With support from a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, The Education Alliance developed a research-based set of supports, strategies and processes focused on Transforming Systems to build and support collective leadership capacity, sponsor and foster cross-stakeholder problem-solving, and mobilize and facilitate collaborative learning. Also known as the CSR Support and Capacity Building Program, the primary mission of our work is to support State Education Agencies and Districts in their efforts to significantly impact district and school improvement. With this as our mission, we have engaged in a multitude of activities with several states and districts along the Eastern Seaboard.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
How Can State Education Agencies Support District Improvement? A Conversation Amongst Educational Leaders, Researchers, and Policy Actors
Full Symposium Proceedings and Synthesis
Executive Summary
In the summer of 2007, The Education Alliance and The Urban Education Policy Program convened over
fifty state education leaders, superintendents and district leaders, researchers, and other
educational actors to collectively consider the challenges and possibilities of state education
agencies to catalyze and support district improvement. More than a traditional proceedings document,
this report contains a detailed analysis of the themes and ideas that were generated by participants.
The cross-stakeholder discussions resulted in the identification of multiple strategies that can be
utilized by state education agencies to leverage their capacity and provide meaningful support to
districts and schools.
Developing and Implementing Statewide Systems of Support for Low-Performing Schools
Design Elements of State Systems of Support
This document provides an overview of the central features of state systems of support and provides
guiding questions to inform policymakers' discussion and analysis of how to best support increasing numbers
of schools identified for improvement.
Overview of Services and Supports to Districts and Schools
Overview of Services Provided
This document provides an overview of the services developed by the CSR Support and Capacity Building program
through our work with various states and districts over the past year. The services described include an
Organizational Assessment process, a Strategic Mapping process, a Strategic Problem Solving process, as well
as other targeted services.
Examples of the activities and supports we have engaged in include:
Intensive leadership capacity building and design work with state education agencies and districts to foster and develop the organizational conditions and strategies needed to effectively support inclusive and sustainable district and school improvement. Outcomes include (1) the refinement of existing systems of support; (2) the development of systems-based organizational structures; (3) a framework for district capacity building; and (4) targeted strategies for supporting districts and schools in need of improvement, corrective action, or restructuring.
Using a Strategic Mapping Process with states or with districts to identify prioritized needs, align those needs and assets with existing support, strategies and resources, and develop systems-based strategies to more directly address identified strategies. Outcomes include the development of a problem diagnoses map that reflects the organizations mental model of the challenges and issues influencing improvement efforts, and the identification of tangible strategies for moving forward.
Partnering with districts to develop effective district and school improvement tools, supports, and strategies, particularly in schools with diverse student populations, with a particular emphasis on communities with a high percentage of ELL students. Outcomes include revised district and school improvement plans and processes for developing such plans.
Implementing a district organizational assessment to help district leadership refine and improve their school and district improvement efforts targeting specific areas of need, including schools' support of culturally diverse student and ELL populations.
The development and use of customizable school improvement professional development modules to assist districts and schools to plan and implement systemic and coherent school improvement efforts.
The collaborative analysis of a particular school's use of resources and strategies to better support the needs of their diverse student populations, with a particular emphasis on the integrated support of ELLs.
For a more detailed description of the specific assistance we can offer state education agencies, districts, and schools, please download our Overview of Services and Supports to Districts and Schools. In addition, to learn more about our specific work with state education agencies and districts, including the guiding principals and theory of action that serves as a foundation for our work, feel free to download and review our powerpoint Transforming Systems.
For more information, please Contact Us
