Mississippi Low-Performing Schools Performance Management and Planning
SECC staff will continue to work with SEA staff in the delivery of support services to low-performing SIG, priority, and focus schools.
Previous Work Updates
2016
November
SECC continues to be a resource to the MDE in an effort to share relevant literature, specifically providing an overview of ESSA and another reference pertaining to states’ turnaround approaches for ESSA this month, and have pertinent discussions to inform the way in which the state works with its low performing schools. SECC met with the MDE to plan/prepare for and held a meeting of stakeholder’s to glean feedback for how the state should propose to improve low performing schools via ESSA in its state application to be submitted in the spring. Ultimately, use of the information contained within the shared resources and exchange in discussion could result in improved practice by adults in most needy schools, as well as heightened performance on the part of students most in need.
October
The SECC continues to be a resource to MDE in an effort to share relevant literature, specifically pertaining to rural school turnaround; advancing equity through ESSA, how states work with districts for turnaround, and moving the achievement needle per the Center for School Turnaround; and several beating the odds resources per the Institute of Education Sciences this month. SECC staff have held pertinent discussions to inform the way in which the state works with its low-performing schools. SECC will be meeting with MDE staff soon about the Year 5 plan of school improvement work around which the two entities will collaborate. Ultimately, use of the information contained within the shared resources and exchanged in discussion could result in improved practice by adults in the most needy schools as well as heightened performance on the part of students most in need.
September
SECC continues to be a resource to MDE in an effort to share relevant literature, specifically pertaining to state school improvement interventions and the 7% ESSA set-aside this month, and have pertinent discussions to inform the way in which the state works with its low-performing schools. SECC will be meeting with MDE soon about the Year 5 plan of school improvement work around which the two entities will collaborate. Ultimately, use of the information contained within the shared resources and exchange in discussion could result in improved practice by adults in most needy schools as well as heightened performance on the part of students most in need.
July
SECC continues to be a resource to MDE in an effort to share relevant literature and have pertinent discussions to inform the way in which the state works with its low-performing schools. Specifically after a change in staff contact, SECC and MDE met to become acquainted with staff who would work together on SI/LPS projects and to discuss the potential ways in which the parties would collaborate going forward. Ultimately, use of the information contained within the shared resources and of that which was gleaned via the focus groups could result in improved practice by adults in the most needy schools as well as heightened performance on the part of students who are most in need.
June
SECC continues to provide resources to MDE in an effort to share relevant literature that could inform the way in which the state works with its low-performing schools. Specifically shared were resources referencing the following topics: rural schools, school boards’ driving of turnaround, and lessons learned from studying turnaround schools. Also, SECC and MDE began preliminary discussions about how to acclimate schools receiving and losing School Improvement Grant funding respectively to effective implementation and sustainability. Ultimately, use of the information contained within the resources and of that which was gleaned via the focus groups could result in improved practice by adults in the most needy schools as well as heightened performance on the part of students most in need.
May
SECC continues to provide resources to MDE in an effort to share relevant literature that could inform the way in which the state works with its low-performing schools. Specifically shared were resources referencing the following topics: using federal funds for turnaround, sustainability, and school boards’ driving of turnaround. Ultimately, use of the information contained within the shared resources and of that which was gleaned via the focus groups could result in improved practice by adults in most needy schools, as well as heightened performance on the part of students.
April
SECC continues to provide resources to MDE in an effort to share relevant literature that could inform the way in which the state works with its low-performing schools. Specifically shared were resources referencing the following topics: raising rural student achievement, access, and support; lessons learned from a school turnaround study; school improvement with focus on adults; and turnaround measurement, leadership, and sustainability. SECC also assisted the MDE with establishing a protocol for use with focus groups from which to collect input for the new SIG application, as well as cofacilitating relative face-to-face and webinar focus group sessions. Ultimately, use of the information contained within the shared resources and of that which was gleaned via the focus groups could result in improved practice by adults in most needy schools as well as heightened performance on the part of students most in need.
March
SECC continues to provide resources to MDE in an effort to share relevant literature that could inform the way in which the state works with its low-performing schools. Specifically shared were the following resources: one about providing feedback to Indistar schools and districts; another about using federal formula funds to support school turnaround; one regarding networked improvement communities; another about the Massachusetts wraparound turnaround zones; one that contained three case studies about principals leading teacher-leader teams; and a final resource suggesting how SEAs should demonstrate capacity for and deliver appropriate turnaround messaging. SECC also provided MDE a wealth of information about the national scope of P16 Councils as well as made travel plans for SECC to participate as a partner with the SEA in a forthcoming Indistar work session. The sharing of such resources yields a variety of examples and means for providing assistance to schools and students most in need. Ultimately, use of the information contained therein could result in improved practice by adults in the most needy schools as well as heightened performance on the part of students most in need.
