc., and how can you help your school leaders and classroom teachers to share it?  Remember: Clarity and consistency across a district are key!

Teachers

“If a teacher isn’t clear about what all students should know, understand and be able to do when the learning experience ends, he or she lacks the vital organizer around which to develop a powerful lesson” (Tomlinson, 1999).  Teachers – SBL can be that vital organizer for you!  If you are still building your SBL foundational knowledge and skills, visit www.ndsbl.org/professional-learning/ to access archived webinars on prioritized standards, proficiency scales, and aligned, high-quality assessment.

Students

Help your students understand their learning expectations and pathways!  Access student-friendly proficiency scales at www.ndsbl.org/resources/.   The scales can also be a great tool for you and your students to collaboratively engage in feedback and progress monitor learning.

Parents

Effectively communicate proficiency expectations, learning progressions, and student progress within a standard to your students’ families.  Bring the student-friendly proficiency scales (found at www.ndsbl.org/resources/) into your meetings, conferences, and other communication systems.

What can I do right now with this information?

Prioritized Instructional Planning

  •  Science – Feb. 21
  • All Content Areas - Feb. 28
  • Social Studies – Mar. 2 

Upcoming half-day webinars provide classroom educators with a crash course in Prioritized Instructional Planning and the resources, processes, and supports available.

 

Understand what students need to learn and how to effectively plan for teaching the most critical content, including an overview of eight steps for planning instructional cycles that include high-quality instruction and assessment. 

 

Register here for the virtual webinars! 

 

Using Proficiency Scales in the Classroom

  • Jun. 7 & 8
  • Marzano Resources workshop (Jan Hoegh, facilitator)
  • North Dakota location(s) TBD
  • Registration info coming soon!

 

Using Proficiency Scales in a CBE System - Webinar: The Nature of Proficiency Scales

 

Valuable information packed into 48 minutes!
Presenters: Dr. Robert Marzano and the Center for Competency-Based Education's Matt Shea
 

Talking points:

  • Concerns regarding a traditional curriculum approach
  • Concerns regarding traditional grading
  • Standards-based grading vs standards-referenced grading
  • Why proficiency scales are key
  • Why half-points are important on proficiency scales
  • Vertical alignment and rigor (watch through the Q&A portion at the end)
  • Communicating with families about scales (watch through the Q&A portion)

Coming Soon

In collaboration with educators from across the state, North Dakota K-12 English Language Arts (ELA) and Math priority standards and proficiency scales will be reviewed and updated in June 2023 in alignment with the adoption of the 2023 North Dakota Content Standards for ELA and Math. Our NDSBL Implementation Team is also planning for the drafting of K-12 proficiency scales in the content area of Music in June 2023. More information will be shared by Spring 2023 as our team enters into the education application process for this important work. 
 

 Collaborative work among these Regional Education Associations (REAs) and with educators across the state produced the North Dakota Priority Standards, proficiency scales, and additional resources, all supported by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.