All Resources (by latest date)
Evaluating School Principals Tips and Tools
Research and Best Practices
Creating an environment that is conducive to both teacher improvement and student achievement is the key goal for most school administrators and districts alike. It makes sense, therefore, to include a way to capture or measure one or more quality indicators within an assessment, for example, through a survey, of how well (or not) a principal is able to achieve this goal and his or her impact on outcomes related to teacher and student growth as a component of the evaluation system.
School Improvement Grants-LEA Webinars on the Intervention Models
Alaskan Resources
The following archived webinars from the Center on Innovation and Improvement are viewable as a webinar or as powerpoint slides:
Selecting the Intervention Model
Transformation Model
Turnaround Model
Restart Model
Closure Model
Communicating about School Reform
The Right People for the Job
Selecting the Intervention Model and Partner/Providers for a Low-Achieving School A Decision-Making and Planning Tool for the Local Education Agency
Alaskan Resources
For the School Improvement Grants, LEAs are responsible for selecting the intervention model and external partners/providers that have the greatest potential to dramatically improve outcomes for students attending a low-achieving school. The Center on Innovation & Improvement offers a tool to assist the LEA in making the best decisions. Because state and district contexts vary greatly, CII encourages the modification of this tool to fit the circumstance. So please use it in whole, in part, or in any adaptation that works best for you.
Handbook on Effective Implementation of School Improvement Grants (Revised Jan. 2011)
Alaskan Resources
The five content centers of the Comprehensive Centers Program recently collaborated to create a Handbook on Effective Implementation of School Improvement Grants. The purpose of this handbook is to provide relevant and useful information for states and districts to use as they apply for and implement the models and strategies outlined in the 2009 School Improvement Grant (SIG) program by offering succinct and practical explanations of these models and strategies, references to the underlying research, and connections to useful resources.
Guide to Working With External Providers
Alaskan Resources
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has issued a challenge to our nation to turn around our lowest performing schools. States and schools across throughout our country are dedicating themselves to answering this call, but it will require a significant commitment to achieve measurable results. In many areas, school leaders recognize the valuable role that external providers can play in supporting their work. However, finding the right fit can be daunting and time consuming. The guide is based on existing research and field experience.....
REL Report Identifies Instruments for Measuring Student Engagement
Research and Best Practices
REL Report Identifies Instruments for Measuring Student Engagement
Researchers, educators, and policymakers are increasingly focused on student engagement as a key factor in addressing problems of low achievement, student boredom and alienation, and high dropout rates. As schools and districts seek to increase engagement, it is important for them to understand how it has been defined and to assess the options for measuring it.
This REL Southeast report, Measuring Student Engagement in Upper Elementary through High School: A Description of.....
FREE-DVD-Principal Walk-Throughs A Tool for Alaskan Instructional Leaders
Research and Best Practices
THIS DVD IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE!
Produced by Education Northwest through the Alaska Comprehensive Center for the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (EED), this 15-minute video looks at how four principals carry out “walk-throughs” in their schools. Walk-throughs—sometimes called learning walks or data walks—are quick classroom visits that can help principals systematically gather data on instructional practices. Alaska EED is particularly interested in using.....
New Functionality for the Screening, Progress Monitoring, and Instruction Tools Charts
Research and Best Practices
The National Center on Response to Intervention is pleased to announce that the Screening, Progress Monitoring, and Instruction tools charts have been updated to include new functionality . You are now able to sort all columns by clicking the arrow at the top of each column, filter by subject (math, reading, writing) and by grade level (elementary and secondary), and compare a select group of tools by checking the box on the far right. Many features and the content of the chart remain the same, but this new functionality will help you to find.....
The Essential Components: Multi-Level Prevention System (Webinar)
Research and Best Practices
As one in a series of webinars focused on the essential components of RTI, this month’s webinar provides information on the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of prevention. Dr. Katie Tackett provides an overview of primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of prevention, the types of instruction and assessments at each level, where the instruction typically occurs, and the instructional decisions that can be made based on data.
Follow-up Live Online Chat
Please join a live online chat focused on “The Essential Components of RTI:.....
Measuring Teacher and Leader Performance: Cross-Sector Lessons for Excellent Evaluation
Research and Best Practices
With support from the Joyce Foundation, this report from Public Impact summarizes six steps derived from best practices and research of government agencies, non-profit organizations, and for-profit companies that are critical in designing high quality, effective performance measurement systems. Each step is illustrated by examples from other sectors. The report concludes by proposing sample elements of a performance measurement system for teachers that transparently show the relationship between the education system’s goals, teacher.....
A Coherent Approach to High School Improvement: A District and School Self-Assessment Tool
Research and Best Practices
The National High School Center at the American Institutes for Research (AIR) developed this resource to assist districts and schools assess their current high school education policies and practices with a focus on identifying strengths and areas for improvement in order to implement coherent school reform initiatives. The self-assessment tool addresses eight domains: 1) curriculum and instruction, 2) assessment and accountability, 3) teacher effectiveness and professional growth, 4) student and family involvement, 5) stakeholder engagement,.....