February
SECC continues to provide resources to MDE in an effort to share relevant literature that could inform the way in which the state works with its low-performing schools. The following resources were shared Identifying, Selecting, and Retaining School Turnaround Leaders; Massachusetts’ Approach to Building Capacity of Districts in School Turnaround Efforts; information about a professional learning module on School Turnaround; reflections from the Indiana Department of Education on its work with SIG schools; and intelligence about Network Improvement Communities. SECC is also now in communicative exchange with MDE about assistance with its P16 Council as well as participating as a partner with the SEA in a forthcoming Indistar work session. The sharing of such resources yields a variety of examples and means for providing assistance to schools and students most in need. Ultimately, use of the information contained therein could result in improved practice by adults in the most needy schools as well as heightened performance for students most in need.
January
SECC continues to provide resources to MDE in an effort to share relevant literature that could inform the way in which the state works with its low-performing schools. Specifically, resources about improvement science, ESSA impact on states, district and regional collaboration, resource distribution based on need and equity, sharpening focus on traditionally underserved students and lowest-performing high schools, principal competencies that impact student achievement, professional learning geared toward all SIG and turnaround schools, and forthcoming Indistar work sessions have been provided by SECC. The sharing of such resources yields a variety of examples and means for providing assistance to schools and students most in need. Ultimately, use of the information contained therein could result in improved practice by adults in the most needy schools as well as heightened performance on the part of students most in need.
2015
December
SECC met with Dr. Longino, executive director of the MDE Office of School Improvement, who shared about the approaches to school improvement being taken in the state. She is still contemplating whether to pursue a state-determined model and if so, what TA SECC can provide to facilitate that process. Dr. Longino requested and SECC has provided information regarding whether other similar SECC states have plans for pursuing a state-determined SIG model. SECC has also provided relative resources such as ones about California’s model, school turnaround leaders, Indistar webinars, turnaround in Indiana, arts curriculum integration, enhancing support for SIG schools, and next-generation high schools. SECC is also in conversation with MDE about potentially attending together one of the Indistar meetings in Nebraska in April 2016.
November
SECC staff met with Dr. Longino, the executive director of MDE’s Office of School Improvement, concerning a recently delivered Information Request about the five federally approved state-determined SIG models for Colorado, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, and Texas. The meeting was held to discuss her thoughts about whether to pursue a similar model and if so, what TA can be provided to facilitate that process. Dr. Longino requested and SECC has provided information regarding whether other similar SECC states have plans for pursuing a state-determined SIG model. SECC has also provided relative resources such as ones about California’s model, school turnaround leaders, Indistar webinars, turnaround efforts in Indiana, arts curriculum integration, and next-generation high schools.
October
SECC staff delivered and discussed with Dr. Longino, the executive director of the MDE Office of School Improvement, an Information Request about the five federally approved state-determined SIG models for Colorado, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, and Texas. SECC staff will meet again with Dr. Longino at the end of October to discuss her thoughts about whether to pursue a similar model and if so, what TA can be provided to facilitate that process.
September
The SECC team met and worked on an Information Request that would consist of a report about the new state-determined alternative intervention SIG models. Dr. Longino, executive director of the MDE Office of School Improvement, requested this report because she indicated it would be very useful to her and her team as MDE begins planning for the 2016 SIG application.
August
In August, the SECC team met with staff from the MDE Office of School Improvement to follow up on planning for end of Year 3 activities and Year 4 activities. SECC staff also met with Dr. Longino to discuss details and guidelines for the process of identifying SEA approaches to implementation of a state-determined model for SIG schools. Dr. Longino requested the SECC team collaborate with her office to develop an Information Request that would consist of a report about the new state-determined SIG models. Dr. Longino indicated that this Information Request would be very useful to her and her team as MDE begins planning for the 2016 School Improvement Grant (SIG) application.
July
In July, the SECC team contacted staff from the MDE Office of School Improvement to follow up on planning for end of Year 3 and Year 4 activities. SECC Mississippi State Liaison Debra Meibaum met with Jamilliah Longino, Director of the Office of School Improvement. Dr. Longino indicated that our support was no longer needed on the majority of previously agreed upon activities for Year 3. It was decided that SECC will support Dr. Longino and her staff by providing current resources focused on low-performing schools—namely, with identifying SEA approaches to implementation of a state-adopted model for SIG schools. This work will carry into Year 4. SECC staff are in the process of scheduling a follow-up meeting with Dr. Longino to discuss details and guidelines for the process of identifying SEA approaches to implementation of a state-adopted model for SIG schools; the meeting is set for early August. Also, the SECC team continues to reach out to MDE to offer share resources and is scheduling appointments with MDE staff to discuss a Year 4 plan of work based on the draft plan established in a previous meeting with MDE.
May
In May, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) requested SECC’s help with revising the rubric MDE staff use to rate schools’ implementation of SOARs indicators. MDE wanted to change the rubric according to the revised SOARS indicators. The SECC team offered resources and information to support MDE with the effort of revising the rubric. SECC staff also contacted MDE staff to follow up on planning for MDE’s Summer 2015 School Improvement Conference. MDE staff have not yet indicated how the SECC team can provide support. The SECC team will continue to reach out to MDE to offer assistance.
