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1.1 Learning Community The district/charter holder commits administrative support and professional development to create a student-centered, teacher-led learning community. 
Level of Performance: Exceeds Standards
Related Resources Tools NEW! Dialogue Guide for Facilitators Dialogue Guides are models for conducting interactive discussions across stakeholders in states and districts. These packages make new use of dependable and publicly available information. Each Guide circulates a common set of source materials and suggested procedures for involving various audiences. In this manner, stakeholders (families, practitioners, professional associations, professors, policymakers, legislators) all over the country can begin interacting in new ways around implementation issues. Publication Date: May 2005 Publisher: IDEA, NASDSE, US Office of Special Education Essential School System Purpose and Responsbility (ESSPAR) Based on the belief that the main objective of school systems must be "to educate all students to high levels through high-quality instruction," the Panasonic Foundation has developed ESSPAR as a tool which defines eight responsibilities that school systems must fulfill in order to help maintain focus on that objective. This tool includes investigative questions which schools, system leaders, and external stakeholders can use to help them assess progress toward this goal. Publication Date: 2004, October Publisher: Panasonic Foundation in association with the American Association of School Administrators Articles NEW! Principal Leadership in New Teacher Induction: Becoming Agents of Change This article discusses the principal's role in lowering the high attrition rate among beginning teachers. Author: Finney Cherian and Yvette Daniel Publication Date: 2008 Publisher: International Journal of Educational Policy and Leadership NEW! What Content-Area Teachers Should Know About Adolescent Literacy This report suggests methods for improving adolescent learners reading and writings skills in the classroom. Author: Kris Anstrom and Trenace Richardson Tanya Shuy Rebecca J. Moak and Mary A. Campbell Peggy McCardle a Publication Date: 2007 Publisher: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development NEW! What Keeps Good Teachers in the Classroom? Understanding and Reducing Teacher Turnover This article discusses the costs associated with teachers leaving, the characteristics of those most likely to leave, and what can be done to prevent turnover. Publication Date: 2008 Publisher: Alliance for Excellent Education NEW! Classroom Walkthroughs: Learning to see the trees and the forest Pilter and Goodwin discuss how to effectively use walkthroughs to collect data and provide useful feedback to educators to improve instruction. Author: Howard Pitler with Bryan Goodwin Publication Date: Summer 2008 Publisher: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) NEW! Education Leadership: A Bridge to School Reform Education leadership has been called the “critical bridge” that can unite the many different school reform approaches in ways that practically nothing else can. This was the central theme of The Wallace Foundation’s national education conference held in October of 2007. This report shares lessons and experiences about how states, districts and universities are going about ensuring that all schools have well-trained, well-supported leadership. Author: M. Christine DeVita, Richard L. Colvin, Linda Darling-Hammond, Kati Haycock Publication Date: 2007, December Publisher: Wallace Foundation NEW! Meeting Challenges Through Communities of Practice: New Eyes, Facilitating Community There are a number of key strategies that are fundamental to the Communities of Practice approach. The strategies in this article can assist Communities of Practice leaders and facilitators in building a strong foundation and enhancing stakeholder participation. Author: Joanne Cashman, Patrice Linehan and Mariola Rosser Publication Date: July 2007 Publisher: IDEA Partnership and NASDSE NEW! Three Simple Secrets of School-Based Coaching The author gives some anecdotal pointers she has learned over her 15 years as a school-based literacy coach. Author: Juli Kendall Publication Date: November 29, 2006 Publisher: Teacher Magazine Eight Questions about Implementing Standards-Based Education This article, written by Robert Marzano, presents eight questions that are relevant to how standards-based education affects classroom instruction and assessment at the local level. Author: Robert Marzano Publication Date: 1996 Publisher: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) Leading in Tough Times: New Lessons for Districtwide Reform This article discusses 10 components the authors feel are crucial components in the success of large-scale systemic improvement. Author: Michael Fullan, Al Bertani, and Joanne Quinn Publication Date: 2004 Publisher: Center for Development and Learning Professional Learning Communities: What Are They And Why Are They Important? This paper focuses on the professional community of learners, in which the teachers in a school and its administrators continuously seek