Transcript Restructuring: What We Know About the NCLB Options

Linking Systems: State,
District, School, Classroom:
The Virginia Project
Chairs:
•Nancy Protheroe, Center on Innovation &
Improvement
•Kathleen Smith, Virginia Department of
Education
Capacity Building Program of the
Virginia Department of Education
•
•
Based on indicators in CII’s Handbook on
Restructuring and Substantial School Improvement
Collaboration of
– Appalachia Regional Comprehensive Center
– Virginia Department of Education
– Virginia Educational Leadership Foundation
– Center on Innovation & Improvement
Why Was the Program
Developed?
•
•
•
•
Concern that districts with schools in
restructuring/reconstitution would only “fight
fires”
Recognition that more schools might face
reconstitution
VA DOE limitations of staff time and other
resources
Get everybody on the same page
A Proposed Remedy
•
•
•
•
Increase capacity of school divisions (districts) to
better support all their school
Use research on divisions that quickly and
substantially improved student achievement
Develop cost-effective uses of VA DOE resources
Begin with conditionally accredited schools-with
potential for scaling up
The Elements



Series of 7 WebEx’s
CII developed a web-based reporting system that
automatically shows how teams are progressing in
working on the current assigned indicators
The system ultimately results in a school
improvement plan, based on the work of the team
over the course of the training
Planning for the VDOE WebEx
Program



Preliminary discussions plus a two-day planning
session
Issues included:
– ways to leverage VDOE resources
– need to actively engage division personnel
– possibility for scale-up
– details such as scheduling
Decision was made to focus on a system of
indicators developed by CII
Key Role of the “Indicators”
 Part of a Performance Positioning System—a GPS for school
improvement
– A GPS shows you where you are in relation to your
desired destination, with reference points along the way.
– The system adjusts to variations on the route but the
reference points and destination remain constant.
 The CII-developed PPS—an online tool supported by webbased training—helps districts and schools determine:
– where they are in relation to the Success Indicators
(reference points) and
– creatively navigate among them in order to reach their
destination of improved student learning.
Navigating the System - GPS



A global positioning system (GPS) shows you
where you are in relation to your desired
destination, with reference points along the way.
The system adjusts to variations on the route and
even accommodates stops along the way.
But the reference points and destination remain
constant.
Balancing Focus and Detail



A few goals for the year may be enough
1.
District/School culture: Build a culture of professional
collaboration in supporting each student’s progress toward
mastery.
2.
Leadership: Share leadership for effective delivery of quality
instruction for every student.
3.
Curriculum and instruction: Guarantee effective delivery of an
aligned curriculum through instruction that is targeted to each
student’s assessed learning needs.
But the path to achieving the goals is detailed
The district, school, or leader must know where they are, how they are
doing, what is the next step
Navigating the System - PPS


The Performance Positioning System works in
much the same way.
The district teams determined:
– where they are in relation to the Success
Indicators (reference points) and
– creatively navigate among them in order to reach
their destination of improved student learning.
Success Indicators: Getting
the Details Right



Evidence-based practices for classrooms,
schools, and districts
Culled, analyzed, and organized in Handbook on
Restructuring and Successful School
Improvement
Handbook named “outstanding publication of the
year” by Division H of AERA at 2008 convention
in New York City
Categories and
Examples of District Indicators
•
•
•
District context and support (15 indicators)
– Indicator: The district sets district, school, and student
subgroup achievement targets.
District and change process (12 indicators)
– Indicator: The district operates with district-level and schoollevel improvement teams.
District-school expectations (8 indicators)
– Indicator: The school reports and documents its progress
monthly to the superintendent, and the superintendent reports
the school’s progress to the school board.
Helpful Tools



Worksheets, Agendas, Minutes for Teams
Wise Ways – references, examples, explanations
for indicators, at the touch of a button
Coaching Comments
– State to district
– District to school
– Rapid Improvement Mentor to Rapid
Improvement Leader
Timeline: 2007-2009
September 2007
WebEx Faculty
Selected
January – May
2008
7 WebEx Sessions
for Division Teams
January – May
2008
Division Teams
Develop and
Implement Plans
November 2007
WebEx Faculty
Trained, Indicators
Selected
May-June 2008
Division Teams
Trained in School
Improvement
Process
December 2007
Division Teams
Formed, Oriented
June 2008-May
2009
Division Assists
School Teams
Results

Of the nineteen districts that used the district
improvement process for 30 schools last year, only
nine divisions remain with only 10 schools (two
alternative schools, seven middle schools, and one
elementary school). Student achievement increased
in all 30 schools.
Next Steps for Virginia
 Principals in rapid improvement schools will receive
training in rapid improvement leadership, orientation
to the web-based improvement system, and coaching
from their division staff and through VDOE
contractors.
 School improvement teams in the rapid improvement
track will participate in webinars provided by the
distinguished educators.
21
Next Steps for Virginia
 Teacher leaders will receive four days of training on
effective teacher teaming, instructional planning, and
effective teaching strategies.
 New teachers will receive training in classroom
management (VDOE and VFEL) .
 VDOE staff and contractors working with schools
will integrate their efforts with project elements—
especially use of the online tool. Training has been
provided for these people.
Contact Information




Sam Redding, [email protected]
Marilyn Murphy, [email protected]
Nancy Protheroe, [email protected]
Kathleen Smith, [email protected]
Visit the CII website at www.centerii.org