SIG Technical Assistance: Things to Think About Lauren Morando Rhim for the Center on Innovation & Improvement

Handbook on Effective Implementation of School Improvement Grants (2010) Center on Innovation & Improvement Purpose: Bolster the effective implementation of the intervention models and strategies outlined in the SIG—section 1003(g) of ESEA Handbook offers succinct and practical explanations of the SIG’s required and recommended models and strategies Includes references to the underlying research and connections to useful resources. Part I frames the purposes of the SIGs Part II itemizes 50+ relevant strategies, connects them to research, cites resources, offers action principles for SEAs, LEAs, and schools. 1/27/2010Center on Innovation & Improvement2

Example: Creating a Turnaround Office (p.31) “Emerging research indicates that states and districts are well positioned to take a lead role in enabling, driving, supporting, and sustaining school turnaround efforts through the creation of a designated turnaround office (Mass Insight Education 2007; 2009). Whether developed at the state or district level, a turnaround office should provide concentrated and coherent resources and expertise to priority schools identified due to chronic low performance…. “ Sample Action Principles For States Creating a State-Level Turnaround Office: Create a designated school turnaround office charged with directing statewide turnaround efforts. Assign senior staff and required resources to direct and coordinate the state’s role in school turnaround efforts. Pursue needed policy changes to give districts and schools needed freedom and flexibility to implement their turnaround strategies. Identify schools to receive targeted turnaround interventions. Develop strategies related to specific turnaround options (e.g., turnaround, restart, or transformation). Devise procedures for determining which strategy to pursue at each identified school. 1/27/2010Center on Innovation & Improvement3

Big Picture #1: Examine Alignment of School Improvement Priorities and Allocation of Resources What are your statewide school improvement priorities?Does allocation of time, people and money reflect priorities?Redirect allocations that don’t support priorities School improvement efforts are not a one time initiative but rather, a core responsibility of states, districts and schools SIGs should not be layered upon existing efforts but rather, drive a reconfiguration of core state, district, and school resource allocations and operations School improvement models will require cultivation of talent pipeline (principals and staff) 1/27/2010Center on Innovation & Improvement4

Big Picture #2: Develop Intentional, Targeted, and Bold School Improvement Strategies Overarching goal is to initiate substantive change where prior efforts have failed; adults and systems required to engage in real, as opposed to symbolic or compliance-based, change. Tiered approach developed to ensure focus on “persistently lowest-achieving.”Data central to identification, intervention and continuous improvementIncremental change inadequate given high costs of low performanceRigorous review of LEA applications will be critical to successful investment of SIG dollars. 1/27/2010Center on Innovation & Improvement5

Big Picture #3: Differentiate Interventions Based on School and System Capacity* Different Performance/Capacity = Different Intervention ClosureTurnaround/Restart/TransformationIncremental ImprovementSupport and Sustain 1/27/2010Center on Innovation & Improvement6 * Distribution is not accurate representation of performance/capacity levels distribution

Resources Hassel, E. A., Hassel, B., Arkin, M. D., Kowal, J., & Steiner, L. M. (2006). School restructuring under No Child Left Behind: What works when? Washington, DC: Public Impact for Learning Point Associates. Retrieved from RestructuringGuide.pdf Redding, S. (2006). The Mega System: Deciding. Learning. Connecting. Lincoln, IL: Academic Development Institute. Retrieved from Redding, S. (2009) Framework for an effective statewide system of support. Lincoln, IL: Center on Innovation & Improvement. Retrieved from Redding, S. and Walberg, H., (Eds.). (2008). Handbook on statewide systems of support. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing. Retrieved from Walberg, H., (Ed.). (2007). Handbook on restructuring and substantial school improvement. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing. Retrieved from 1/27/2010Center on Innovation & Improvement7