1. School Improvement Grant - SIG 1003(g)
Steve Underwood
Director, Statewide System of Support

2. Primary Goal
Our state’s primary goal in monitoring is not compliance, but rather effectiveness. Compliance is necessary, but not sufficient.

3. Monitoring as Leverage for Technical Assistance
Our technical assistance processes strike a balance between assistance and monitoring. Typically our TA projects are voluntary and much of the work gets done off the record. However, many of the SIG participants never accessed outside TA projects before. Through monitoring requirements for SIG, we have partnered the schools with TA projects. The work of and response to the TA project then becomes information for compliance monitoring.

4. Monitoring Processes Instructional Core Focus Visit
A modification of The Idaho Building Capacity Project
SEA staff quarterly visits/interviews with LEA and School leadership
Review of implementation progress through the State online strategic planning tool
Review of local data – achievement & perceptual

5. Instructional Core Focus Visit
Baseline – a comprehensive visit
Follow-up – a return, scaled down visit each year

6. IBC – Capacity Builders
A modification –
The normal project is completely separated from compliance procedures. Records are maintained by an intermediary agency.
For SIG, monthly service records become part of public record held at SEA for review of the improvement process at each site.

7. Onsite Visits / Interviews
Quarterly visits from SEA staff to interview local LEA and school leadership
Interviews based on SIG required activities

8. Indistar™ by CII – WISE Tool
Indistar – an online strategic planning tool
Schools outline goals, tasks, timelines, etc., and monitor their own progress
SEA has access to all schools and can review in depth or by spot-check for ongoing improvements in either the base tool or the Transformation Toolkit

9. Other State achievement data Local perceptual data
SIG reporting metrics – per final req’s
Fiscal requests/reimbursements

10. C’est fini… Compliance is a minimum requirement
We leverage monitoring requirements to further build local capacity for change
We depend on established relationships as a motivator for change… but we make sure that our LEAs know continued funding is dependent on compliance and progress.

11. Division of Student Achievement & School Improvement
Steve Underwood
Director, Statewide System of Support
Phone: (208)
Division of Student Achievement & School Improvement
Idaho State Department of Education
650 West State Street
Boise, ID
Web: