Is Our School Ready?
Schools are ready to apply for the credential when they can demonstrate:
strong implementation of the EL Education Core Practices
excellent and equitable impact in all Three Dimensions of Student Achievement.
To Earn the Credential
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Confirm that your school has an overall IR score of 90 or higher and an average score of 3.5 or higher across Character items 13-16 from the 2023-2024 school year.
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Your Coach and Regional Director will each submit a letter of recommendation speaking to your school's credential-level impact in Three Dimensions of Student Achievement.
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EL Education will review your status with your authorizer to verify your school is in good standing.
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Eligibility
Credential Criteria
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School administers a 5-question character survey provided by EL Education in 2024-25
Site visit/renewal presentation demonstrates behaviors that evidence ethical people, effective learners, & contributing to a better world
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School submits three student work samples to Models of Excellence
Site visit / renewal presentation demonstrates complexity, craftsmanship, authenticity in student work
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School submits assessment data that demonstrates proficiency or growth in Mastery of Knowledge & Skills according to the criteria. The MKS Worksheet is available on the "Apply" page
Site visit / renewal presentation demonstrates learning conditions supportive of deeper learning and academic success
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To qualify for the Credential...
Your high school's graduation rate must outperform that of their district or state for 2 of the previous 3 years
Your high school must regularly engage with postsecondary data to inform your work with students.*
Your high school must provide students with access to college and career coursework
*EL Education offers National Student Clearinghouse services and data analysis workshops to help our partners institute this important practice. If your school has not yet opted into EL Education’s service to access and review postsecondary degree data through the National Student Clearinghouse, contact Dimity-Palmer Smith for more information.
To demonstrate impact in CHARACTER, your school will be asked to:
Share an overview of your 2024-25 priorities for Character & Crew culture in context, including progress monitoring structures and equity considerations.
Submit summary results of any current or historical data your school uses to monitor progress in Character for all students and across groups of students (walkthroughs and surveys, focus groups, performance assessments, etc).
Administer a five-question student character survey provided by EL Education during fall 2024 or winter 2025 to students in Grades 4-12, and share results & a completed reflection template with EL Education at least six weeks in advance of your site visit or renewal presentation.
To demonstrate impact in HIGH-QUALITY WORK, your school will be asked to:
Share an overview of your 2024-25 priorities for fostering high-quality work that has complexity, craftsmanship, authenticity, including your use of HQW attributes in classroom instruction, progress monitoring structures, equity consideration.
Submit summary results from three pieces of current or historical data you have from examining High-Quality Work. Identify trends for all students and across groups of students & include examples.
Submit at least three student work samples to the EL Education Models of Excellence project for review by November 1st, 2024.
To demonstrate impact in MASTERY OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS, your school will be asked to provide:
An overview of your 2024-25 priorities for Deeper Learning, including progress monitoring structures and equity considerations.
Disaggregated data by student subgroup that demonstrates, in comparison to your state or district, either:
Overall Student Proficiency
Student Growth, or
School Growth
All applicants must submit the MKS data worksheet along with their application.
A “Beating the Odds” analysis will be made available to schools who believe their impact is not accurately captured in this data.
Credential Annual Cycle
Credential Readiness (June - Aug)
Review the eligibility standards & Credential criteria to determine if now is the right time to apply.
2. Credential Application (Sep - Oct)
All schools who believe they are eligible are encouraged to engage with their EL Education Coach and to submit an application. Schools should review the criteria for applying and earning the Credential as a way to drive strategic planning into the future.
3. Credential Cohort (Nov - May)
Schools that meet eligibility criteria and are invited to join the 2023 Cohort will work with EL Education Coaches, Partnership Directors, and the Credentialing Team to prepare for authentic ways to demonstrate impact in the Three Dimensions of Student Achievement.
First-time applicants will host a two-day Credential Site Visit. Renewing and Pathway schools will present to an in-person and virtual panel.
4. Decisions & Continuous Improvement (June - )
After formal review and consideration of demonstrated evidence in the Three Dimensions of Student Achievement, the EL Education Review Committee will make decisions and communicate them to schools.
Schools may emerge from this process earning the Credential or a Pathway Credential in one or two Dimensions. It is also possible that a school emerges not yet ready to earn a Credential. In any case, EL Education will provide detailed feedback and ongoing support for continuous improvement work.