One Size Does Not Fit AllOne Size Does Not Fit All

Washington Education Research Network ForumWashington Education Research Network Forum

Improving Washington’s High Schools: Improving Washington’s High Schools: Insights from Research and ExperienceInsights from Research and Experience

May 11, 2006May 11, 2006

Sue Cohn, Coordinator for High School Improvement,Sue Cohn, Coordinator for High School Improvement,Office of Superintendent of Public InstructionOffice of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Calls for Transformation of the Calls for Transformation of the American High SchoolAmerican High School

A revolutionary approach to high school is needed – A revolutionary approach to high school is needed – one that challenges and engages students in one that challenges and engages students in

meaningful, lifelong learning....Our children must meaningful, lifelong learning....Our children must leave high school with a solid foundation for leave high school with a solid foundation for success in today’s increasingly competitive success in today’s increasingly competitive

knowledge-based economy. Together we can do knowledge-based economy. Together we can do it.it.

-Mark Warner, -Mark Warner,

Governor of Virginia and Chairman of the National Governors Governor of Virginia and Chairman of the National Governors

Association, 2005Association, 2005

AgendaAgenda

• Overview of OSPI reform initiativesOverview of OSPI reform initiatives• High School Improvement Initiative High School Improvement Initiative

(Initiative)(Initiative)• High Schools That Work High Schools That Work (HSTW)(HSTW)• Successful Practices Network Successful Practices Network (SPN)(SPN)

• Common themesCommon themes• Common processesCommon processes• Lessons learnedLessons learned• QuestionsQuestions

First…input from you…First…input from you…

What do you know about…What do you know about…• High School Improvement Initiative High School Improvement Initiative

(Initiative)(Initiative)• High Schools That Work High Schools That Work (HSTW)(HSTW)• Successful Practices Network Successful Practices Network (SPN)(SPN)

What do you hope to learn as a result of our What do you hope to learn as a result of our conversation?conversation?

Overview: High School Reform Overview: High School Reform Initiatives (handout)Initiatives (handout)

• High School Improvement Initiative High School Improvement Initiative (Initiative)(Initiative)

• High Schools That Work High Schools That Work (HSTW)(HSTW)

• Successful Practices Network Successful Practices Network (SPN)(SPN)

• Evaluation processEvaluation process

• Additional initiativesAdditional initiatives

Looking to the future…Looking to the future…A shift in culture - A shift in culture -

from a from a focus on graduation from high school focus on graduation from high school to to readiness for post-secondary opportunitiesreadiness for post-secondary opportunities

Common ThemesCommon Themes

• Culture focused on preparation for post-Culture focused on preparation for post-secondary career and college opportunities, not secondary career and college opportunities, not graduation or rulesgraduation or rules

• High expectations for all studentsHigh expectations for all students• Multiple pathways to rigorous and relevant Multiple pathways to rigorous and relevant

curriculum and instruction which engage all curriculum and instruction which engage all studentsstudents

• PersonalizationPersonalization

Common ThemesCommon Themes

• Support and transition programsSupport and transition programs• Sustained professional development and staff Sustained professional development and staff

collaborationcollaboration• Effective leadership Effective leadership • Safe and supportive learning environmentSafe and supportive learning environment• Parent and community involvementParent and community involvement

““It’s not about where students It’s not about where students come from, but what educators do come from, but what educators do with them once they have them.”with them once they have them.”

Richard Esparza,Richard Esparza,

Principal, Granger High School, Principal, Granger High School, HSTWHSTW

Common ProcessesCommon Processes

Process vs “Prescription”Process vs “Prescription”

&&

PersonalizationPersonalization

“The unique characteristics of school cultures and

student populations suggest that the most meaningful changes

may depend on research that is locally driven.

-Michael Sadowski Closing the gap one school at a time

Common ProcessesCommon Processes

• Clear focus on raising achievement for all Clear focus on raising achievement for all students through attention to policies, students through attention to policies, procedures, and practicesprocedures, and practices

• Reliance on effective schools research and Reliance on effective schools research and locally-driven data to drive goals and action-locally-driven data to drive goals and action-planningplanning

• External review identifying strengths, External review identifying strengths, challenges, and recommendations for challenges, and recommendations for improvementimprovement

• Internal review utilizing locally-driven data and Internal review utilizing locally-driven data and results of findings of review teamresults of findings of review team

Common ProcessesCommon Processes

• External support and technical assistanceExternal support and technical assistance

• Leadership team to usher school through Leadership team to usher school through processprocess

• Involvement of stakeholders Involvement of stakeholders

• Systems approachSystems approach

““Once staff members change their Once staff members change their behaviors, then a change in behaviors, then a change in student behavior will follow.”student behavior will follow.”

Dr. Gene BottomsDr. Gene Bottoms

Site Development WorkshopSite Development Workshop

March, 2006March, 2006

Lessons learned…Lessons learned… High school staff members care about making High school staff members care about making

a difference for their students.a difference for their students. However, the dichotomy between effort and However, the dichotomy between effort and

outcomes and between espoused and outcomes and between espoused and perceived expectations for our high schools perceived expectations for our high schools confounds their work.confounds their work.

The context – culture and structures – of The context – culture and structures – of schools impact ways in which staffs respond schools impact ways in which staffs respond to calls for change and engage in new to calls for change and engage in new learning to improve their practice.learning to improve their practice.

Lessons learned…Lessons learned… An external review and technical assistance can An external review and technical assistance can

provide a valuable lens through which staffs can provide a valuable lens through which staffs can examine the context in which they work and students examine the context in which they work and students learn.learn.

Yet, absent an internal review of local data, findings Yet, absent an internal review of local data, findings of an external review won’t mobilize staffs to reflect of an external review won’t mobilize staffs to reflect on their practices and engage in new learning. on their practices and engage in new learning.

Different initiatives, models and processes are Different initiatives, models and processes are anchored in a common belief that improvement of anchored in a common belief that improvement of instructional practice is at the heart of improvement instructional practice is at the heart of improvement efforts. efforts.

More lessons learned…More lessons learned… School improvement is an evolutionary School improvement is an evolutionary

process. Similar to staff, each school is at a process. Similar to staff, each school is at a different stage in the improvement process. different stage in the improvement process. Also similar to staff, schools can learn from Also similar to staff, schools can learn from one another and improve their practice one another and improve their practice regardless of where they are in the process.regardless of where they are in the process.

Change is not easy…it’s grounded in shared Change is not easy…it’s grounded in shared beliefs, values, norms, and institutionalized beliefs, values, norms, and institutionalized practices – all of which make transformation practices – all of which make transformation of the American high school challenging.of the American high school challenging.

Finally…Finally…

Schools must take a serious look at their Schools must take a serious look at their curriculum, pedagogy, retention and tracking curriculum, pedagogy, retention and tracking

policies, testing and all the other policies policies, testing and all the other policies and practices that create a school climate and practices that create a school climate

that is either empowering or disempowering that is either empowering or disempowering for those who work and learn there.for those who work and learn there.

-Sonia Nieto-Sonia Nieto

Context ALWAYS matters.Context ALWAYS matters.

There is not one size There is not one size that fits all!that fits all!