Effective GovernanceInitial outline for aligning policy with our governance goals

OverviewAs stated in the district’s educational philosophy, “In everything we do, our goal is to improve the quality of education for all our students.”

Research shows that when school boards behave in accordance with certain standards student achievement is improved.1 In fact, some research finds the effectiveness of school board governance as the single most important determination of school district success or failure.2

1. Alsbury, 2008a; Delagardelle, 2008; IASB, 20002. Delagardelle, 2008, p. 191

Student Outcome Goals

Student achievement on state assessments of third-grade reading will increase

The percent of graduates who are college-, career-, or military-ready will increase

Student participation in extracurricular or co-curricular activities will increase

Student achievement on state assessments in all subjects in will increase

8% pts

9.4% ptsat the Meets performance

level or above

4% pts

19% pts

1

2

3

4

Project ObjectiveThe goal of this work is impact the nearly 160,000 students of Dallas ISD by aligning the behaviors of the school board to those most closely correlated with improving outcomes for students.

This is a long-term goal that may take multiple years to achieve. We hope to make critical progress with this initial governance reform package.

Nothing in the package should be surprising or new, simply the next step of a journey the board has already begun.

Project Timeline

17th

JANUARY

Present proposed updates related to Advocacy & Accountability strands.

21st

FEBRUARY

Present proposed updates related to the Structure strand, and board training recommendations.

7th

MARCH

First read of governance reform package at board briefing.

11th

APRIL

Second read of governance reform package at board briefing.

25th

APRIL

VOTE on governance reform package at board meeting.

Policies under review

Process

01

Draft LSG-aligned updates

After reviewing research committee members,

designated administration, and policy Fellows

will draft possible language

02

Gather feedback

Discuss possible policy changes with Trustees,

staff, and TEA.

03

Compile policy package

Create proposal with all policy proposals,

rationale, and supporting materials for the

Board

Accountability 1

AIB - ACCOUNTABILITY PERFORMANCE REPORTING

Write LOCAL policy to define:

1. A student outcome progress monitoring calendar 2. A student outcome monitoring report3. The frequency of modifications to student outcome goals,

GPMs, constraints, CPMs, and monitoring calendar.

BE - BOARD MEETINGS

Add EXHIBITS to:

1. Provide administration a template to follow when presenting progress monitoring reports to the board

2. Give examples of "Board work" (items required by law or items directly pertaining to the Board's adopted student outcome goals, constraints, or progress measures)

Accountability 2

BG - BOARD SELF-EVALUATIONS

Write LOCAL policy to define:

1. The board self-evaluation instrument as the Lone Star Governance Framework

2. Board self-evaluation should occur quarterly

BJCD - SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION

Update LOCAL or EXHIBIT to:

1. Define the Superintendent's annual evaluation is based only on the Board-adopted student outcome goals and constraints, using data reported as scheduled via the Board's monitoring calendar

2. Require the Superintendent to provide a plan for addressing student outcome goals, including both an implementation timeline and measures

BBE - BOARD MEMBERS AUTHORITY

Revise LOCAL policy to update:

● District shall track and report average annual cost of staff time spent on governance, including: time of any staff members spent preparing for, attending, and debriefing after any and all Board-authorized public meetings, closed sessions, and all hearings.

Advocacy

AIB - ACCOUNTABILITY PERFORMANCE REPORTING

Write LOCAL policy to define:

● Board Members hosting a community meeting to discuss progress toward student outcome goals at each feeder pattern with low performing campuses during the previous 12 month period.

BAA - BOARD LEGAL STATUS POWERS & DUTIES

Update LOCAL policy Single-member Constituent Responsibilities to include that trustees:

● Shall meet with students at least once per year AND families, staff, and community members at least once per year to listen for and discuss their vision and values.

BBD - BOARD MEMBERS TRAINING AND ORIENTATION

Revise LOCAL policy to include:

● Prior to being seated, all newly selected Board Members received training on Lone Star Governance from fellow Board Members on their Board or from a TEA-certified Lone Star Governance Coach.

BE - BOARD MEETINGS

Revise LOCAL policy Monthly Board Meeting Agenda Preparation to include that the agenda:

● Shall include time to recognize the accomplishments of its students and staff regarding progress on student outcome goals

Structure

BE - BOARD MEETINGS

Revise LOCAL policy Consent Agenda Items to define that items can be pulled from the consent agenda provided:

● A written question was properly submitted ... and two three Trustees request the item be pulled for separate consideration...

Revise LOCAL policy Minutes and Records to specify that the Office of Board Services shall keep complete records of the action of Board meetings, including:

● Categorizing every minute used as: Goal Setting; Goal Monitoring; Constraint Setting; Constraint Monitoring; Board/Superintendent Evaluation; Voting; Community Engagement; Training; Other

BDB - BOARD INTERNAL ORGANIZATION - INTERNAL COMMITTEES (OR ADD BDG - GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE)

Revise LOCAL policy and EXHIBIT to specify a standing governance committee that will:

● Review all "local" policies in the C-G series, and Board-adopted "exhibit" policies, and any components unrelated to Board operating procedures that may be in the B series to identify policies regarding school system operations that are neither required by law nor an appropriate exercise of the Board's oversight authority as defined by the Board's adopted constraints.

● Responsible for leading at least one community training on Lone Star Governance

Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you’re going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus.

Oprah Winfrey

Let’s do this.