DESE District Review Center for District and School Accountability Site Visit: April 11-14, 2011

Purpose Review district and school practices Review district and school practices Provide recommendations for improvement Provide recommendations for improvement Prioritize improvement initiatives Prioritize improvement initiatives Verify promising practices Verify promising practices

Why were we selected? Level 3 District Level 3 District One or more schools in Corrective Action or Restructuring Status under NCLB One or more schools in Corrective Action or Restructuring Status under NCLB Lowest performing 20% of schools Lowest performing 20% of schools

Elements Review of documents Review of documents Site Visit Site Visit Team of 4-6 reviewers Team of 4-6 reviewers April April Interviews Interviews Focus Groups Focus Groups Classroom Visits Classroom Visits

Standards and Indicators Leadership, Governance and Communication Leadership, Governance and Communication Curriculum and Instruction Curriculum and Instruction Assessment and Program Evaluation Assessment and Program Evaluation Human Resource Management and Professional Development Human Resource Management and Professional Development Student Academic Support, Access and Participation Student Academic Support, Access and Participation Financial and Asset Management Financial and Asset Management

Review of Documents School Improvement Plans School Improvement Plans Budget Budget Program of Studies Program of Studies Handbooks Handbooks Teacher Schedules Teacher Schedules Job Descriptions Job Descriptions Personnel Files (randomly selected) Personnel Files (randomly selected)

Interviews and Meetings School Committee Members School Committee Members District Administrators and Staff District Administrators and Staff Curriculum Leaders Curriculum Leaders Teachers Union Teachers Union Teacher Focus Groups Teacher Focus Groups Parents Parents Specific places and times will be announced later

Classroom Visits Range of grades Range of grades Focus on Math, ELA and Science but could visit any classroom Focus on Math, ELA and Science but could visit any classroom No less than 20 minutes No less than 20 minutes Scheduled or spontaneous Scheduled or spontaneous Should reflect typical practice – do not stop or address the visitor Should reflect typical practice – do not stop or address the visitor Visitor may talk with students Visitor may talk with students Not an evaluation Not an evaluation

What will they be looking for? Respectful climate Respectful climate Clear, posted objectives Clear, posted objectives Time/Pace Time/Pace Links to prior knowledge Links to prior knowledge Aligned Materials/Content Aligned Materials/Content Evident Teacher Content Knowledge Evident Teacher Content Knowledge Range of Instructional Techniques Range of Instructional Techniques Checking for Understanding Checking for Understanding Higher Order Questions/Discussion Higher Order Questions/Discussion

We are asking… Please take this seriously Please take this seriously Welcome the visiting team as guests Welcome the visiting team as guests In interviews, be honest and forthright In interviews, be honest and forthright If visited, avoid ‘dog and pony’ shows – teach your normal curriculum using your standard repertoire If visited, avoid ‘dog and pony’ shows – teach your normal curriculum using your standard repertoire Please complete the Conditions of School Effectiveness survey online by April 1 Please complete the Conditions of School Effectiveness survey online by April 1

Final thoughts… We were selected for this review based on our 2009 MCAS scores – two years ago We were selected for this review based on our 2009 MCAS scores – two years ago We have accepted the challenge and made significant changes to our practice We have accepted the challenge and made significant changes to our practice 7-8 grade redesign 7-8 grade redesign Tools of the Mind Tools of the Mind Behavior Programs Behavior Programs CEP Classes CEP Classes Data teams Data teams Instructional Coaches Instructional Coaches New Reading Program New Reading Program Max Out on Math Max Out on Math DSAC Professional Development DSAC Professional Development

And so, Let’s welcome this review and use it to celebrate our achievements and identify our next challenges. Let’s welcome this review and use it to celebrate our achievements and identify our next challenges.