What Are Rural Districts Doing? (Ideas for rural districts and others considering or committed to using SIG Funds)
Research and Best Practices
In order to help districts considering or committed to using School Improvement Grant funds to rapidly improve persistently low-performing schools, CII researchers searched websites of major cities and districts to discover tools and processes already in use. The results, while not exhaustive, may provide models for implementing turnarounds, restarts, school closure, or transformations.
National RTI " Responder Monthly Newsletter"
Research and Best Practices
This link takes you to the monthly newsletter from the National RTI Center. It highlights topics of both national and statewide interest related to response to intervention practices, including resources from the USDOE website "Doing What Works." Educators can sign up to receive this newsletter through their personal email accounts.
CAI Institute Resources - Formative and Common Assessments - Nov 8/9, 2010
Alaskan Resources
Julia Payne-Lewis from Measured Progress was the presenter for these sessions. Her focus was on developing an understanding of effective strategies for applying GLEs, competencies and learning targets to the development and use of Common Formative Assessments.
CAI Institute - Enacted Curriculum - Nov 8/9,2010
Alaskan Resources
These powerpoints were use by Ben Jones, Director of Research & Development for
The Standards Company - www.standardsco.com
Introduction to the Enacted Curriculum, Part A - This powerpoint is from the first session. In this session, we will discuss some of the basic terminology used to investigate the Enacted Curriculum and set the stage for deeper.....
Response to Intervention in Elementary-Middle Math
Research and Best Practices
This multimedia overview explains why states and districts are turning to Response to Intervention (RtI) systems described, including the three instructional tiers and components that are common to most systems. Each sub-section contains a practice summary along with practice help: Learn What Works (video interviews with nationally known research experts), See What Works (slideshows with audio of successful schools that have implemented RTI), and Do What Works (ideas for action and tools and templates).
This resource pertains to K-8 math.....
The Alaska Arts Education Consortium (AAEC)
Alaskan Resources
The Alaska Arts Education Consortium (AAEC) is an affiliation of school districts, organizations and individuals committed to preparing and supporting educators so that they can teach the arts across the curriculum.
Mission Statement
Their mission is to promote high achievement for all Alaskan students in and through the arts by:
* Creating and sustaining communication networks
* Initiating and strengthening community partnerships
* Preparing and supporting educators through professional development.
Find Youth Info: Evidence-based Program Directory
Research and Best Practices
The FindYouthInfo Program Directory features evidence-based programs whose purpose is to prevent and/or reduce delinquency or other problem behaviors in young people. Currently, you can search the directory by risk factor or protective factor.
Find Youth Info provides information, strategies, tools, and resources for youth, families, schools and community organizations that promise to improve school climate
Research and Best Practices
FindYouthInfo.gov was created by the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs (IWGYP), which is composed of representatives from 12 Federal agencies that support programs and services focusing on youth. The IWGYP promotes the goal of positive, healthy outcomes for youth in three significant ways:
» Create and Support youth-serving organizations
» Identify and Disseminate Promising and Effective Strategies
» Promote Enhanced Collaboration
Response to Intervention in Primary Grade Reading
Research and Best Practices
Response to Intervention (RTI) in Primary Grade Reading is one of four sections within the newly added Data-Driven Improvement area on the Doing What Works website. The section is divided into four sub-sections: Universal Screening, Progress Monitoring and Differentiation, Systematic Skill Instruction, and Response to Intervention. Each sub-section contains a practice summary along with practical help in three tabs: Learn What Works (video interviews with nationally known research experts, key concepts, research evidence, and related links),.....
Improving Reading Comprehension in Kindergarten through 3rd Grade
Research and Best Practices
This guide, developed by a panel of experts, presents a set of evidence-based practices that teachers and other educators can use to successfully teach reading comprehension to young readers. The panel review indicates that students who read with understanding at an early age gain access to a broader range of texts, knowledge, and educational opportunities, making early reader comprehension instruction particularly critical. The guide also describes the evidence that supports the practices and gives examples of how they can be implemented in.....
Docs.Teach.org (National Archives teaching resources)
Research and Best Practices
The National Archives has launched a new online tool for teaching with documents. Not only does DocsTeach.org welcome educators to explore thousands of documents in a variety of media from the holdings of the National Archives, but it also allows teachers to combine these materials using clever tools to create engaging activities. Teachers can create lessons from scratch, adapt lessons from others, or let their students create the lessons, and a single suite of tools can be applied to a range of subjects and skill levels. FOR MORE.....
NEW Practice Guides
Research and Best Practices
The What Works Clearinghouse has issued two new practice guides, with practical recommendations for educators to help them address the challenges they face in their classrooms and schools. “Improving Reading Comprehension in Kindergarten Through Third-Grade” recommends five specific steps that teachers, reading coaches, and principals can take to improve reading comprehension for young readers: teach students how to use reading comprehension strategies; teach students to identify and use the text’s organizational structure to.....
