‘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 Di Cecco 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.
Tabela de Conteúdo
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
Sobre o autor
Learn more about Raf Di Cecco′s PD offerings Raf Di Cecco, CMC, is a Certified Management Consultant. She is currently president of ARD Consulting Services and Director of the Education and Training Practice of PMC Inc Raf is also the former Executive Director of the Ontario Royal Commission on Learning where she directed the first review of Ontario’s elementary and secondary education system in 25 years. The commission’s report “For the Love of Learning”, tabled in 1995, established the foundation for Ontario’s current reform agenda. Her work experience includes both the Federal and Provincial governments. She has had assignments in a variety of policy fields and has held a range positions including senior executive positions. Raf brings a broad perspective and specialized knowledge and skills. Raf has extensive experience within the education sector and brings a deep understanding of the education sector at the provincial, district and the local level. She brings expertise in the development and management of complex policy and program reform and how these can be implemented at the local level. Her areas of expertise include organizational effectiveness, strategic planning, change management design and implementation, policy and program evaluation and design, mentoring and coaching, and stakeholder management and engagement. Her clients include Ontario Ministries including Education, Training Colleges and Universities, Attorney General, Government Services, Culture and Recreation; School Boards including Simcoe DSB, Waterloo Region DSB, Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB, Toronto DSB: Indian and Northern Affairs (INAC); the 23 First Nations of Sioux Lookout; not for profit agencies including The Learning Partnership; and private sector corporations. She has designed and led the review and evaluation of several key Ontario Ministry of Education initiatives, all involving reviews at the district and school level. Her work with the First Nations of Sioux Lookout involved the establishment of the Kaywiachiin Resource Centre in Sioux Lookout as the education authority for the district.