System Improvement PARCC Washington DC June, 2011 Ben Levin, OISE- University of Toronto

Daunting Task Big undertaking Big undertaking It’s reasonable to feel apprehensive It’s reasonable to feel apprehensive Ontario – Fall 2004 Ontario – Fall 2004 Key is sustained, thoughtful effort Key is sustained, thoughtful effort

Ontario Education System 13 M people 13 M people 415,000 sq ms – much larger than Texas 415,000 sq ms – much larger than Texas 2 M students in 4900 schools, many are small 2 M students in 4900 schools, many are small 72 districts in 4 different public systems (Catholic, French) widely varied in size 72 districts in 4 different public systems (Catholic, French) widely varied in size 100% provincial funding; $10,400/student/year 100% provincial funding; $10,400/student/year Qualified, skilled teachers Qualified, skilled teachers Unionized teachers and support staff Unionized teachers and support staff

Ontario 2003–2009 From high conflict, stagnant results, public dissatisfaction, and poor morale From high conflict, stagnant results, public dissatisfaction, and poor morale To improving student results, low conflict, improved educator morale, To improving student results, low conflict, improved educator morale, and increased public satisfaction

Examples Literacy/numeracy at standard (a high standard) up from 54% to 69% Literacy/numeracy at standard (a high standard) up from 54% to 69% 95% of students at ‘competence’ 95% of students at ‘competence’ High school graduation up from 68% to 81% High school graduation up from 68% to 81% Low performing schools down by +75% Low performing schools down by +75% Teacher attrition down sharply Teacher attrition down sharply

How to Do This The right changes The right changes No simple solutions No simple solutions The right implementation The right implementation ‘Deliverology’ ‘Deliverology’ A positive approach A positive approach Managing the politics and distractions Managing the politics and distractions As important as the technical side As important as the technical side Persistence Persistence

Context Matters Political culture Political culture Level of autonomy Level of autonomy Public views of acceptable policy Public views of acceptable policy Political supports (or opposition) Political supports (or opposition) System capacity System capacity Leader expertise Leader expertise Teacher expertise Teacher expertise

Main Elements – 1 Public goals and targets Public goals and targets Simple, clear, with high consensus Simple, clear, with high consensus

Ontario example - goals Better outcomes Better outcomes 75% at standard in literacy and numeracy, age 12 75% at standard in literacy and numeracy, age 12 85% high school graduation rate 85% high school graduation rate Reduced gaps in outcomes Reduced gaps in outcomes Ethnicity, SES, gender, disability… Ethnicity, SES, gender, disability… Increased public confidence Increased public confidence

Main Elements – 1 Public goals and targets Public goals and targets Clear strategy, strong leadership Clear strategy, strong leadership At all levels At all levels Beyond projects to system change Beyond projects to system change Sector support Sector support Positive two-way communication Positive two-way communication Adjustment as you proceed Adjustment as you proceed Policy is supportive rather than central Policy is supportive rather than central Curriculum, assessment, etc. Curriculum, assessment, etc.

Main Elements – 2 Sector capacity Sector capacity Helping people do better Helping people do better Support well-grounded practices Support well-grounded practices Build on what already works Build on what already works Minimize “mandates” but work towards standard practice Minimize “mandates” but work towards standard practice Stay focused over years Stay focused over years Adjust as needed Adjust as needed Coherence and alignment Coherence and alignment

The Right Changes

Change teaching and learning practices in all schools Change teaching and learning practices in all schools Best evidence Best evidence Student engagement Student engagement Reach out to parents and community Reach out to parents and community Build sector capacity and commitment Build sector capacity and commitment Improve leadership skills Improve leadership skills Approach curriculum and assessment Approach curriculum and assessment as servants, not masters

Where to Focus Think ‘system’ more than ‘school’ Think ‘system’ more than ‘school’ All schools need to improve All schools need to improve Specific attention to: Specific attention to: Low-performing schools Low-performing schools “Coasting” schools “Coasting” schools Priority groups Priority groups Minorities, ESL, special education, disability Minorities, ESL, special education, disability

