Truman Elementary demonstrates daily student-led proficiency checks; board approves funding, contracts and multiple policy updates

Truman Elementary teachers told the Sweetwater County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees on April 1 that they have adopted proficiency scales and daily student self-ratings, and that model was the centerpiece of this year’s student-led conferences.

The shift aims to make learning targets explicit and to let students track and articulate progress. “We take the state standards, and we break them apart into the skills and content that need to be mastered by the students in the system,” said Mr. Fekinzer, a district staff member who introduced the presentation. “Everything that is on the teacher form is then converted into student friendly language, so the kids actually know this is exactly what I'm doing.”

The district presenters said Truman uses proficiency scales (labeled from level 1 to level 4) to guide instruction, interventions and parent conversations. Teachers convert the teacher-facing scale into “I can” statements for students; students mark their progress in binders and use the scales in daily one-on-one check-ins. “3 means you fully mastered it, and you don't need any help,” said Benjie, a Truman student who demonstrated how children talk through the rubric. Teachers said daily checking lets staff quickly group students for targeted interventions and keeps higher-performing students…