Page 14 - Superintendent Report 2023-24

Implementation of B.E.S.T. Standards

The Department of Elementary Education rolled out new elementary English Language Arts (ELA) Standards and a new
curriculum in all grades 3-5 classrooms during the FY23 school year. The rollout began in May of 2022 with professional
learning sessions for both school-based administrators and teachers. The sessions were designed to provide educators with
an understanding of the Science of Reading, information about the new state standards, and the newly adopted curriculum.
Throughout the FY23 school year, the Elementary Literacy Team provided multiple online learning opportunities and
onsite coaching. The goal was to ensure that all teaching teams in grades 3-5 were implementing the new standards and
curriculum with fidelity. Targeted professional development opportunities were provided. These sessions were offered live
and in a recorded version. Every school was assigned a literacy specialist to ensure teachers received the support needed.
Specialists attended their assigned schools’ professional learning community (PLC) sessions, which facilitated planning
and deepened teachers’ understanding of the standards and the new curriculum. Coaching and co-teaching opportunities
were provided to strengthen pedagogy.

The Elementary Literacy Team offered additional support via grade-level Google Classrooms, office hours, and supporting
resources. Administrators also received support in multiple ways. A Literacy walkthrough tool was implemented. This tool
was used during classroom visits and focused on student engagement, the fidelity of implementation of the new curriculum,
standards-aligned texts and tasks, the use of explicit, systematic phonics lessons, and relevant teaching practices.

Weekly “Look-for” documents were also created to support administrators with what to observe in a grade 3-5 literacy
block. These documents included the weekly focus of instruction, the texts used, the standards taught, and any additional
information relevant to that week’s instruction. They provided shared understanding between teachers and administrators
of that week’s literacy instruction.

Professional Learning
There were many opportunities for literacy-focused professional development. These included:
• Getting the Most Out of the Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards
• Benchmark Oral Reading Records
• Exploring Small Group Instruction
• B.E.S.T. ELA Communications
• Moving Students from Compliance to Engagement
• Collecting Evidence of Student Learning
• Scaffolding Grade Level Text During Core Instruction
• Elementary Standards-based Report Card
• Understanding and Using the Writing Rubric

Cadres
During the FY23 school year, all grades 3-5 teachers were invited to join one-hour, after-school sessions during which they
were supported with the implementation of the new Florida ELA B.E.S.T. Standards as well as the Benchmark Advance
curriculum. These cadres, hosted by District literacy specialists, took place prior to the beginning of each Benchmark
Advance Unit.

Teacher Leader Cohort
As part of the literacy rollout, the District recognized the need to build content leaders across all elementary campuses.
Principals were asked to choose an individual on their campus who demonstrated leadership qualities and could lead the
literacy work across their campus. These individuals were then invited to attend three all-day staff development sessions.
During these sessions literacy leaders received professional development around the new B.E.S.T. Standards and the Science
of Reading. This knowledge was then applied to the implementation of the newly adopted Benchmark Advance curriculum.
Additionally, these literacy leaders received support in the area of leadership development.

14 // Superintendent Annual Report 2022 - 2023