Research and Best Practices
The largest in-depth study of school leadership to date, this report gathers and analyzes quantitative data confirming that education leadership has a strong impact on student achievement, as measured by student test scores. The study shows that leadership makes its mark largely by strengthening a school’s “professional community” – an environment where teachers work together to improve classroom instruction. It also finds that rapid turnover of principals reduces student achievement. In addition, the study shows that although the.....
Learning Environment Resources
Health Topics Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. This source lists both research and methods schools can practice to reduce childhood obesity.
The prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008. The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1%. Obesity is the result of caloric imbalance (too few calories expended for the amount of calories consumed) and is mediated by genetic, behavioral, and environmental.....
Principles for Culturally Responsive Teaching
This source describes seven characteristics of culturally responsive teaching:
1. Positive perspectives on parents and families
2. Communication of high expectations
3. Learning within the context of culture
4. Student-centered instruction
5. Culturally mediated instruction
6. Reshaping the curriculum
7. Teacher as facilitator
Reinventing the American High School (Association for Career and Tech Ed)
In this paper, the Association for Career and Technical Education review the challenges and current efforts in high school redesign, and offer a number of recommendations about what elements should be included in our mutual efforts to reinvent the American high school for the 21st century.
Toolkit for Implementing the School Improvement Grant (SIG) - Transformation Model (CII)
This document is intended for use after the LEA has determined that the Transformation Model is the best fit for the school. The purposes of this document are to:
• outline action items involved in implementing the School Improvement Grant (SIG) Transformation Model and
• provide tools and resources to help districts and school implement the Transformation Model.
School turnaround videos that illustrate different models for SIG grants w/Letter from USDOE official
Colleagues:
Last week, the press shop issued a release publicizing the “suite” of school turnaround videos OCO has produced to better educate and inform the public about the Title I School Improvement Grant Program and further illustrate and explain the different models districts may choose to implement with SIG grant funds. In addition to the marketing we have done to the broadcast stations and education outlets in our ed.tv network (the response has been very strong for dvds and digital downloads), we would appreciate you spreading.....
Professional Learning for Culturally Responsive Teaching from NCCRESt
Understanding the need to explore
personal and professional identities as
well as the necessity of responding to
the strengths and needs that students
from all cultural backgrounds bring
to classrooms, The Equity Alliance at
ASU has generated a set of principles
to guide culturally responsive professional
learning. The principles were
influenced by research from the Center
for Research on Education, Diversity,
and Excellence (CREDE), the research
of McLaughlin and Talbert (2006) with
teacher learning communities around
the.....
Turnaround Competencies for Teachers and Leaders and Toolkits for Selecting Turnaround Leaders and Teachers
School turnaround is possible, but it takes a concerted effort with daring leadership at the helm and persistent, achievement-oriented collaboration among staff. For turnaround efforts to succeed, nothing is more important than making sure that the leaders and teachers who are selected for these challenging roles have the capacity and the will to make a turnaround happen.
The four resources in the Competencies for Turnaround Success Series are designed to help district officials identify and hire the right leaders and teachers for this.....
School Turnaround Teachers: Competencies for Success
This guide aims to help schools attempting turnarounds understand the underlying characteristics of teachers likely to succeed in this unique context, based on the best available research to date. Interestingly, the characteristics identified by early research on star teachers in high-poverty schools are remarkably similar to the competencies exhibited by turnaround leaders across sectors. This is not surprising given the similarities of the roles, explained further within this guide. As more schools attempt turnarounds, increasingly accurate,.....
"The Idea Center" for CTE
The National Research Center for Career and Technical Education (NRCCTE) and the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) are searching for ideas and practices that are positively impacting student achievement in career and technical education classrooms, buildings and districts. The Idea Center is collecting this information and making it easy for teachers, administrators, guidance counselors and others to share, comment on and experiment to make career and technical education an even better education for our nation's students,.....
Reducing Behavior Problems in the Elementary School Classroom
This document is an IES-What Works Clearinghouse Practice Guide
Designed for elementary school educators and school- and district-level administrators, this guide offers prevention, implementation, and schoolwide strategies that can be used to reduce problematic behavior that interferes with the ability of students to attend to and engage fully in instructional.....
Effective Classroom Management: Teacher Preparation and Professional Development
The first link takes you to effective classroom management/behavior resources from the National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality. The PDF file, "Effective Classroom Management" issue paper discusses the importance of teacher preparation and ongoing professional development relative to classroom management. It provides a tool that outlines effective classroom management strategies, highlighting the specific content and level of training that should be addressed in preservice teacher preparation. It also presents research and.....
Bridges4kids - HelpIng Students Transition to Adult Life
Bridges4kids is a non-profit organization providing a comprehensive system of information and referral for parents and professionals seeking help for children from birth through transition to adult life.
Making Visible Improvements Early in the Turnaround Process
This multimedia overview describes the nature and purpose of quick wins in turnaround schools. It offers examples of quick wins that principals can achieve in their schools. (5:55 min)
Developing a Freshman Watch List to Lower Dropout Rates
Listen to how the Department of Graduation Pathways supports schools in identifying students who fall off track to graduation and in planning interventions. Schools receive a Freshman Watch List to identify incoming freshmen who need interventions to be on track for graduation at the end of the freshman year. The department used this sample material, Graduation Pathways: Using Freshman Year Indicators, to help school staff understand the freshman year indicators. (4:36 min)
Social and Emotional Training as Part of Dropout Prevention
Social and Emotional Training as Part of Dropout Prevention
Watch this expert interview with Dr. Russell W. Rumberger to learn about the importance of supporting students' social-emotional development. Dr. Rumberger provides an overview of the different main approaches for supporting students. (4:45 min)
Improving Classroom Behavior and Social Skills
Improving Classroom Behavior and Social Skills
Watch this multimedia overview to learn about the importance of social and emotional skills training for at-risk students and the kinds of interventions that may improve students' behavior and social skills. (5:50 min)
RESPONSIBILITIES OF CULTURALLY PROFICIENT SCHOOL LEADERS
This resource illustrates the "Elements of Cultural Proficient School Leaders." Courtesy of AACP, Gary Whiteley, Director.
School Connectedness: Strategies for Increasing Protective Factors Among Youth
School Connectedness: Strategies for Increasing Protective Factors Among Youth
This piece, produced by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), discusses efforts to improve child and adolescent health and educational outcomes by enhancing protective factors in their lives, reducing risk factors, and promoting social and emotional competence. One of the most promising protective factors, school connectedness, is examined in depth.
