“This program created the structure we so desperately needed and encouraged us to take the time to discuss how we organize our curriculum, how to always put text in the forefront of our learning, and how to make the learning accessible and engaging for all students.”—Dina Saks, Director of Teaching and Learning, Striar Hebrew Academy of Sharon
Jewish Day School Standards and Benchmarks offers rigorous and engaging professional learning for Jewish studies instructional leaders and teachers in day schools. Over 95 day schools across denominations have participated in Standards and Benchmarks programs over the last 20 years. Our services are applicable to all school divisions (elementary–high school) supporting Conservative, Reform, Modern Orthodox, and community day schools across North America.
Through Jewish Day School Standards and Benchmarks, you can expect to:
- Work collaboratively with Standards and Benchmarks coaches to develop curriculum aligned to your school’s individual mission
- Develop scope and sequence for Jewish studies
- Learn practices in mentoring teachers, improving pedagogy, creating coherent curriculum aligned with the mission of the school, and fostering collaborative faculty cultures
- Encourage inquiry, critical thinking, and a place for students to grapple with personal meaning-making
- Use the Tanakh and Rabbinic Standards and Benchmarks as a guide to align vision and goals for students with teaching and learning of sacred texts in the classroom
A Standards-Based Approach
A standards-based approach aids schools in articulating and creating a coherent vision for their curriculum. This vision provides school leaders, faculty, students, and parents with a shared understanding of overarching goals, helping to set expectations and criteria for mastering Tanakh and rabbinics—ultimately greatly improving student learning.
Participating schools reflect on the standards in order to select those that best speak to their vision:
TANAKH STANDARDS ADDRESS:
- Literary Independence
- Chain of Interpretation
- Multi-Vocal History
- Formative Narrative
- Land of Israel
- Sacred Grappling
- Role of Mitzvot
- Inspiring Resource
RABBINIC STANDARDS ADDRESS:
- God and Holiness (Kedushah)
- Halakhic Development
- Jewish Identity and Practice
- Pursuing Justice and Loving Kindness
- Rabbinic Value Commitments
- Textual Access
- Voices in Conversation
Coaching and Workshops
Standards and Benchmarks provides a robust program of coaching sessions and workshops with the faculty, tailored to each school’s professional development needs. With support from an experienced consultant, the school’s instructional leaders and faculty engage in experiences that guide their faculty’s professional development to improve teaching and learning.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from such thoughtful teachers. The weekly calls with my coach challenged me to become a more thoughtful leader.”—Rachel Jury, Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School
For more information, please contact standardsandbenchmarks@jtsa.edu
Acknowledgement
Funding for this program is being provided through a grant from the Mayberg Foundation. The grant is supported by a partnership with the Jewish Education Innovation Challenge, a Mayberg Foundation educational initiative, which works to catalyze radical improvement in Jewish day schools.
This program is also supported by a partnership with UnitEd, an initiative of the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combatting Antisemitism.
Jewish Day School Standards and Benchmarks is part of the DEEP Consortium.
