Award of Excellence in Curriculum Improvement awarded to Prince of Peace School, Milwaukee, WI

1s660 Midwest Road Suite 310 Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 630-282-1639 www.curriculumimprovement.org

For Immediate Release

Oakbrook Terrace, IL – March, 2009 -- The Curriculum Improvement Institute is proud to announce that Prince of Peace School, in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wis., has been honored with an Award of Excellence in Curriculum Improvement. This award will be presented to Prince of Peace on March 18, 2009, with recognition at the Institute’s annual Curriculum Improvement Conference, June 26, 2009 – June 28, 2009 in Chicago, Ill.

Part of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Prince of Peace School/Escuela Principe de Paz has implemented an effort to map their entire curriculum to ensure that all students are receiving the best quality education that empowers the "whole child". One of the five most important activities in education, curriculum mapping identifies areas of curriculum strength and weakness.

“We have identified that our school improvement goal is to improve vocabulary… 15 points in three years,” says Principal Judy Birlem. “This year our mapping effort has focused on literacy. I see the effect when I hear students conversing using an enhanced vocabulary.”

Passionate about the advancements her students are attaining, Birlem believes that the mapping process has also created a more professional dialogue between teachers at all grade levels. “Instead of saying they don’t know where something was taught or when it was taught, they use the maps and have conversations around the curriculum.”

The school uses a system that automatically links their curriculum to their daily instruction and standards-based gradebook assessment software. The integrated system allows teachers, families and administrators to see what was actually taught and actually learned almost instantly, so teachers can respond immediately to student needs.

The school is being recognized in part for their efforts using the integrated system and its standards-based reporting, which allows parents and students to monitor learning progress using specific benchmark indicators. Principal Judy Birlem notes that “the process is so easy to use that even parents with limited English abilities are able to access their children’s records.”

Students and families also monitor their own progress using the school's web-based assessment software. Birlem states that students feel more ownership of their grades and the system allows for shared accountability between teachers, parents, and students. “There are no surprises at report card time,” she explains, “because all stakeholders are informed.”

Prince of Peace School/Escuela Principe de Paz is a Catholic school committed to serving over 430 students and their families on the near south side of Milwaukee. Their vision is to empower the whole child in preparation for life.

They join Catholic schools across the country that are discovering the power of comprehensive curriculum improvement using curriculum mapping, standards-based grading, and "curriculum-based assessments" which give teachers more specific feedback about student progress and needs.

Michael Rush, Executive Director for the Institute, noted that "Prince of Peace School is a model of academic leadership for their students and within their community. By committing themselves to reflecting upon, measuring, and improving both their curriculum and daily student learning, the school has made a commitment of the highest quality education for its students and their families."

The Curriculum Improvement Institute is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit member-supported organization committed to connecting a global community of educators working to improve teaching and learning outcomes through improved curriculum, curriculum mapping, curriculum-based assessment, and standards-based instruction. Members are provided with networking, research updates, discounts from partners, and invitations to present at regional and national conferences.

The Curriculum Improvement Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting educators from across the globe with the purpose of sharing best practices, new innovations, and the latest research related to the most effective curricula worldwide.