Which would provide the most valid indication of a culture of high expectations?

Which would provide the most valid indication of a culture of high expectations?

• A. Setting campus goals above minimum standards
• B. Maintaining minimum standards
• C. Reducing expectations for struggling students
• D. Focusing only on attendance

Answer: (A)

A culture with high expectations is shown when a school sets ambitious goals that go beyond the bare minimum and signals to everyone that higher achievement is possible for all students. When campus goals exceed minimum standards, it communicates a belief that students can reach more challenging outcomes and that teaching, resources, and accountability will be oriented toward reaching those higher targets. This kind of direction motivates teachers to design instruction that stretches learning and provides the supports students need to achieve those goals. Maintaining minimum standards reflects doing the least required rather than pushing for growth. Reducing expectations for struggling students lowers the ceiling for those learners, which runs counter to building a high-expectations culture. Focusing only on attendance emphasizes participation rather than academic achievement and doesn’t by itself indicate a commitment to high learning goals.

A culture with high expectations is shown when a school sets ambitious goals that go beyond the bare minimum and signals to everyone that higher achievement is possible for all students. When campus goals exceed minimum standards, it communicates a belief that students can reach more challenging outcomes and that teaching, resources, and accountability will be oriented toward reaching those higher targets. This kind of direction motivates teachers to design instruction that stretches learning and provides the supports students need to achieve those goals.

Maintaining minimum standards reflects doing the least required rather than pushing for growth. Reducing expectations for struggling students lowers the ceiling for those learners, which runs counter to building a high-expectations culture. Focusing only on attendance emphasizes participation rather than academic achievement and doesn’t by itself indicate a commitment to high learning goals.