Implementation/ Delivery Focus on system and whole school changes Focus on system and whole school changes Avoid “projects” Avoid “projects” Create infrastructure to deliver Create infrastructure to deliver Relevant to the size of the challenge Relevant to the size of the challenge Support people as well as resources Support people as well as resources Ontario examples – LNS, L18 Ontario examples – LNS, L18 Be relentless about reminders, events, Be relentless about reminders, events, and supports Build research, evaluation, and data Build research, evaluation, and data

Capacity to Deliver Fullan’s ‘tri-level solution’ Fullan’s ‘tri-level solution’ State departments/ministries need lots of change State departments/ministries need lots of change Never designed to support improvement Never designed to support improvement Alignment of policy and approach across units Alignment of policy and approach across units This is very hard to do This is very hard to do Same at district level Same at district level

Stronger State Departments Checklist of 26 characteristics Checklist of 26 characteristics Under main headings of goals, senior management, structure, culture, resources, plans, stakeholders, staffing, research Under main headings of goals, senior management, structure, culture, resources, plans, stakeholders, staffing, research Ontario example – realigning (NOT reorganizing) the Ministry Ontario example – realigning (NOT reorganizing) the Ministry Goal achievement, not compliance Goal achievement, not compliance

Improving Practices Use what we know Use what we know Avoid ‘mandating’ in favor of learning Avoid ‘mandating’ in favor of learning Ontario example – Lighthouse schools Ontario example – Lighthouse schools Start with easier steps Start with easier steps Work collectively Work collectively In teams more than as individuals In teams more than as individuals Ontario example – Leading Student Achievement Ontario example – Leading Student Achievement Root practices in school settings Root practices in school settings Use data effectively Use data effectively

Importance of Systems Make the priorities, the priorities! Make the priorities, the priorities! Regular events to review data Regular events to review data and progress Ontario example – major events Processes to ensure every student Processes to ensure every student is considered Ontario example – student progress indicators Prevention rather than remediation Prevention rather than remediation

Working with Districts Creating networks and shared learning Creating networks and shared learning Building leadership at district as well as school level Building leadership at district as well as school level Elected boards as well as managers Elected boards as well as managers Ontario example – legislation Ontario example – legislation Ontario example – back office Ontario example – back office Lots of communication – but aligned Lots of communication – but aligned Simplifying reporting Simplifying reporting

Elementary and Secondary Different strategies Different strategies Elementary more focus on teaching/learning Elementary more focus on teaching/learning Secondary more focus on knowing students and tracking progress Secondary more focus on knowing students and tracking progress Also different delivery strategies Also different delivery strategies More program issues in secondary More program issues in secondary Influence of PSE and subject areas Influence of PSE and subject areas

Building Sector Support Strong political leadership Strong political leadership “Guiding coalition” “Guiding coalition” Align with local leaders Align with local leaders Respect all partners Respect all partners Ontario example – Partnership Table Ontario example – Partnership Table Appeal to educators’ ideals Appeal to educators’ ideals Stay focused and aligned Stay focused and aligned Develop public confidence and support Develop public confidence and support

Public Confidence Talking positively about schools Talking positively about schools But also open about challenges But also open about challenges Working with media and intermediaries on understanding Working with media and intermediaries on understanding Must be simple, clear messages backed by action Must be simple, clear messages backed by action

Communication and Support Endless communication to sector Endless communication to sector Enlisting support from leaders and teachers Enlisting support from leaders and teachers Constant positive reinforcement Constant positive reinforcement Respectful but with expectations Respectful but with expectations Regular public communication Regular public communication Successes and challenges Successes and challenges Learn and adapt as you go Learn and adapt as you go Feedback, critical friends Feedback, critical friends Labor peace a key element Labor peace a key element

Recap It takes ongoing effort, on a consistent agenda, with strong support, sufficient infrastructure, and a positive message. It takes ongoing effort, on a consistent agenda, with strong support, sufficient infrastructure, and a positive message.

For States Do you have the capacity to deliver at scale? Do you have the capacity to deliver at scale? Do you have the systems and processes to make this your priority? Do you have the systems and processes to make this your priority? Do you have the alignment across your whole organization? Do you have the alignment across your whole organization? Can you manage the politics? Can you manage the politics?

Thank You!