Concepts in Continuous School Reform

Though the scope of work may vary, successful reform is a cyclical process focused on continuous improvement of student achievement and implementation of reform strategies

Leadership: Effective leaders of school reform create a unifying vision and goals focused on the improvement of teaching and learning, use data to guide improvement efforts, and create coherent policies and practices that develop an infrastructure to build the capacity of the organization and individuals to change practice.

Getting Started: Getting started involves preparing to plan. Essential activities include building a shared understanding of the reform vision and goals with the school's leadership team, determining how prepared the school is for change, and informing and engaging stakeholders.

Comprehensive Needs Assessment: The needs assessment often involves developing a school profile. This profile should address the following dimensions: student learning, curriculum and instruction, school organization, family and community involvement, and student factors.

Inquiry Process: The purpose of inquiry is to explore and verify the primary need areas identified in the comprehensive needs assessment, consider possible research-based solutions to address priority needs.

Planning: The school improvement plan should offer substantive changes in how the school conducts its business, changes in school organization, curriculum and instruction, and in parent involvement.

Implementation: Effective implementation is dependent upon two-way communication between internal and external stakeholders, effective training that includes participants from the school and central office levels, ability to be flexible, and the readiness to redesign organizational infrastructure to support changes.

Evaluation: Evaluating the effectiveness of a school reform program involves both monitoring the implementation of program components and assessing student outcomes.