Tony Wagner, co-director of the Change Leadership Group of Harvard's School of Education, recently told a group of technology specialists, "Teaching to the test is a mistake because it interferes with the seven survival skills every student should attain before graduating."   The skills he identifies, and that major busines and industry leaders also identify are
1. Problem-solving and critical thinking;
2. Collaboration across networks and leading by influence;
3. Agility and adaptability;
4. Initiative and entrepreneurship;
5. Effective written and oral communication;
6. Accessing and analyzing information; and
7. Curiosity and imagination.
 "We are making [Adequate Yearly Progress] at the expense of failing our kids at life. Something has to change," he concluded.
I concur.  We are majoring in mediocrity in public schools by focusing on test scores and ignoring real learning.  That is why we are doing things differently in this school system.   My belief is that we will only be able to achieve our mission by focusing on what students really need to be successful in life and then by changing the instructional practices we are using.  It may take us several years, but ultimately, I am convinced,  we will not only produce excellent students, but we will have high test scores as well.  Scoring well in life is certainly more important for our students than scoring well on a state test.  Ensuring that all of our students graduate prepared for the next step in their lives is much more important to me than making Adequate Yearly Progress.  I never have wanted to be just adequate anyway.