The Academy of Pacesetting

Districts

Introducing . . .

Bell Ringer Activity The bell has rung and class is

in session. To get you engaged with our topic for today, please consider the following question with your team (even if you are a team of 1): Share one successful thing you

have done at the SEA level to help build capacity for continuous improvement at the LEA level.

Share one continued challenge you face when attempting to build LEA capacity for continuous improvement.

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A year long opportunity for high level leaders in an LEA to explore their current operations at the district and school levels in a systematic way in order to develop a more robust and effective approach to supporting school improvements related to growth in student learning

What is the Academy of Pacesetting Districts?

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SEAs indicate that their efforts to support change at the individual school level will never be able to reach all of the schools identified as needing improvement

LEAs are in the best position to provide such support and are ultimately accountable for student learning results

The Academy’s focus is on the development of LEA capacity to affect school improvement

What Need DoesThe Academy Address?

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Expected Outcomes District Academy Teams will

formalize a system of support reflecting district level practices proven successful at promoting and supporting positive change at the school and classroom level

Major work product of the Academy experience is an Operations Manual for a District System of Support

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BackgroundAcademy of Pacesetting District’s Building Blocks

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Indicators of Successful Practice

Indicators are statements of practice derived from reviews of research found in the Handbook on Restructuring and Substantial School Improvement

Indicators reflect practices at both the district and school levels

Indicators are a helpful metric for assessing current operations and planning for improvement while considering best practices

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Previous Applications of Indicators by CII

Indistar®: a web-based system to inform, coach, sustain, track and report improvement activities for the use of district and/or school improvement teams

Patterns of Practice-A School Review Process: a systematic examination of school and classroom level practices through interviews, observations, focus groups, and document reviews looking for evidence of indicators associated with substantial school improvement

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BackgroundCapacity Building within theCII System of Support Model

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CII System of Support Model

Increases Willingness &

Innovation

Stimulate Action

Increases Competence &

Self-efficacy

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Capacity Building

Building local capacity to continuously improve is one responsibility of the SEA, depicted as a key “leg” of CII’s Statewide Systems of Support Model (Handbook on Statewide Systems of Support)

This Academy has been designed to support SEAs in building LEA capacity to lead continuous improvement

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Previous Capacity Building Efforts by CII

2007-2008 work with Virginia’s SEA and ARCC to create an indicators-based program of webinars for a set of districts facing sanctions for underperformance

2009-present work with 15 SEA teams and the BIE participating in CII’s Academy of Pacesetting States focused on strengthening SEAs’ systems of support through continuous learning, networking, and mentoring by RCC staff

2009-present work with 9 States and the BIE with the Indistar® Tool and Process

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Academy of Pacesetting

DistrictsWhat District Academy Teams

Will Experience

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District Team Kickoff Meeting District Academy Teams (identified by

SEA) will receive an overview of the Academy experience and expectations for participation

Teams will have time to meet members of other teams from across the State

Teams will explore selected school-level indicators related to effective operations and practice, with a particular focus on school leadership

Teams will be introduced to district-level indicators focused on how the district supports school improvement

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Series of ThreeDistance Learning

Sessions Indicator-based presentations on District

Level Practices Presentations grouped into the following

topical areas: DL 1: High Standards and Expectations; DL 2: Teaching & Learning, and Information

for DecisionMaking;

DL 3: Rapid Improvement Support; Each of the DL sessions will include time for

self-assessment and general discussion Each of the DL sessions will have related

readings and/or on-line viewing of actual practices or interviews with practitioners and researchers 15

Distance Learning Sessions will be developed by

CII Sessions will be delivered by

SEAs SEAs will have flexibility in how

they deliver DL, and may include invited presenters as part of the sessions

After each DL, District Academy Teams: Assess current level of

Implementation Track Progress Connect to Operations Manual

work

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Monthly Working Sessions

Each District Academy Team will spend a minimum of one day per month together for Academy purposes, including Distance Learning Sessions and the development of an Operations Manual for a System of Support

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Monthly Mentoring SEAs will assign mentors to each

District Academy Team who will communicate at least monthly with the team leader or the entire team regarding: The distance learning topics

related to district practice The team’s design of the district

operations manual Activities and issues related to

the Academy experience18

District Summative Meeting

District Academy Teams will come together for a one-day meeting to reflect upon their experience in the Academy, and their year-long work

Opportunity will be provided for feedback on Operations Manuals

Content will focus on Action Planning to fully implement the District System of Support as outlined in the Operations Manual

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Academy Partners: SEA SEA leads the Academy of

Pacesetting Districts with support from the RCC and CII (as determined by the SEA)

SEA has responsibility for such Academy elements as:(1)selection of districts,(2)planning and holding the kickoff

meeting,(3)conducting the distance learning

sessions,(4)providing mentoring services to the

District Academy Teams,(5)conducting an evaluation of the

Academy, &(6)providing general oversight and

management

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Academy Partners: CII & RCC CII has responsibility for training

the SEA team overseeing the Academy, providing materials necessary for conducting the Academy, and standing ready to offer continuing support as the SEA or RCC may request (per the Memorandum of Agreement)

RCC has responsibility for providing such assistance in the delivery of the Academy as the SEA may request (per the Memorandum of Agreement)

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State Team Training CII will provide a 2 day

training August 3-4 (location TBD) for SEA teams interested in providing the Academy of Pacesetting Districts

SEA teams will leave the training ready to deliver the Academy of Pacesetting Districts in their state

All Training, Curriculum, and Materials will be provided

SEAs will cover the cost of their own Travel, Room, and Board

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In Closing

The ultimate goal in school improvement is for the

people associated with the school to drive its continuous improvement for the sake of

their own children and students.

- Dr. Sam Redding23

For More Information A sample Memorandum of

Understanding regarding hosting an Academy of Pacesetting Districts in your State is available upon request

Contact Dr. Lisa Kinnaman at the Center on Improvement and Innovation to express interest, and for more information:lkinnaman@centerii.org 24

Reflection Time With your team, brainstorm

the following: One Possibility that might come

from your participation in the Academy of Pacesetting Districts

One Concern you might have regarding participation in the Academy

One Burning Question you still have in relation to the Academy

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Thank you for your interestin the

Academy of Pacesetting Districts