P.S.1 Charter School

Proof of Learning

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How Students Prove that they Learn at P.S.1

Presentations of Learning (POL)

At the end of each semester of every student is required to present their learning in that semester. The presentations are in front of an audience of peers, parents, staff, and community members. The goal of this presentation is to share and celebrate the knowledge and skills they have developed.

Furthermore, it is a requirement of all high school students to give Presentations of Learning to their advisement group each year. Seniors give a culminating POL that summarizes their high-school career, including academic experiences, personal growth, and their life outside of school. The purpose of this presentation is to convince the audience that the student is ready to graduate and move on to their post-graduate pursuits.

Narrative Transcripts and Portfolios

At the end of each semester, students are required to prove what they have learned in each class. Students write a narrative transcript at the end of each class which outlines the student’s new knowledge, skills and appreciations. The writing of a transcript challenges the students to present their learning experiences in meaningful ways. Students can also use transcribing as a way to receive high school credit for extracurricular activities.

Students are required to create a portfolio that represents their character, personality, passions, and learning to the community. The school's vision is used as a guide in the development of portfolios, but the final structure is flexible and should represent the student.

The P.S.1 Grading Scale

At P.S.1, students are graded on their Habits of Learning (HOL) and their academic achievement. We do not follow the standard A - B - C - D - F letter grade scale. Instead, we use the following rating scale:

• ES - Exceeds Standards: The student's performance on this standard or in this class or presentation has exceeded expectations. The student receives credit for the course.
• MS - Meets Standards: The student has met the standards for this presentation/class/outcome. The student receives credit for the course.
• C - Conditional: This student has mastered enough standards in the class to receive credit but still has areas to work on.
• U - Unsatisfactory: This student has failed at this presentation/class/outcome. This grade is final and cannot be made up. The student does not receive credit for the course.