Learning you can explain, defend and use

Leaders is a member of the New York Performance Standards Consortium. Students complete Performance-Based Assessment Tasks (PBATs) in place of some Regents exams. These are in-depth pieces of analytical work that require research, writing and revision. Students are still required to take the English Regents.

 

In the upper grades, students participate in Mastery Passages, publicly defending PBAT work before a panel of educators and visiting experts. That changes the role of assessment: students are expected not only to produce work, but to understand it deeply enough to explain their evidence, reasoning and conclusions.

 

Leaders' documented instructional model also includes Learning Expeditions—interdisciplinary studies built around a significant topic or theme. Expeditions can include rigorous projects, purposeful fieldwork, work with experts and public presentations.

 

The school has also used Student-Led Conferences, in which students reflect on their progress, identify strengths and areas for growth, establish goals and present that learning to members of their school and family community. Current frequency should be reconfirmed before launch.

 

These structures reflect Leaders' relationship with NYC Outward Bound and EL Education: demanding academic work is paired with challenge, support, authentic experiences and opportunities for students to take greater ownership of their learning.