Addressing Barriers to Learning and Teaching to Enhance School Improvement UCLA

About this Resource This is part of a set of 3 power point sessions. There is also a related 7 session set online. For each session, there are also a package of handouts (online in PDF) that cover the material. Many of these handouts provide additional details on a given topic.

Feel free to use the power point slides and the handouts as is or by adapting them to advance efforts to develop a comprehensive system of learning supports.

Outline for the Session III Next Steps A. Rework Infrastructure B. Assign Leadership and Developing a Learning Supports Resource Team C. Expand School Improvement Guidance and Planning to Focus on Developing a Comprehensive System of Learning Supports D. Use of the Center’s Free Resources (e.g., toolkit, distance coaching)

Rework Operational Infrastructure

Developing a Comprehensive System of Learning Supports (an Enabling Component) involves reworking the organizational and operational infrastructure for >schools >feeder patterns >districts (and departments of education) >school-community collaboratives >state departments and USDOE In reworking infrastructure, it is essential to remember Structure Follows Function!

Key Mechanisms for a Component Administrative Leader Staff Lead for Component Staff Workgroups

What the student support infrastructure look like at most schools Instructional Component Leadership for instruction School Improvement Team (Various teams and Work groups focused on management & governance) Management/ Governance/ Administrator (Various teams and Work groups focused on Improving instruction) Management/Governance Component Case- Oriented Mechanisms moderate problems severe problems

School Mechanisms for a Enabling or Learning Supports Component >Administrative Leader (e.g., 50% FTE devoted to component) >Staff Lead for Component >Staff Workgroups A key infrastructure mechanism for ensuring continuous analysis, planning, development, evaluation and advocacy is a Learning Supports Resource Team

Example of an Integrated Infrastructure at the School Level Instructional Component Leadership for instruction School Improvement Team Management/ Governance/ Administrator Management/Governance Component Case- Oriented Mechanisms moderate problems severe problems Resource- Oriented Mechanisms Leadership for Learning Supports Learning Supports or Enabling Component Learning Supports Resource Team Work Groups

Leadership Beyond the School for Enhancing a System of Learning Supports For a family of schools (e.g., feeder pattern) 1-2 representatives from each School-Based Resource Team Facilitator for a Multi-site Resource Council At the district Level 1-2 representatives from each Complex Resource Council High Level District Administrator School Board Subcommittee Chair (Comparable leadership at county, state, and federal levels)

Enhancing a System of Learning Supports: Connecting Resources Across a Family of Schools, a District, and Community-Wide High Schools Middle Schools Elementary Schools Learning Supports Resource Team Learning Supports Resource Team Learning Supports Resource Team Learning Supports Resource Team Learning Supports Resource Team Learning Supports Resource Team Learning Supports Resource Council School District Resources, Management, & Governing Bodies Learning Supports Resource Team Learning Supports Resource Team Learning Supports Resource Team Learning Supports Resource Team Learning Supports Resource Team Learning Supports Resource Team Learning Supports Resource Council Community Resources, Management, & Governing Bodies

Assign Leadership and Develop a Learning Supports Resource Team

Who’s at a School? Often, schools have not generated a “map” of the staff who are trying to address barriers to learning and teaching. (1) Adapt the following list to fit a specific school and then fill in names, what they do, and when. (2) Share the final version with teachers, parents, and other concerned stakeholders. The staff listed are all potentially invaluable members of a school’s Learning Supports Resource Team

Learning Supports Staff at a School* >Administrative Leader for Learning Supports >School Psychologist >School Nurse >Pupil Services & Attendance Counselor >Social Worker >Counselors >Dropout Prevention Program Coordinator >Title I and Bilingual Coordinators >Resource and Special Education Teachers Other important resources: >School-based Crisis Team Members >School Improvement Program Planners >Community Resources *Such a list should include a brief description of programs and services and times available

A Learning Support Resource Team Schools say: “We already have a team” But is it Resource-oriented? What you also need is a a Resource-Oriented Team (Focused on all students and the resources, programs, and systems to address barriers to learning & promote healthy development) What you probably have is a Case-Oriented Team (Focused on specific individuals and discrete services)

A Resource-oriented Team Possibly called: >Resource Coordinating Team >Resource Coordinating Council >School Support Resource Team >Learning Support Resource Team Sometimes called: >Child/Student Study Team >Student Success Team >Student Assistance Team >Teacher Assistance Team >IEP Team A Case-oriented Team

A Resource-oriented Team EXAMPLES OF FUNCTIONS >aggregating data across students & from teachers to analyze school needs >mapping resources >analyzing resources >enhancing resources >program and system planning/development >redeploying resources >coordinating-integrating resources >social "marketing" EXAMPLES OF FUNCTIONS >triage >referral >case monitoring/management >case progress review >case reassessment A Case-oriented Team

Expand School Improvement Guidance & Planning: Be a Catalyst for Systemic Change All school improvement planning (e.g., current Title I guidelines) provide ample opportunity to expand school improvement guidance and planning to develop a comprehensive system of learning supports

Taking Action The Center has developed and continues to develop and evolve resources to support action. See for example: Steps and Tools to Guide Planning and Implementation of a Comprehensive System to Address Barriers to Learning and Teaching

Rebuilding Student Supports into a Comprehensive System for Addressing Barriers to Learning and Teaching Sustaining and Scale-up: It's About Systemic Change Also see complete List of Resources & Publications

To Recap: Operational infrastructure at all levels needs to be reworked to effectively plan, develop, and implement a comprehensive system of learning supports Current guidelines provide ample opportunity to expand school improvement planning to focus on development of a comprehensive system of learning supports Planning means little if there is no dedicated leadership and workgroup mechanisms to carry out the work on a regular basis

What changes in current operational infrastructure would enhance efforts to develop a comprehensive system of learning supports? Study Question

Activity Looking at the schools you know – What Does the Operational Infrastructure Look Like? In thinking about this, see the tool entitled: “Infrastructure: Is What We Have What We Need?” Online at

Some Relevant References & Resources >Frameworks for Systemic Transformation of Student and Learning Supports transformation.pdf >Infrastructure for Learning Supports at District, Regional, and State Offices >Developing Resource-Oriented Mechanisms to Enhance Learning Supports ented-mechanisms.pdf >The School Leader's Guide to Student Learning Supports: New Directions for Addressing Barriers to Learning –

We can help... and we want to... and there are no fees! Access the Center website at Contact info: Linda Taylor – Howard Adelman –

What the best and wisest parent wants for his [or her] own child, that must the community want for all of its children. Any other ideal for our schools is narrow and unlovely; acted upon, it destroys our democracy. John Dewey