2. Breaking Ranks II: Leading and Supporting High School Reform Rosa Aronson Director, Office of Advocacy Archived Information

3. 2 Presentation Outcomes 1.Understand the need for Breaking Ranks II. 2.Review the program components of Breaking Ranks II. 3.Identify how districts and states can support principals in their reform efforts

4. 3 Why “BREAK RANKS”?  High drop-out rates  Widening achievement gaps  Lack of academic rigor for all except a few students.

5. 4 Why “BREAK RANKS”?  Graduates unprepared for post- secondary education and/or training  Disengaged students.

6. 5 Breaking Ranks II Premises  High school principals must take responsibility for improving high schools  District and state administrators must facilitate their work

7. 6 Breaking Ranks II Components  A practical hands-on field guide  3 core areas  31 recommendations  7 cornerstone strategies

8. 7 Three Core Areas 1.Collaborative leadership 2.Personalization 3.Curriculum, instruction and assessment

9. 8 Helpful Features of Breaking Ranks II Multiple examples-urban, rural and suburban-of schools successfully implementing recommendations. Honest recognition of the implementation challenges paired with multiple strategies for success.

10. 9 Helpful Features of Breaking Ranks II Tools, rubrics and surveys to help principals and schools with self- assessment. http://www.principals.org/breakingra nks/breakingranks2.cfm

11. 10 What districts and states can do to improve leadership 1.Break principals’ sense of isolation 2.Cultivate the next generation of school leaders 3.Build bridges to the community

12. 11 What districts and states can do to improve leadership 4.Use data 5.Develop a communications campaign on the vital role of school leaders in the community. 6.Increase funding for professional development

13. 12 What districts and states can do to improve personalization 1.Create and cultivate smaller learning communities 2.Provide more autonomy to schools and parents 3.Coordinate services for student learning

14. 13 What districts and states can do to improve personalization 4.Increase funding for initiatives that contribute to safer and more personalized environments 5.Support efforts to modernize facilities 6.Develop adolescent literacy programs

15. 14 What districts and states can do to improve Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment 1.Ensure all students graduate prepared for postsecondary education or work 2.Demonstrate for students the relevance of classroom learning 3.Enhance educator quality

16. 15 What districts and states can do to improve Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment 3.Create a culture of high expectations for all 4.Link state standards to knowledge and skills necessary for postsecondary education or work.