Planning Today for Tomorrow’s Success

1. Planning Today for Tomorrow’s Success The Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement

2. Our Mission The Center’s mission is to help schools organize, plan, implement, and sustain improvement.

3. What is The Center? • Based in DC, we are federally funded • Was connected with past federal CSR program • We are neutral • All materials and activities are research-based and are free • Learning Point Associates (LPA), based in Naperville, IL, is our mothership • There are four people in our office – but through LPA, we have access to many more people

4. Our Products and Services • Our Ask-an-Expert service • Our research-based materials • Our district-level, on-the-ground technical assistance

5. Ask-an-Expert • From LA: “I’m looking for…research or data…on (1) the number of and (2) the success rates related to school performance/improvement of charter schools that are run by local organizations/persons compared to charter school that are operated by national organizations (Edison schools, KIPP, etc.).”

6. Ask-an-Expert • From CA: “Do you have specific studies about STEM schools?” • From PA: “We’re searching for a comprehensive middle school reading program that is flexible enough to use with all levels. Of course it must be researched based. I'm not finding any out there. Do you know of any?”

7. Our materials • Newsletters • Issue Briefs • Research Briefs • Policy Briefs • Webcasts and DVDs of those webcasts

8. Our newsletters • Very practitioner-friendly • Persevere to be current and topical • About 1500 words • Useful for a school-based professional development session, PLC-based conversation, or…

9. A few newsletters • Getting to "Got It!” Helping Mathematics Students Reach Deep Understanding • Serving Recent Immigrant Students Through School-Community Partnerships • Maximizing the Impact of Teacher Collaboration • Using Positive Student Engagement to Increase Student Achievement

10. The Center’s algebra webcast

11. The Center’s webcast • “Yes, I found the webcast useful…Many of the topics that you hit are areas which have been big discussion topics in my workshops…This was good because it reinforces what I am working on in northern Michigan…Thank you again for the time you put into the webcast. It allows access to quality discussions for people like me that are somewhat isolated.” • Judy Falk, GIS Teacher, Gaylord (MI) Community Schools

12. Technical assistance partnerships • District of Columbia Public Schools • American Civil Liberties Union • Elmira City (NY) Public Schools • Ithaca (NY) Public Schools • Spotsylvania (VA) Public Schools • DC’s Public Charter School Board

13. What else do we do? • Presentations at district-level and state-level meetings, national and state-level conferences, etc. • State-level technical assistance (NC and VT) • The Center’s self-administered school review tool

14. School Review Process Guide:two in one… • A research-based guide for school improvement • An easy-to-follow, systematic process for schools to collect and analyze data and plan for school improvement – without having to employ consultants

15. Based on six research-supported quality indicators for successful schools • Strong curriculum • Effective instructional practices • Effective use of student performance data • Positive school culture focused on achievement • Effective school leadership • Parental involvement

16. Quality Indicator I: Aligned and Rigorous Curriculum • The curriculum is aligned with state standards. • Bruner, D. Y., & Greenlee, B. J. (2002). Bring standards from the state house to the schoolhouse. Principal, 81(3), 23-25. • Billig, Shelley H. (2005) Closing the Achievement Gap: Lessons from successful schools. Washington, DC. U.S. Department of Education • Curriculum standards are clearly articulated across all grade levels and subject areas and at key transition points to close gaps and eliminate duplication. • Clarke, N. A., Stow, S., Ruebling, C., & Kayona, F. (2006). Developing standards-based curricula and assessments: Lessons from the field. Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, 79(6), 258-261. • A process is in place for monitoring, evaluating, and reviewing the curriculum. • Roach, A. T., Niebling, B. C., & Kurz, A. (2008). Evaluating the alignment among curriculum, instruction, and assessments: Implications and applications for research and practice. Psychology in the Schools, 45(2), 158-176.

17. But before we continue… • Does the school reform world need another school review tool or school review process?

18. What’s included? Divided into four parts: • Part I is step by step instructions: • Convene a leadership team • Develop a mission and vision • Plan the school improvement process

19. More on what’s included… • Part II contains templates and surveys for collecting data • An Excel-based matrix for collecting and analyzing achievement data • Instructions and tools for gathering and using program data, such as curriculum evaluations, school climate data, and instructional data • Surveys for gathering perception data from school and community stakeholders

20. More on what’s included… • Part III is a simple form for analyzing and interpreting data • A grid for interpreting program data based on the research-based quality indicators • Simple analytical methods of compiling the perception data surveys • Simple, non-evaluative framework for observing classroom instruction

21. And lastly • Part IV is step by step process for planning for implementation • A guide for conducting small group and large group data interpretation sessions • Ways to include all stakeholders in the planning process • List of components for a strong implementation plan • Sample school improvement plan template

22. More about this guide • Use all or some of it – combine it with what you’re doing already • Tell us what works and does not work • Volunteers for field-testing? • Call us if you need assistance

23. And it’s free • The School Review Process Guide is for distribution to schools at no cost • Ready this fall, in electronic format and hard copy

24. Any questions or comments?

25. at Learning Point Associates E-Mail:Abner.oakes@learningpt.org 1100 17th St NW, Suite 500 Washington, D.C. 20036 202-223-6725 General Information:877-277-2744 www.centerforcsri.org