District and School Improvement Accountability (DSIA)
ESD 123 offers a unique leadership role in school improvement. Based on current research synthesized in OSPI's Characteristics of Improved Districts: Themes from Research, districts making substantial progress in raising student achievement and supporting all schools in their improvement efforts share the following organizational characteristics:
- Effective Leadership
- Quality Teaching and Learning
- Support for System-Wide Improvement
- Clear and Collaborative Relationships
School Improvement is the single most important business of the school, in that it is the continuous process schools use to ensure that ALL students are provided access, opportunity, and support to achieve at high levels. Research synthesized in OSPI's Nine Characteristics of High Performing Schools: A research-based Resource for schools and districts to assist with improving student learning, identifies attributes of schools which are successful in incrementally and notably improving student learning:
- Clear and shared vision
- High standards and expectations for ALL students
- Effective school leadership
- Supportive learning environment
- High levels of collaboration and communication
- High levels of parent and community involvement
- Frequent monitoring of learning and teaching
- Curriculum, instruction, and assessment aligned with state standards
- Focused professional development
ESD 123 focuses on creating system-wide conditions to scale-up innovations and sustain improvements in all of our 23 school districts across the region by offering the following services:
Data Interpretation / Decision Making
ESD 123 works with districts in developing structures to enhance results-oriented decision making. Services to guide schools and districts in data collection and analysis can be customized to meet district needs.
District Improvement Planning
ESD 123 can provide a facilitator to work with districts as they begin their district improvement process. The ESD can assist districts with coordinating all aspects of the district improvement process from acting as a liaison with OSPI to leading the development of the District Improvement Plan.
Research Based Instructional Strategies
ESD 123 provides updated information on research based instructional strategies. These are particularly important as school develop their improvement plans and are making decisions about effective practices to implement.
Link - Matiri (on OSPI)
NWREL Research - http://www.nwrel.org/scpd/re-engineering/rycu/index.shtml
School Improvement Planning
Our talented staff at ESD 123 has been engaged in the school improvement work throughout our region, acting as School Improvement Facilitators for various area schools. Expertise in the various stages of the improvement process is available to support ongoing efforts of school improvement.
ESD 123 offers a coordinated package of School Improvement Services:
- Building Level Planning and Support
- District Level Planning and Support
- Regional Communication – Current, Effective, Accurate
- Link OSPI – ESD – District – School
- Technology Support – Websites, SLPs, SIPs
- Data Management
- Data Display
- Data Interpretation
- Financial Expertise – Grant Applications, Grant Management
- Coordinated Professional Development Across the Region
- Customized Support for Special Populations
- ELL
- Special Education
- Content Specialization
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Ongoing Support – When official improvement status subsides
SIP Web Tool: http://www.k12.wa.us/sip/
School Reform
ESD 123 provides guidance to improve student achievement by supporting the implementation of comprehensive school reforms based on scientifically based research and effective practices so that all children, especially those in low performing schools, can meet challenging state standards.
Strategic Planning Facilitation
ESD 123 can provide a facilitator to guide districts and individual schools as they begin their strategic planning process. This facilitation would include activities such as: planning meetings, data analysis, staff summits, focus groups, and tools for action planning.
Please contact the Teaching & Learning Department at 509.544.5751 to learn more about how ESD 123 can assist you in these areas.
