Baldrige Education Criteria for Performance Excellence → Core Values/Best Practices → Focus on the Future

Focus on the Future

Focus on the Future occurs when there is an understanding of the expectations of next level teachers, of the community, and of employers so that students can prepare for a future point in time.

Focus on the Future in the School
Focus on the Future in the Classroom
Focus on the Future for Students
More Core Values

Focus on the Future in the School

We demonstrate Focus on the Future in the school when we:

  • anticipate changes in educational and vocational requirements, instructional approaches, professional development needs, demographics, etc., adjusting school goals accordingly (e.g., survey high schools, universities, the business community for shifts in requirements)

  • meet and plan with vertical teams or next level schools and share the information with students (e.g., What do second grade teachers expect from us? What skills can we begin working on that will prepare students for high school?)

  • plan and align instructional programs with the end in mind (MSA, HSA, etc.)

  • demonstrate agility and create opportunities for innovation

Focus on the Future in the Classroom

We demonstrate Focus on the Future in the classroom when we:

  • respond flexibly to changes in educational and vocational requirements, instructional approaches, professional development needs, demographics, etc., adjusting classroom goals accordingly

  • communicate to students what the expectations will be of the next level grade or school

  • explain to students how the instructional program will prepare them for long-range goals or assessments (expectations derived from MSA, HSA, SAT, etc.)

  • model and encourage agility and innovative contributions or solutions

  • invite employers of the community to talk about expectations or professionals to discuss skills required of their jobs

Focus on the Future for Students

Kid-friendly questions about Focus on the Future

  • What does the middle school expect of me?

  • What will I need to know and be able to do when I am grown up?

  • What will my future employer expect me to be able to do?

  • What skills do I need to become a teacher?

  • What courses should I take if I want to become a geologist?

February 24, 2006 | Maintained by Web Services | Content Manager: Eve Wetten