Oregon Statewide System of Support for School & District Improvement Tryna Luton & Denny Nkemontoh Odyssey – August 2010

Mandated by federal law NCLB - SEC SCHOOL SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION. (a) SYSTEM FOR SUPPORT.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Each State shall establish a statewide system of intensive and sustained support and improvement for local educational agencies and schools receiving funds under this part, in order to increase the opportunity for all students served by those agencies and schools to meet the State’s academic content standards and student academic achievement standards.

US Federal School Improvement Section 1003 Federal perspective: Improving schools is a joint responsibility for schools, local educational agencies (LEAs), and State educational agencies (SEAs).

Elements of Effective School Improvement Align curriculum, instruction, and standards Acknowledge that improvement is necessary and take responsibility for changing and improving instructional practices Develop and continuously refine a common understanding student learning based on research in subject areas Collaborative teams enacting their understanding of student learning Hold students to high expectations Implement safe and collaborative school-based professional development experiences with teachers observing across classrooms and debriefing on improving instructional practice Utilize local assessments and progress monitoring to inform instruction and respond with appropriate adjustments in instruction

Increased School Capacity Collaborative teams led by qualified/skilled leaders enacting learning theory Administrative leadership with skills to support school improvement efforts School leaders implement policies and practices that support effective school improvement School staff nurture and support collective responsibility for improving student achievement for all School staff endorse and provide a safe and supportive culture for change

Increased District Capacity Policies and practices that support effective school improvement efforts Systems of professional development that support school improvement efforts Appropriate and necessary leadership development activities in all schools

Levels of Support ODE School Improvement Resource Team School & District Improvement Network Contractors Regional Coordinators District Support Coaches School Support Coaches

School Improvement Response Team The function is: – Be the initial point of contact at the Oregon Department of Education with the District – Attend beginning and end of year meetings to discuss goals, review progress, and plan for next year. – Provide evaluative responses to the Steering Committee about the Statewide System of Support

Network Coordinators Assign coaches to districts and schools Work with ODE School Improvement Resource Team to coordinate training Develop and coordinate training modules for district and school support coaches Develop reporting instruments Assist in the alignment of school improvement efforts with statewide initiatives

Regional Coordinators Point of contact for coaches Organize meetings of coaches within regions Facilitate network discussions between sessions Assist in alignment with statewide initiatives Connect coaches with local, regional, and/or state services

District Support Coaches Meet with district personnel to develop its response plans and/or updated Continuous Improvement Plan Assist district in the review of data Assist with focusing the improvement goals being developed by the District Connect district with outside services that may be needed to meet improvement activities Facilitate meetings with staff and other stakeholders

School Support Coaches Meet with district support coach, district, and school leadership to develop school improvement plan Connect school with resources to assist in improvement efforts Mentor school leader Facilitate implementation of school improvement plan Assist school leadership team in data analysis and interpretation

Currently ODE has awarded a contract to Education Northwest (Ed NW) to operate the Oregon School and District Improvement Network as part of the Oregon Statewide System of Support AYP Preliminary Results were released on Monday, August 2 that identified 79 schools as potentially falling into school improvement for the school year

Currently Ed NW and ODE are planning activities that include: Placement of coaches that worked with schools during the school year Hiring and placement of new coaches Implementing the components of the Statewide System of Support and other contractual requirements Alignment with current statewide initiatives

Agency Focus The Oregon Department of Education has placed school improvement at the top of the priority list. Alignment with major statewide initiatives: Oregon Mentoring Project Response to Intervention Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports Effective Behavioral & Instructional Support Systems Oregon Direct Access to Achievement Project

Questions