and share learning and then act on what they learn. Publication Date: 1997 Publisher: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL) Student Learning Grows in Professional Cultures The authors discuss how a culture of professionalism in the school fosters improvement in instruction and systems change. Author: TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS - August/September 1998 Publisher: National Staff Development Council (NSDC) The Learning-Centered Principal This article describes how the principal of Adlai Stevenson High School reorganized the school to support student learning. Teachers worked in teams and clarified the essential outcomes of their courses, developed common assessments, and analyzed student achievement data. Advisors and counselors worked together with teachers to devise interventions for struggling students. The systematic response to those who were not learning made it clear to students that school staff members expected them to learn. The focus on what students learned rather than what teachers were teaching led to the development of a culture intolerant of student failure and improved student achievement. Author: Richard DuFour Publication Date: 2002, May Publisher: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Time Use Flows From School Culture: River of Values and Traditions Can Nurture or Poison Staff Development Hours It is argued that how educators' think about and use time is often inherently linked to their school's culture. A toxic culture can discourage efforts to improve teaching and student achievement. Therefore, school leaders must read the school culture, assess views about time, and reinforce positive attitudes about time spent learning. This can be done through actions such as singling out teachers or activities that use time well, modeling how they spend their own time, selecting staff that also have positive attitudes about time, and addressing negative views of time in the school culture. Concepts to consider when determining a school's culture about time include ideas about amounts of time, whether professional development is seen as an investment or a waste of time, ideas about rate or speed of change over time, whether professional development time is intended to relax or engage teachers, and notions of ownership of time. An example of a primary school administrator that has made time to encourage learning among parents and staff is presented. Author: Kent D. Peterson Publication Date: Spring 1999 Publisher: National Staff Development Council (NSDC) Time: It's Made, Not Found This article discusses the importance of making time for staff development and describes several ways to find time. It includes a strategy for creating a 15-hour block of time for staff training and/or planning. Author: Stephen Barkley Publication Date: Fall 1999 Publisher: National Staff Development Council (NSDC) Where are We On Our Journey to High Performance? This article includes case studies of two districts that struggled to assess their progress toward high-quality teaching and learning for all while undergoing significant systemic change. Additionally, an Essential School System Purpose and Responsibilities (ESSPAR) tool for district leaders that uses investigative questions to assess progress within their own context is provided. Publication Date: 2004, October Publisher: Panasonic Foundation and American Association of School Administrators Useful Links NEW! Dr. Archer Video Series “Dr. Anita Archer is a talented author and beloved teacher of teachers. This video series is one of her many gifts to the educational community. Produced with support from the Sonoma County Office of Education, it is made available at no cost thanks to her generous spirit. The series addresses strategic literacy instruction in grades K-8 using a “research to practice” approach grounded in pragmatic real-world application. Each video is 4 to 8 minutes long, has a particular strategic focus, and was shot unrehearsed in real time. A short viewing guide is included for each video, providing guidance for viewing and feedback for post-viewing applications.” Sonoma County Office of Education Author: Dr. Anita Archer Publication Date: 2008 Publisher: Sonoma County Office of Education NEW! RTI Response to Intervention Glossary This is a list of terms and acronyms used when discussing RtI, Response to Intervention. Publication Date: 2007 Publisher: IDEA Partnership, NASDSE, & US Office of Special Education NEW! Tiered Instruction/Intervention The site offers details and information on the RtI process and articles as well as descriptions of the three tiers. Publication Date: Retrieved November 2008 Publisher: RTI Action Network Inside School Improvement: Creating High-Performing Learning Communities This book includes tools, activities, and resources to help education leaders who want to create high-performing learning communities understand the importance of the learning culture in the school and community. Available for sale at the Edvantia web site. Author: Jackie A. Walsh and Beth D. Sattes Publisher: Edvantia ©2005 WestEd. All rights reserved.  |
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