Learning at a Big Picture Learning School is a process that is substantiated with quality products. There are high expectations for each student at a Big Picture Learning School. The criteria of assessment are individualized to the student and the real world standards of a project (as gauged by experts in the community). The learning plan determines the individual standards to which the student is held accountable. This is informed by knowledge of the student’s strengths and weaknesses, the specific goal(s) attempted, and expert opinions from the learning team (mentor, advisor, student and parent/guardian) about the what quality work means for that student in that project.
Students engaged in this process at Big Picture Learning Schools are not assessed only by tests. They are evaluated by a process defined during the Learning Plan Meeting, against standards that are individualized, clear, and rigorous. The assessments at a Big Picture Learning School include public exhibitions (one per marking period) that track growth, progress, and quality work in the learning plan and academic depth in the learning goals; weekly check-in meetings with advisors; weekly journals,; yearly presentation portfolios; and transcripts. Gateways for students’ progress are between 5th/6th & 7th, between 8th & 9th grade, between 10th and 11th grade and at graduation.
