1. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance (SINA & DINA) Phase I: Audit Keystone AEA January 28, 2008

2. Change is a process, not a single event.

3. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 What Is an Audit?  An official examination and verification of accounts and records especially financial accounts.  To examine (accounts and records) for the purpose of verification.  From: Random House College Dictionary (1982) 3

4. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 Educational Application An audit is designed to examine what is going on in a district or school. These data provide information and insight for effective decision making regarding how a district/school might improve their ability to meet expectations for performance. Key Question: What is the current reality in the district/school? 4

5. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 Do you know what is going on in the district/school? Students Enter a Grade Level School Student Performance Data 5

6. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 Students Enter a Grade Level Student Performance Data School Do you know what is going on in the district/school? 6

7. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 Audit Phase Key question: What is the current reality in the District/School? 1.Collect/organize existing District/School data based on the 13 Elements identified by the Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance (SINA & DINA). 2.Create District/School Profile that includes essential findings and areas for further study. 3.Develop a set of considerations based on the areas for further study. 7

8. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 Audit Framework This framework was established by the Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance: 3 Domains… …with 13 Elements. The framework is based on School Improvement for Schools Facing Challenging Circumstances: A Review of Research and Practice by D. Reynolds, D. Hopkins, D. Potter, and C. Chapman; and work completed by the Mid-Continent Regional Education Laboratory (McREL) in Aurora, CO. 8

9. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 Academic Domain Standards Standards Curriculum Curriculum Instruction Instruction Assessment Assessment 9

10. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 Quality Educator Domain Professional Development Professional Development Leadership and Supervision Leadership and Supervision Internal Communication Internal Communication Climate and Culture Climate and Culture 10

11. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 District/School System Domain External Environment External Environment Stakeholders Stakeholders Resource Allocation Resource Allocation Media/Technology Media/Technology Accountability Accountability 11

12. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 What Is the Audit Outcome? Examination and verification of the 13 elements within the 3 domains will: 1. Provide evidence of support or non- support for each element, and 2. Provide considerations for further study of a given element with regard to student achievement. 12

13. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 An audit is a broad survey of the district/school relative to the three domains for the purpose of determining the current reality. Summary 13

14. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 14 Now, Let’s Explore the Audit Phase in More Detail… Key question: What is the current reality in the District/School? 1.Collect/organize existing district/school data based on the 13 Elements identified by the Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance (SINA & DINA). 2.Create District/School Profile that includes essential findings and areas for further study. 3.Develop a set of considerations based on the areas for further study.

15. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 15 The Audit Profile Domain: Academic - To what degree are these areas aligned? Element: Standards – (What should be taught) Essential Findings SourceCommentsAreas 1.Are there K – 12 standards in the identified area (e.g., reading, math)?

16. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 16 Documents for Review

17. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 17 Practices Inventory Available online Not mandated by the state but the AEA strongly encourages buildings/districts to take advantage of it Provides perceptual data from all of the teachers as to the practices within the building/level/district Provides information surrounding generally accepted practices that support effective school improvement

18. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 18 Divide into three groups. Each group will focus on one domain. Take each question from the Audit Profile in your domain and ask yourself what document(s), including the Practices Inventory, might help answer that question. Reflective Activity

19. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 19 Tips for Reviewing Documents  Organize documents around the 3 domains  At a minimum, work in pairs so one person asks questions and adds findings to the district/building profile while the other person searches and reports findings.  Don’t read into the documents; only record what you find in writing.  If information cannot be found, simply state “no evidence at this time” and note this area for further clarification or questions in the interviews.

20. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 20 When looking at the demographic data, consider this question: What are the significant characteristics of the students, families, and community relevant to education? Tips for Reviewing Documents (cont.)

21. Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance ©2008 21 Questions about the Audit Phase…

22. Relationship Between ICC Outcomes and SINA/DINA Domains  Leadership  Community  Schools  Content, Instruction & Assessment  Prof. Devel.  Instruction Quality Educator District/School System Academic, Quality Educator, District/School Academic Quality Educator Academic

23. Additional Reflective Questions Related to ICC Outcomes and SINA/DINA Audit Leadership Does the system have the capacity and capability to do the work? What are our staff’s strengths – weaknesses? What are our resource capabilities? Capacity: ability and power to act Capability: competency to act

24. Reflective Questions continued Community Support Does the system have the capacity and capability (desire) to receive Community Support at the level prescribed? Does the system have a plan to involve the community?

25. Reflective Questions continued Continuous Improvement Does the system have the capacity and capability to engage in Continuous Improvement? Does the system have the knowledge, skills, attitude, aspirations and behaviors necessary for Continuous Improvement (action planning, data collection, continuous monitoring)?

26. Reflective Questions continued Alignment Is the system teaching the right stuff in the right places? Does the system have the desire and processes to eliminate practices when necessary? Does the system have the capacity and capability to implement effective instructional practices?

27. Reflective Questions continued Professional Development Does the system have the capacity and capability to engage in quality Professional Development? Does the system have the knowledge, skills, attitude, aspirations and behaviors necessary determining Professional Development needs?

28. Reflective Questions continued Instruction Does the system have the knowledge, skills, attitude, aspirations and behaviors necessary to understand and implement effective instructional practices? Does the system have the desire and processes to routinely conduct instructional reviews and adjust practice as necessary?

29. What Does It Take---- A clear mental model supported by strong moral purpose following a proven process embedded within each staff member ….. “to ensure that each and every student is learning……”