Vision for School Improvement
| Every day, we work together to ensure that all our students will be ready for the next stage of their education and, ultimately, for college, a career, and a future as a productive adult. Until all our students are on track to succeed, our work must be centered on school improvement through continuous learning. To do this well, we must have the courage to address problems, make adjustments, and create solutions, as well as take time to reflect and revise our thinking. |
A Vision for School Improvement: Applying the Framework for Great Schools highlights a process for schools to engage in as they embed the Framework for Great Schools into ongoing cycles of learning in support of the growth and success of all students.
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Resources for Applying the Framework for Great Schools Alignment across the NYCDOE: Linking Each Element of the Framework for Great Schools to NYCDOE Measures and Resources (with facilitation guide) Research Brief: Organizing Schools for Improvement: Lessons from Chicago (with facilitation guide) |
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Research Brief: Learning to Improve: How America's Schools Can Get Better at Getting Better (with facilitation guide) Case Studies of NYC Schools: Snapshots of practice in schools (with facilitation guide) | |
Step 1
Activity | Use this Activity to: |
| Exploring the Vision | Get to know the Vision with your school community |
| Exploring the Framework for Great Schools | Get to know the elements of the Framework Reflect on school strengths and areas of growth |
| Exploring the research behind the Framework for Great Schools | Deepen understanding of the Framework Connect the Framework to its research foundations |
| Guiding questions for step 1: Looking at current practice toward a shared understanding of the Framework | Get to know the elements of the Framework Explore the interplay among the elements of the Framework |
| Connecting the Framework to Case Studies | Explore real examples of the Framework in action Explore best practices and their implications for your school community |
| Framework alignment protocol | Explore connections between the Framework and existing NYCDOE measures (e.g. QR, Danielson, School Survey, etc.) and resources |
Step 2
Activity | Use this Activity to: |
| Conducting a needs assessment | Analyze multiple data sources to surface needs and strengths |
| Guiding questions for step 2: Assessing the needs and establishing goals through the lens of the Framework for Great Schools | Reflect on identified needs and strengths Establish goals grounded in data that connect to the elements for the Framework and the interplay among them |
| The five whys | Explore root causes in school needs and gaps |
| Establishing goals aligned with the Framework for Great Schools | Develop a goal that is grounded in data and connected to the Framework for Great Schools |
Step 3
Activity | Use this Activity to: |
| Exploring Learning to Improve, the research behind the Vision | Get to know the central tenets of improvement science, the research basis of cycles of learning |
| Book discussion guide for Learning to Improve | Reflect on each chapter of Learning to Improve and connect its ideas to your work |
| Guiding questions for step 3: Reflect and prepare for cycles of learning | Reflect and prepare your team for engaging in cycles of learning |
| Developing a fishbone diagram | Explore the root causes of an identified problem, preparing for a cycle |
| Planning a high-leverage change | Develop a theory of improvement for your cycle of learning Identify a change idea to implement and iterate in your cycle of learning |
| Identify measures and opportunities to effectively gauge progress in your cycle of learning | |
| Deepening learning on improvement science | |
| Preparing for planning, implementing, and evaluating professional learning cycles |
For all resources from the Vision for School Improvement: Applying the Framework for Great Schools, visit the library.