Turning Rigor and Relevance Into Reality Jim Warford, ICLE Senior Advisor Keynote Speaker

Successful Practices Network Provide Focused / Sustained Professional Development System Robust Online Teacher Support Resources Support Transition to CCSS Improving Instruction / Student Engagement Low Cost - Highly Effective Resources

Models, Networks and Policies to Support and Sustain Rigor and Relevance for ALL Students funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Partnership: Successful Practices Network Council of Chief State School Officers International Center for Leadership in Education Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations

A Five Year Study Research Partnership Identification of Schools 10 States - 75 Schools Quantitative study using multiple measures –Learning Criteria Index (LCI) Qualitative study of five high performing schools

5 Qualitative Data Sources Focus groups of students, teachers, and administration Quadrant “ D ” student work Classroom observations “Shadow” students Student perception surveys

Findings Common Factors Among the Five High Performing Schools Teachers have high expectations for students Mission Driven – Sense of purpose Staff focused on fostering relationships with students Student Opportunities – Diverse and numerous Professional Culture

2,000 Lessons, K-12 in all subject areas

We Lead We Teach We Learn We Support

We Lead We Teach We Learn We Support

La Quinta High School 3000 students Hispanic:57% White:36% African-American: 3% Asian: 2% English Learners: 9% Poverty: 40% Students w/ Disabilities:7%

Our Work with SPN Selected as 1 of 75 Gates Initiative “Promising” Schools in fall of 2005 Became member of Successful Practices Network Attended High School Reinvention Symposium in Washington D.C. Oct Embraced concept of Continual Improvement Rejected complacency of “Good Enough” Utilized nearly every resource of SPN Experienced tremendous results

Billings Senior High School What they wanted to do: Develop a coherent vision for change and empower all staff to be involved in school improvement efforts Increase open communication between staff, administrators and students Gather qualitative data from the school’s students and faculty

What they did: Joined the Successful Practices Network in 2008 to jump start an initiative of change. Administered the We Lead Whole Staff Survey and the We Learn Student Survey

Our Work with SPN Selected as 1 of 75 Gates Initiative “Promising” Schools in fall of 2005 Became member of Successful Practices Network Attended High School Reinvention Symposium in Washington D.C. Oct Embraced concept of Continual Improvement Rejected complacency of “Good Enough” Utilized nearly every resource of SPN Experienced tremendous results

Focus on R and R Entire staff trained by SPN Consultant in Quadrant D Gold Seal Lessons -High-level cognitive tasks with real-world, unpredictable applications Teachers enrolled in CORR (university credit helped!) R & R Framework Poster in every room Staff members submit to Gold Seal Lesson repository Expectation set for Gold Seal Lessons Principal walk-through questions for students

SPN Coach Joyce McLean - Experienced Educator Valuable Source of Information Assisted with questions about: Block Schedules Algebra Instruction schedule configurations Leadership Team Dynamics Literacy Instruction Interaction with CDE for CTE Programs Develop statewide professional contacts

Benefits from SPN National perspective on education trends Online, affordable access to research-based school improvement strategies, tools, and information High-caliber, effective Professional Development Statewide and nationwide network of contacts Personal coach who knows my school well provides guidance, problem-solving, networking Community of excellence in education