Full Description
"It is heartening to read about a practical, specific and supportive school review process that begins with true collaboration! Bev Freedman and Raf Di Cecco offer a complete package for educators who crave how to collaboratively guide school improvement from the inside out."
—Lyn Sharratt, Author, Putting FACES on the Data
Say goodbye to top-down evaluations and hello to collaboration and change!
How can you leverage the objectivity of outside evaluators and the knowledge of local educators who understand your school's particular situation to help you drive school improvement? The answer: collaborative schools reviews.
Beverly Freedman and Raf DiCecco show how to design and implement a rigorous and effective school evaluation process, conducted by personnel from within your district in collaboration with your school leadership team. Here you'll find user-friendly guidance for planning and managing every step of the review process, including
A research-based case for how collaborative school reviews transform teaching and learning
Guidance on ensuring that the review process aligns with the district's mission and goals as well as with the Common Core State Standards
Best practices and protocols for creating review teams and conducting onsite classroom observations
How-to's for effectively using data to gain a balanced view of school performance
A composite case study that brings the collaborative school review process to life
This breakthrough book shows how to bring school and district teams together to shape sustainable, positive change and strengthen student achievement.
Contents
About the Authors
Introduction
Improving Schools Matter
Why a Resource on School Reviews?
What Makes This Approach Different?
Our Lens is the School
This is a How-to-Resource
1. Setting the Stage
Collaborative Schools Reviews: A Path for Improvement
What is a School Review?
What Distinguishes Collaborative School Reviews from Other Reviews?
Achieving Excellence-A Strategic Lens to Contextualize Collaborative School Reviews
Collaborative School Reivews as Opportunities for Transformational Change
Our Case Study: The Lone Birch School District
In Summary
2. Designing Collaborative School Reviews
Step One: Design Effectively
Link Collaborative School Reviews to District Vision, Mission and Transformational Agenda
Collaborative School Review Policy
Collaborative School Review Design/Process
Governance
Procedures and Protocols
Structure and Flow for the Review
Protocols for Classroom Observations
Expectations and Protocols for the Onsite Classroom Observations
Possible Questions for Members of the Review Team to Ask Students
Capacity Building
Stakeholder Engagement
Alignment with other Requirements/Processes
Conceptualizing the Collaborative School Review Process: Lone Birch
In Summary
3. Planning Commences at the District Level
Setting the Stage
System Level Planning Process and Detailed Work Plan
Capacity Building
Teams Matter
Leadership, Coordination, Planning at a System Level to Prepare for the Reviews
Composition of the External Review Teams
Developing a Self-Assessment Tool
Data Plan
Capacity Building Plan
Data Management-Creating a Data Tapestry
Lone Birch's Data Management Plan
Communication and Engagement
Communication Plan
Other Planning Considerations for Lone Birch
In Summary
4. Planning Continues at the School Level
Layering the School-based Priorities on the District Priorities
Pleasant Valley
Organizing for the Review
Areas for Focus and Feedback
Supporting Data
Logistics
Meadows Middle School
Organizing for the Review
Areas for Focus and Feedback
Supporting Data
Logistics
Harper High School
Organizing for the Review
Areas for Focus and Feedback
Supporting Data
Logistics
In Summary
5. The Day of the Review Arrives
Harper High
Introduction and Setting the Stage
Conducting the School Review
Debriefing and Sharing Findings and Feedback
Meadows Middle School
Introduction and Setting the Stage
Conducting the School Review
Debriefing and Sharing Findings and Feedback
Pleasant Valley Public School
Introduction and Setting the Stage
Conducting the School Review
Debriefing and Sharing Findings and Feedback
In Summary
6. Unpacking the Results: Ensuring Improvement Happens
Accountability Structure
Roles and Responsibilities
Verbal Feedback and Formal Report
Analysis: Unpacking the Reviews
Work Plan to Implement Suggested Changes
Unpacking the Reviews at the Schools
Pulling Out District Level Trends and Patterns
A Follow-Up Plan
Monitoring and Evaluation of Collaborative School Review Process
In Summary
7. Creating Excellence and Innovation from the Inside Out
