This series of five presentations has the following goals:

Presentation III

A Discussion with School Boards: Raising the Graduation Rate, High School Improvement, and Policy Decisions

• Present information on the Virginia Graduation Rate

• Review the Standards of Accreditation requirements concerning the Graduation and Completion Index and accreditation for 2011-2012 and beyond

• Review a comprehensive, systematic process for high school improvement through the Eight Elements of High School Improvement

• Present information on the Virginia Early Warning System Tool and Guide

• Promote discussion on policy issues affecting high school improvement efforts

Presentation III

Goals for Presentations

Presentation III

Eight Elements of High School Improvement: A Mapping Framework*

• Rigorous Curriculum and Instruction

• Assessment and Accountability

• Teacher Quality and Professional Development

• Student and Family Supports

• Stakeholder Engagement

• Leadership and Governance

• Organization and Structure

• Resources for Sustainability

*National High School Centerhttp://www.betterhighschools.org/docs/NHSCEightElements7-25-08.pdf

• Engage the interests, needs, skills, and resources of all stakeholders

• Foster relationships among all schools, the workforce, families, and communities

• Invite all appropriate stakeholders to the table for critical planning and decision-making

Presentation III

Element 5Stakeholder Engagement

High schools exist in unique social, political, and cultural contexts, and high school improvement efforts should incorporate stakeholder engagement strategies that recognize these unique qualities.

Presentation III

Element 5Stakeholder Engagement (cont.)

High schools exist in unique social, political, and cultural contexts, and high school improvement efforts should incorporate stakeholder engagement strategies that recognize these unique qualities (cont.)

• Incorporate multiple communication strategies that encourage two-way communications

• Acknowledge and draw on the strengths of all stakeholder groups

• Incorporate technologies to more creatively and effectively support stakeholder engagement

Presentation III

Element 6Leadership and Governance

Promoting and supporting high-quality instructional and organizational leadership at the building and division levels require exercising leadership and approaches to governance that will achieve effective school improvement.

• Provide principals with adequate knowledge, time, and interpersonal skills to work with teachers as they define curricular and instructional goals and develop instructional strategies

• Promote distributed leadership, encouraging multiple roles for teacher leaders

Presentation III

Element 6Leadership and Governance (cont.)

Promoting and supporting high-quality instructional and organizational leadership at the building and division levels require exercising leadership and approaches to governance that will achieve effective school improvement (cont.).

• Incorporate alternative structures to address management, discipline, and other high school functions

• Shift the focus of policymakers to support comprehensive high school improvement centered on strengthening the instructional core

• Enact enabling policies and codify a vision, a mission, and/or strategic plans for scale-up and sustainability

Presentation III

Element 7Organization and Structure Many high school initiatives are enhanced by or may necessitate change from the organization and structure of traditional, comprehensive high schools toward other operational structures.

• Support effective teaching and learning and personalization

• Support alternative time/scheduling approaches

• Provide increased opportunities to learn, such as virtual

and/or dual enrollment courses or work-based internships

Presentation III

Element 7Organization and Structure (cont.)

Many high school initiatives are enhanced by or may necessitate change from the organization and structure of traditional, comprehensive high schools toward other operational structures (cont.).

• Include students with special needs in the general curriculum with access to all opportunities

• Support teacher organizational changes beyond traditional departmental structures

• Support the positive process of culture changes

• Be responsible stewards of physical and human capital, facilities, tools, and materials

• Adequately staff initiatives and acknowledge need for workload equalization/reduction

• Give new initiatives the time and resources needed to take hold

• Incorporate changes into the classroom

• Move effective practices into full implementation

• Define priorities and allocate needed resources to sustain them over time

Presentation III

Element 8

Resources for Sustainability

Critical to any high school improvement initiatives are the

identification and commitment of adequate fiscal and other

resources.