SAS





The Pennsylvania Standards Aligned Systems (SAS) is a collaborative product of research and good practice that identifies six distinct elements which if utilized together will provide schools and districts a common framework for continuous school and district enhancement and improvement. Much research has been conducted as to what makes a great school. There are many intangible components. However, research supports the notion that great schools and school systems tend to have six common elements:  **Clear Standards**, **Fair Assessments** , **Curriculum Framework** , **Instruction** , **Materials & Resources** , & **Interventions**.
 * About SAS **


 * Clear Standards** - Pennsylvania Academic Standards describe what students should know and be able to do; they increase in complexity and sophistication as students progress through school.


 * Fair Assessments** - Fair assessment is a process used by teachers and students **before, during, and after** instruction to provide feedback and adjust ongoing teaching and learning to improve student achievement. In Pennsylvania, the four types of assessment are summative, formative, benchmark, and diagnostic.


 * Curriculum Framework** - The curriculum framework specifies what is to be taught for each subject in the curriculum. Curriculum Frameworks include Big Ideas, Concepts, Competencies, and Essential Questions aligned to Standards and Assessment Anchors and, where appropriate, Eligible Content.


 * Instruction - ** Aligned Instruction comprises the following activities: teaching topics that are aligned with the Standards; e nsuring the right level of challenge; focusing teaching based on the learning needs of each student; and, implementing instructional strategies to increase student achievement.


 * Materials & Resources - ** Materials and Resources includes Voluntary Model Curriculum (VMC), incorporating learning progressions, units, lesson plans, and content resources aligned to the Pennsylvania Standards in curriculum frameworks for the four major content areas (mathematics, science, social studies, reading-writing-speaking-listening).


 * Interventions - ** Interventions ensure students are provided with supports they need to meet/exceed grade level Standards. A comprehensive system of Interventions involves a graduated set of safety nets aligned to specific student needs and Standards.