The cornerstone of the Guthrie Center School Improvement Action Plan is a unique individualized learning program implemented through North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA/CASI).   Our school is one of only two schools in the state of Iowa implementing this program.   Transitions is a specific school improvement process that requires our school to be accountable for every student. The transitioning process focuses upon helping students to learn about themselves and career possibilities, and to make connections between the two.  Transitions is a means for schools to maximize the number of promoted or graduated students who are prepared to make the transition from home-to-school, school-to-school, or school-to work.  Transitions is a commitment of our school to improve the performance of every student.

Students are evaluated in the areas of reading, writing, math, science, employability skills, and career awareness.  Students meeting the proficiencies in each area are then "credentialed".  Students not meeting the proficiencies are encouraged and counseled to improve in those areas by using interventions custom designed for them.  

Our school district was invited to present our transitioning and credentialing process to the National Education Association, AdvanceED leaders and staff, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and selected State Department of Education heads in Washington D.C. during the spring of 2007.  Our three school district representatives joined six other schools from across the nation to present to the group, in a hands-on discussion, how best to utilize Transitions and Credentialing in schools to meet 21st century learning expectations.