The Ohio Department of Education periodically adopts educational standards and assessments that are implemented in Ohio school districts.  Current Ohio standards can be found here:

• English/Language Arts Standards

• Math Standards

• Science Standards

• Social Studies Standards

• Fine Arts Standards

• World Languages Standards

• Physical Education Standards

Standards are guidelines that describe what students should know and be able to do in each content area by the end of a school year.  School districts then adopt a curriculum that best meets the needs of the district in meeting the standards.  WCS works with educators within particular content areas to select print and technology resources that best meet the needs of our students.  Typically, this is a lengthy study process where teachers and administrators look at many different materials and go through a process of selecting materials for adoption.  All content areas are reviewed so that materials are assessed in recurrent cycles to ensure they still meet the needs of the district and of the students and to ensure students and teachers have up-to-date materials.

Quality instruction is critical to improving the academic performance, achievement, and social well-being of the school district's diverse student population.  The Dept of Instruction develops, implements, monitors, and supports all classroom instructional initiatives.  The department organizes text adoption processes that ensure a rigorous examination of materials for potential adoption that are aligned to standards and that are determined to best meet the needs of WCS students.

Assessment is an important part of a student's educational program. Teachers assess in class in order to determine what a student knows and what they still need to learn.  Assessment guides classroom instruction.  

In addition to classroom instruction, WCS students participate in the Ohio State Testing Program.  Beginning in the third grade, students participate in assessments in math, English language arts, social studies, and science.  More about the Ohio assessment program can be found by clicking this link.
Data from these assessments are regularly analyzed at the district and school levels to guide professional development and instruction. 

WCS students take part in assessments that help teachers determine whether they are on track to meet the requirements of the Third Grade Reading Guarantee.  The TGRG requires that all third-grade students read at a third-grade level before moving on to fourth grade.  The district administers the Ohio State Test in English Language Arts in third grade in the fall and spring for this purpose, as well as the MAP assessment, which the Ohio Department of Education accepts as an alternate test.  Each fall, from kindergarten through third grade, students are assessed to determine whether they are on track.  If it is determined that a student is not on track, a Reading Intervention Monitoring Plan (RIMP) is developed that outlines specific interventions to help the student get back on track.  More about the Third Grade Reading Guarantee can be found by clicking this link.

In the second and fourth grades, the district gives the CogAT and IOWA tests to determine whether students are eligible for gifted identification and services.  The state sets strict criteria for what scores qualify for gifted designations.  The CogAT is an ability test, and the IOWA is an achievement test.  More on gifted education can be found on the ODE website.

Additionally, high school students participate in the PSAT, SAT, and ACT. These are college entrance tests.

In addition to providing a rigorous curriculum and quality instruction, this department offers staff many opportunities for professional development.  Throughout the year, federal and state grants support programs, provide workshops, and fund initiatives that help teachers investigate best practices and learn new strategies to enhance their instructional skills. The Director of Instruction is a member of the Professional Development Committee, which plans the district's two professional development days.

Professional Development Days are listed on the Wadsworth City Schools Calendar.

The Director of Instruction is a member of the Local Professional Development Committee, a committee that oversees the license renewal process for our certified staff members.  Meetings are held monthly at 3:45 p.m. virtually on Google Meet.

*All submissions are due by 4:00 p.m. the day before the committee meets.

LPDC 2026-2027 Meeting Schedule

• September 9, 2026

• October 14, 2026

• November 11, 2026

• December 9, 2026

• January 13, 2027

• February 10, 2027

• March 10, 2027

• April 14, 2027

• May 12, 2027