Evidence-Based School Development in Changing Demographic Contexts

Description

This Open Access book features a school development model (Arizona Initiative for Leadership Development and Research – AZiLDR) that offers a roadmap for schools to navigate the complexities of continuous school development. Filled with processes that balance evidence-based values with democratic, culturally responsive values, this book offers strategies to mediate the tensions and to address school culture, context and values, leadership capacity, using data as a source of reflection, curricular and pedagogical activity, and strengths-based approaches to meeting the needs of culturally diverse students. You will find: ·       -  Active, reflective activities ·        -  Case studies illustrating each concept ·        - The research base supporting each concept ·        -  Descriptions of processes from other contexts (South Carolina, Germany, Australia, Sweden) ·        -  Thoughts about next steps for contextually sensitive and multi-level school development ·       -   Suggestions for cross-national dialogue and research within the Zone of Uncertainty Use this ideal source to guide school leadership teams in creating productive schools that continually grow!   Foreword Acknowledgements Contents Part I: Changing Context for School Development and Description of the Model Chapter 1: School Development Approaches Over Time: Strengths, Limitations, and the Need for a New Approach Evidence-Based Policy Trends Research Trends Education and Humanistic Values Changing Demographics Strengths and Limitations of School Development: Research and Popular Models Global Interest in School Improvement Recent U.S. Leadership and School Improvement Programs References Chapter 2: A New Approach to School Development Description of the Arizona School Development Project Methods Results Survey Results Improved School Letter Grades Qualitative Interview Results References Part II: Lessons from the Arizona School Development Model Chapter 3: Values, Culture and Context Culture Defined in School Development Application Lessons Learned Case A: Smithson High School Case B: Ruth Bennett Middle School Final Thoughts References Chapter 4: Building and Sustaining School Leadership Capacity Leadership Capacity Defined for School Development Application Lessons Learned Case A: Venture Inc. Case B: Alexander High School Final Thoughts References Chapter 5: Using Data as a Source of Reflection in a Feedback Loop Application Lessons Learned Case A: Sylvester Middle School Case B: Mary Miller Elementary School Final Thoughts References Chapter 6: Going Deeper into Curriculum and Pedagogical Activity Application Lessons Learned Case A: Sun City Elementary School Case B: Smithson High School Revisited Final Thoughts References Chapter 7: Strength-Based Approaches to Meeting Culturally Diverse Student Needs Application Lessons Learned Case A: Santo Domingo Mission School Final Thoughts References Part III: Extending the Process to Other Contexts Chapter 8: School Development in South Carolina - Building Leadership Capacity for Evidence-Based School Development in South Carolina Schools Introduction to the Chapter’s Purpose South Carolina Policy Context Limitations in Research Priorities: Accountability and the Role of Research and Evidence Aim of the Two Initiatives: LEI and SITIS Conceptual Model for the School Development Projects in South Carolina Leadership and School Development Project 1: Lowcountry Educators Initiative (LEI) LEI Participants Implementation of the LEI Findings: Participant Projects and Application of Place-Based Education Leadership and School Development Project 2: School Improvement Through Improvement Science (SITIS) SITIS Participants Implementation of the SITIS Recommendations for Practice Leadership Support Using the Local Context in Improving Practice Valuing of Data Recommendations for Policy References Chapter 9: The Swedish Context Bringing Support Structures to Scale: The Role of the State and School Districts Introduction: Cooperation for Better Schools The Policy Problem – According to the Government The Government’s CBS Resolution as a Response The Government’s “Theory of Action”: A Deliberative Response In the Beginning: The Results of the Document Analyses The Swedish Schools Inspectorate’s Oversight of the Schools Summarizing Reflections References Chapter 10: The Australian Context: National, State and School-Level Efforts to Improve Schools in Australia Introduction National Level School Improvement – The IDEAS and PALL Projects IDEAS (Innovative Designs for Enhancing Achievements in Schools) Principals as Literacy Leaders (PALL) State/Regional Level School Improvement – MGSE Teacher Training and School Improvement Initiatives Melbourne Graduate School of Education’s Master of Teaching Science of Learning Partnership Schools Initiative School Level Improvement: Evidence-Based Improvement in Two Schools Hume Central Secondary College Building Leadership Capacity Redesigning the Organisation Building Teacher Capacity to Improve Teaching Support from External Experts and Agencies Establishing a Performance and Development Culture School Performance Scoresby Secondary College School Improvement Strategy Setting New Direction Teaching and Learning Leadership and Professional Capacity Building Focus on Student Needs Findings Discussion References Chapter 11: The German Context: School Turnaround in Ten Schools in Difficult Circumstances: The Need for Adaptive and Contextualized Approaches to Development and Change Introduction International Research on Key Characteristics and Initiatives to Improve Schools in Difficult Circumstances The German Education Context Adapting a School Turnaround Approach in the German Context Theoretical and Methodological Approaches Presentation of Findings Leadership as a Key to Improvement Development Requires Time Development Requires Support Improvement of the School’s Organisation and Student Outcomes Discussion and Conclusion References Part IV: Conclusions and Looking Ahead Chapter 12: Concluding Comments and Looking Ahead References