Central Office - District

Turning Around Chronically Low-Performing Schools
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC), a central and trusted source of scientific evidence for what works in education, has released the latest practice guide from the Institute of Education Sciences, Turning Around Chronically Low-Performing Schools. This guide identifies practices that can improve the performance of such schools-a process commonly referred to as creating "turnaround schools." The four recommendations in this guide work together to help failing schools make adequate yearly progress. Visit our site and read the practice guide now:
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/practiceguides/

Families-Schools.Org (sponsored by the Center on Innovation & Improvement)
When the school functions as a community rather than in a community, its constituents associate with one another and share common values about the education of children. Those children become our children, and parents are full partners in the education of their children and each other's children.
http://www.families-schools.org/

Helping Every Student Succeed: Schools and Communities Working Together (free download)
Study Circles Resources Center (2002).
http://www.studycircles.org/en/Resource.14.aspx
This tool explains how study circles engage community members in school improvement efforts and provides the discussion materials necessary for a series of four study groups. Group discussions begin with consideration of what each participant considers a “good education” and progresses to deciding upon specific actions for change.

What Works in Improving Low-performing Schools and Districts? - A new ECS Progress of Education Reform highlights recent research that explores what works in improving low-performing schools and districts, examines what is being learned from research and looks at the subsequent implications for state policy.
http://www.ecs.org/00CN3729 (PDF)

The Rural School and Community Trust – this site has information, research, and resources for education in rural communities. There are two e-newsletters that you can sign up for. They are “Rural Roots” and “Rural Policy Matters.” They are both free
http://www.ruraledu.org/site/c.beJMIZOCIrH/b.497215/k.CBA7/Home.htm?sid=189688239

Beyond Islands of Excellence: What Districts Can Do to Improve Instruction and Achievement in All Schools (2003)
The report outlines lessons from five high poverty districts with a record of increasing student achievement. The report identifies a set of practical steps that schools and districts can take to move beyond a few excellent schools to success across entire systems.

Not available in hard copy. Please download the PDF at:
http://www.learningfirst.org/publications/districts/

Public Education Network (PEN) – Engaging the Public in School Reform – Describes PEN’s Theory of Action for involving community in school improvement efforts.
http://www.publiceducation.org/theoryofaction.asp

How do Districts support schools to meet AYP?
For the most part, districts can only meet AYP if their schools meet AYP. Consequently, district leadership needs to keep a sharp focus on the student achievement targets, set clear expectations for all schools, build the capacity of instructional leaders to monitor student progress, and hold all schools accountable for knowing where their students are in relation to the content standards and for creating appropriate interventions for students and schools not succeeding.

This page links to information about sharing information with stakeholders, what data to use to determine progress, what professional development they should provide, and what interventions to consider.
http://meetayp.com/districts/index.html

Guiding School Change through Inquiry: A Systemic Reform Support System - Asking the Right Questions: A School Change Toolkit provided by McREL. This site is designed for anyone undertaking a school improvement effort.
http://www.mcrel.org/toolkit/

Enhancing Your Instruction Through Differentiation is a professional development module created by Access Center staff for technical assistance providers or district or State personnel. This module provides background information about differentiated instruction, demonstrates differentiation strategies, and addresses issues of implementation at the school and district level.
http://www.k8accesscenter.org/training_resources/differentiationmodule.asp