Map Name: Northern Cass Cognia Improvement Plan 2025-26
Time Period: 6/1/2025 - 5/31/2026
Vision

We believe every learner will change the world; therefore, we will create a world class education.

Mission

All Northern Cass learners will graduate choice ready (college, career, military).

Beliefs

Northern Cass values impactful partnerships, engaged learners, empowered educators, and learner growth.

HRS Level 5
Competency-Based Education/Personalized Learning
HRS Level 2
Effective Teaching in Every Classroom/Evidence-Based Decision Making/MTSS
HRS Level 3
Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum/Choice Ready/Portrait of a learner Attributes and Competencies
Objectives
  • All learners demonstrate growth.
Objectives
  • Northern Cass School District prepares learners for current and future success through engaging, encouraging, and future-focused opportunities.
Objectives
  • Northern Cass will have a decrease in Tier 3 and Tier 2 learners from benchmark testing, with an increase in the number of learners who are Tier 1.
Critical Initiative
  • All learners who receive special education services will demonstrate growth on their IEP goals.
  • All learners will demonstrate proficiency on the 'Big Five' standards in each subject area.
Critical Initiative
  • Create a robust dual enrollment program for learners in Level 10-12.
  • Educators engage in a professional exhibition.
  • Engage all seniors in a capstone presentation.
  • Engage learners in experiences to assist in graduating choice ready.
  • Engage learners in Levels 3, 5, and 8 in a Gateway presentation.
  • Identify the highly effective teaching practices at Northern Cass.
Critical Initiative
  • Learners will be able to identify grade level guaranteed vocab.
  • Learners will engage in benchmark assessment three times per year.
Key Measures
  • Empower Reports
  • Special Education PLC Notes
Key Measures
  • Capstone Evaluation Doc
  • Gateway Evaluation Docs
  • MOU's for Dual Credit and Credits Earned
  • North Dakota Choice Ready Report
  • Observation Data (via PLC)
  • Observations of Educator Exhibition Showcase
Key Measures
  • Benchmark Data Reports
  • Guaranteed Vocabulary Assessment and Results
HRS Level 1
Safe, Supportive, and Collaborative Schools/Stakeholder Engagement/School Culture
Objectives
  • All learners will be connected and have a sense of belonging.
  • Northern Cass School District creates and fosters partnerships which enhance learning.
  • Northern Cass School District empowers educators to engage in innovative practices.
Critical Initiative
  • Create small group counseling cohorts.
  • Engage partners in surveys to ensure a collaborative partnership.
  • Identify and assess the level of family engagement at Northern Cass via the Implementation Team.
  • Identify and monitor highly effective teaching strategies.
  • Identify effective strategies for retention and recruitment via a Culture R & D cycle.
  • Identify the level of relevance for experts who are involved in classroom learning experiences.
  • Learners will be provided multiple opportunities to engage in job shadows and/or internships.
  • Utilize a learner needs assessment to identify critical areas of focus.
  • Utilize the LEAPS survey to assess (6-12) learner engagement.
  • Utilize Vital Network survey data.
Key Measures
  • College, Career, and Life Readiness Tracking Doc
  • Counseling Department Tracking Spreadsheet
  • Counselor Needs Assessment for Learners
  • Exit Surveys
  • Family Engagement Survey
  • LEAPS Survey Results
  • Learner Impact Survey
  • Partner Impact Survey
  • Scorecard
  • Vital Network Survey and Mid-Year Pulse Assessment
The Strategy Map has been created in collaboration with The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction and Cognia™.

All schools in North Dakota participate in a Continuous Improvement process. Continuous Improvement means examining a school’s current reality including demographics, culture, technology, finances, and academic progress, among many other factors. In addition, Continuous Improvement means looking into the future and predicting what may change – what will be different a year from now, or 10 years from now.

 

During the 2018-2019 school year, all schools in North Dakota participated in this Continuous Improvement journey. School personnel participated in training and collaborated with diverse stakeholders such as community members, teachers, parents and students to map out what the school’s priorities are, what the school’s objectives are and what critical initiatives needed to be implemented to achieve those objectives. This planning process resulted in a Strategy Map – a 3 to 5-year plan for the school.

 

It is important to note that the Strategy Map is a snapshot in time. It is documentation of what the school’s priorities were the past school year. In this case the Strategy Map below was captured and submitted on May 1, 2019. It is equally important to note that the Strategy Map below may have changed since its submittal. This is because priorities may have changed quickly depending on numerous factors. Factors can include, but are not limited to, a natural disaster, a high staff turn-over rate, or an influx or decrease of students. To obtain a copy of this schools current and update Strategy Map, please contact the local school administrator.



Please contact North Dakota's Department of Public Instruction with any questions and feedback via email to the following address: dpidashboard@nd.gov