NCLB and Success for All Students: What’s Working to Close the P-12 Student Achievement Gaps EPLC Conference March 30, 2007

Background Univ. of Pittsburgh’s Partnership for School District Improvement (PSDI) in the School of Education Assistance Teams in Wilkinsburg & Duquesne City SD. Next School Year Launching the Classroom Excellence Initiative – Working in 10 Districts On Data – Introducing a teacher friendly tool to access student data – Combine that with University training focused on the state’s data tools

Objectives for Today Briefly introduce you to the University of Pittsburgh’s Partnership for School District Improvement Discuss one approach to improving student achievement that: – Introduces a teacher-friendly tool that can be used by classroom teachers – Focuses the professional development program on teachers using data to develop instructional strategies – Gets the data into the hands of students so they can become part of the improvement process

Wilkinsburg—2006 PSSA/AYP Results Due to Improved (not necessarily good) Scores – The district met AYP targets—1 st time ever – The high school met AYP targets—1 st time in 4 yrs – The middle school made AYP targets—1 st time in 4 yrs – Kelly elementary made AYP—2 nd yr in a row – Turner elementary made AYP—2 of last 3 yrs – Johnston elem. didn’t make AYP—1 st time in 3 yrs No school is in school improvement or corrective action status

A Question to Ponder! If James Carville were advising us on what to do in Pennsylvania, what would he say to us???

James Carville’s Poster Would Say… It’s The Assessment Anchors Stupid!!!! Anchor Person

PSDI’s Poster Would Say It’s All About Teams of Teachers Using Data to Develop Instructional Strategies on a student by student basis focusing on the assessment anchors

Here is Some of What the Rand Corporation Says Making Sense of Data Driven Decision- Making in Education (1) – Building Data Capacity in School Districts Provide focused training on analyzing data and identifying and enacting solutions Allocate adequate time Partner with organizations Assign individuals to filter data Plan for appropriate and user-friendly technology and data systems (1)Taken from a Rand Occasional Paper in 2006

Ingredients for PSDI’s Poster Time Tools Transitions Temperament Training

Ingredient #1--Time Time to Analyze Data—Compare Results— Meet with Students/Parents – In-service – Act 80 – Common Planning Time – Academic Duties – Longer School Day – Longer School Year

Ingredient #2 –Tools ”New” Tools from PDE In Response to NCLB, There Is A New Generation of Tools and Systems Designed to Improve Student Achievement – Assessment Anchors – PA AYP – Grow Network – PSSA Data Interactive System (e-Metric) – 4Sight Benchmark Assessments – Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessments

Ingredient #3—Transitions The New 3R’s Rigor and Remediation – Rigor--Math—Cognitive Tutor/I Can Learn/Apangea – Remediation--Mandatory After-school Programs Relevancy Relationships—Engaging Students

Ingredient #4--Temperament Paul O’Neil—criteria for good organizations, professional employees should be able to answer affirmatively to the following four questions: – Was I treated with dignity and respect? – Was I given the tools and training that I needed? – Did I make a difference? – Did anyone notice?

Ingredient #5--Training IU’s/Pattan’s/Non-Profits/Universities etc. Use a Combination of Outside Facilitators and In-House Expertise Focus on Data – Data Days—around common planning time – Quad’s—quarterly data reviews – Data Retreats—annual review of data

Who is W. Edwards Deming?

A Continuous Improvement Process Is Recommended Assess the Students Have Teams of Teachers Analyze Data Develop Instructional Strategies Based on the Data Apply the Strategies to the Students

Data Functions (1) Get the right data—valid and reliable Get the data right—accurate Get the data right away—ASAP vs. Autopsy Get the data the right way—by district, by school, by grade, by classroom, by student Get the right data management system (1) Stolen from Paula Calabrese who took it from somewhere

Looking at Data from Different Heights The Airplane View – From 5,000 feet—for administrators/boards The Helicopter View – From 500 feet—for principals/coaches The View from the 2 nd Floor – From 10 feet--primarily for teachers The View from the Ground – Teacher and Student Interaction

And Access to “Standard” Data Is Still Critical (Handout) Courses Taken Grades Teachers Standardized Assessments Attendance Discipline Curriculum Based Assessments

The Rhyme of the School Administrator (Borrowed from the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner) Data, data everywhere—so much it’s hard to think; Data, data everywhere—if only it would link!

One Last Tool for Our Arsenal EdInsight Data Window – Developed for classroom teachers – Criteria Pitt uses!!! Quality Classroom Consortium – Wilkinsburg and Fox Chapel joined at the same time for the same reasons Classroom Excellence Initiative

PSDI’s Poster Would Say It’s All About Teams of Teachers Using Data to Develop Instructional Strategies on a student by student basis focusing on the assessment anchors

Follow-Up Questions?? Contact: Jim Turner—University of Pittsburgh’s Partnership for School District Improvement