The New York State Education Department (NYSED) awarded Questar III BOCES a three-year $549,967 contract to operate a technical assistance center as part of NYSED’s new Performance-Based Learning and Assessment Networks (PLAN) Pilot.
As part of the contract, Questar III will work in partnership with the Successful Practices Network (SPN) to train educators on how to apply different ways of teaching and learning, including those that mimic real-world situations and leverage project-based learning. This involves several areas Questar III is already known for, including career and technical education (CTE), work-based learning, and internships.
Questar III will provide training, professional development, and technical assistance to PLAN Pilot, which consists of six pilot schools and one mentor school. This work will cover three areas including successful approaches to performance-based learning and assessment, fostering positive shifts in school culture, and student-centered approaches to improving student outcomes.
Questar III is among only 23 middle schools, high schools, and BOCES programs from across the state selected to participate in the program. A list of PLAN Pilot Schools is posted on the department’s PLAN Pilot website.
PLAN Pilot schools were selected to represent different geographic regions of the state, different stages of implementation, and different student populations. The department, in collaboration with its university-based research partners, will collect data from the pilot to guide the development of tools and resources to support broader implementation.
“We are pleased to partner with the New York State Education Department as it explores different ways of delivering and assessing learning across the state. We look forward to sharing best practices that meet the needs of students of all abilities, backgrounds, and interests,” said Questar III District Superintendent Dr. Gladys I. Cruz.
