About SERP

“SERP field sites are structured as a set of three closely connected, and partially overlapping, groups: The Core Group, The Design Team, and the Research Team.”

San Francisco Field Siteback

Current Research Collaborations

  • Additional SERP-SFUSD Collaborations:

    Math Benchmark Assessment
    SERP has been working with mathematics content specialists on formative assessment in both elementary and middle schools, and on redesigning instructional guide that reflects a deeper understanding of the mathematics standards. In middle school, our work has involved modifying the quarterly common assessments to include the formative assessment items developed by the Noyce Foundation.

    Literacy Benchmark Assessment
    SERP has brought together literacy experts, District departments such as Humanities, English Learner Support Department, Partners in Schools Innovation, and the Research, Planning and Accountability Division to identify the literacy assessment needs at both the school and district level. This group has met 3-4 times this year to define the literacy assessment needs and are taking steps in creating a proposal for a comprehensive literacy assessment across grades K-12. Selected schools will pilot the RISE assessment, a Reading Inventory & Student Evaluation tool co-developed by Educational Testing Services (ETS), Boston Public Schools, and SERP Boston Field Site.

    School Organization
    SERP has been working with district and middle school principal leadership by serving as a knowledge broker and supporting the professional learning community of the middle school principals facilitating issues related to coherence, leadership development, and issues related to data and measurement.

    California Partnership for Achieving Student Success (Cal-PASS)
    SERP and the District’s Research, Planning and Accountability team have met with CalPASS leadership to discuss possible collaboration and support for their Professional Learning Councils.

    Depth vs. Breadth: Promoting Student Science Learning
    A working group of experienced science teachers and researchers with expertise in science, science education, and assessment led by Dr. Carlos Ayala of Sonoma State University are planning a three-year research project that aims to: 1) identify the critical content for in-depth instruction and decide what to leave out of the current curriculum; 2) develop progress maps for each of those major concepts that capture the thinking of students as they move from naïve understandings of the concept toward a mature scientific understanding; 3) develop formative assessments for those concepts to inform instruction; 4) develop or adopt appropriate instructional activities to move students from a lower to a higher level of understanding; and 5) develop the necessary instruments to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of this new instructional approach.