What is Teaching and Learning?

The Teaching and Learning Department in Burlington Area School District drives academic growth and success. 

Teaching and Learning Includes:

• Supporting educators with professional development
• Providing, selecting, and creating curriculum and resources that meet state standards while providing meaningful and engaging learning opportunities for students.
• Promoting student growth and achievement by tracking student progress through assessments and data analysis
• Working collaboratively with educators to grow professionally while delivering high-quality instruction 

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Assessments in a BASD K-12 serve a variety of important purposes, each contributing to the overall educational experience and ensuring that students are supported in their learning and development.

1. Monitoring Student Progress : Formative Assessments (e.g., quizzes, classroom activities, homework) are used regularly to gauge students' understanding and progress on a daily or weekly basis. These assessments help teachers adjust instruction in real-time to meet students' needs. Summative Assessments (e.g., end-of-term exams, standardized tests) provide a snapshot of what students have learned over a longer period and help measure achievement against learning goals or standards.
2. Guiding Instructional Decisions : Assessments help teachers identify areas where students are excelling and where they may be struggling. By analyzing the results, educators can adjust their teaching strategies, group students differently, or provide additional resources to help students succeed.
3. Identifying Learning Gaps 
4. Measuring Achievement and Accountability: Standardized Assessments (Forward State Assessment, PreACT, ACT) are often used to measure how well students, schools, and districts are performing relative to a set of established academic standards. These assessments provide a way to assess whether students are meeting learning benchmarks and can inform broader district, state, and national educational policy. Districts use assessment data to track the effectiveness of their curriculum and educational programs and ensure compliance with state or federal regulations.
5. Supporting Educational Equity.
6. Involving Parents and Stakeholders: Assessments provide valuable information to parents, guardians, and the community about a student’s progress and the effectiveness of educational programs.
7. Evaluation of Curriculum and Instruction: Districts use assessment data to evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum and teaching method.
8. Supporting College and Career Readiness : As students progress through their education, assessments (e.g., standardized tests, college entrance exams) are often used to evaluate their readiness for postsecondary education and careers. These assessments help identify students’ strengths and areas that may need further development before they transition out of K-12 education.