School Reform
Washington State in 1993 passed the School Improvement Act to provide statewide guidance in the performance-based assessment of student learning.
Washington State Learning Goals
These four learning goals provided the foundation for development of the Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs):
- Read with comprehension, write effectively, and communicate successfully in a variety of ways and settings and with a variety of audiences;
- Know and apply the core concepts and principles of mathematics; social, physical, and life sciences; civics and history, including different cultures and participation in representative government; geography; arts; and health and fitness;
- Think analytically, logically, and creatively, and to integrate different experiences and knowledge to form reasoned judgments and solve problems; and
- Understand the importance of work and finance and how performance, effort, and decisions directly affect future career and educational opportunities.
There are several official documents with definitions and summary information about school reform
Key words of Washington State school reform short video script . Sorry the video is not available at this time.
Washington State School Report Card gives annual details about each Washington State school
Social Studies Essential Academic Learning Requirements ( EALRs)
Social Studies EALR 1 (Civics)
The student understands and applies knowledge of government, law, politics and the nation’s fundamental documents to make decisions about local, national, and international issues and to demonstrate thoughtful, participatory citizenship.
Social Studies EALR 2 (Economics)
The student understands economic concepts and systems to comprehend the interactions between economy and individuals, households, businesses, governments, and societies.
Social Studies EALR 3 (Geography)
The student uses the concepts of place, region, location, and movement to demonstrate knowledge of how geographic features and human cultures shape and impact environments.
Social Studies EALR 4 (History)
The student understands and applies knowledge of historical chronology, eras, turning points, major ideas, individuals, and themes of local, Washington state, tribal, United States, and world history in order to evaluate the role of historical trends and how they shape the present and future.
Social Studies EALR 5
(Social Studies Skills)
Students understand and apply reasoning skills to conduct research, deliberate, form and evaluate positions through the processes of reading, writing, and communicating.