April
In April, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) and the SECC team met to discuss the findings from the focus groups the SECC team facilitated with state school and district staff about revising MS SOARS indicators for School Improvement Grant (SIG), Priority, and Focus Schools. MDE shared with the SECC team the indicators that MDE revised and aligned with the focus group participants’ feedback. The SECC team then provided feedback on the revised indicators and discussed with MDE staff how they will implement the indicators in the 2015–2016 school year. The SECC team had meetings with MDE and staff from the Academic Development Institute (Indistar) about the revised SOARS indicators. In addition, MDE requested help with revising the rubric MDE staff use to rate schools’ implementation of SOARs indicators. MDE wants to change the rubric according to the revised SOARS indicators. The SECC team offered resources and information to support MDE with the effort of revising the rubric. In May, the SECC team will work with MDE in revising the rubric.
March
In March, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) requested assistance with administering an online survey with the purpose of gathering feedback from school and district staff on the potential topics for the concurrent sessions that will be a part of the MDE Summer 2015 School Improvement Conference. Angelica Herrera, SECC research associate, and an MDE colleague developed the survey items and format. Dr. Herrera created and administered the survey and sent MDE staff the link, which they emailed to school and district staff. SECC Program Associates, Debbie Meibaum and Dr. Robyn Madison-Harris, provided assistance to MDE staff by facilitating focus groups composed of superintendents and other school and district staff. The purpose of the focus groups was for MDE to collect data on the perceptions these staff have of the 14 revised Indistar indicators that School Improvement Grant (SIG), Priority, and Focus Schools will use in 2015–2016. Four of the focus groups were in Jackson, and two were in Hattiesburg. Dr. Herrera and Meibaum participated with their MDE colleagues in the 2015 Indistar Summit. Meibaum facilitated a question and answer session that followed a presentation on school improvement provided by MDE during the summit. During MDE’s presentation, their staff mentioned a school improvement rubric Dr. Herrera had shared with them in December. Staff from other state education agencies requested Dr. Herrera share the rubric with them as well.
February
In February, several SECC team members had meetings with Dr. Jamilliah Longino, director of the Office of School Improvement at MDE. The meetings focused on revisions to the Year 3 Work Plan and planning and developing MDE’s School Improvement summer conference. SECC staff had a face-to-face initial planning meeting on February 27 at MDE. Ten MDE staff members participated along with Debra Meibaum, SECC program associate, and Dr. Angelica Herrera, SEDL research associate. Meibaum and Dr. Longino facilitated the meeting, and Dr. Herrera participated and took extensive notes. During the meeting, the project team discussed ideas for the conference agenda, potential dates and venues, the format, theme, speakers, and topics for the concurrent sessions. They also identified eight potential topics for the concurrent sessions and 19 themes for the conference. MDE staff will decide on the overlying theme of the conference. However, MDE requested help with administering an online survey they could use to gather feedback from school and district staff on the potential topics for the concurrent sessions. Dr. Herrera and an MDE colleague developed the survey items and format. In early March, Dr. Herrera will create the survey and send MDE the link to the survey. MDE will email the survey link to school and district staff to obtain their feedback. Drs. Herrera and Longino met on February 27 to discuss the request for SECC to facilitate focus groups on the revisions MDE staff made in the Indistar indicators that School Improvement Grant (SIG) and Priority Schools are required to implement. MDE narrowed the list of indicators from 48 to 14 and changed some of the language of the indicators. MDE is interested in understanding the perceptions and feedback school and district staff have of the 14 revised indicators. Drs. Herrera and Longino collaborated to develop the focus group instructions and questions. Team members Meibaum and Dr. Robyn Madison-Harris, SECC program associate, will facilitate the focus groups in early March. Four of the groups will be in Jackson, and two will be in Hattiesburg.
January
In January, several SECC team members met with Dr. Jamilliah Longino, the new director of the Office of School Recovery at MDE. The meetings focused on the Year 3 Work Plan and resources and technical assistance SECC staff can provide to Dr. Longino and her team. SECC discussed how staff would support Dr. Longino in planning and developing MDE’s school improvement summer conference. A face-to-face meeting is scheduled February 27 at MDE to begin planning the conference. SECC and MDE staff also discussed ideas for school improvement projects, such as identifying MS Reward Schools, conducting case studies of Reward Schools, and rubrics and tools MDE staff can use for monitoring improvement efforts at School Improvement Grant (SIG) and Priority Schools. SECC staff shared with Dr. Longino a list of rubrics, tools, and information that she and her team could use in developing a school improvement rubric.
2014
December
SECC staff have participated in several conference calls with staff from the MDE Office of School Recovery and Academic Development Institute (ADI) to plan for professional development sessions focused on building MDE’s and districts’ capacity to use MS SOARS/Indistar for monitoring School Improvement Grant (SIG), Priority, and Focus Schools. The professional development will be offered to districts in Spring 2015. SECC staff are providing technical assistance to MDE on designing the training agenda, curriculum, and materials that will be used during the training. SECC staff also met with MDE to discuss revisions of its SIG manual and possibly having a face-to-face meeting during the national Title I Conference in early February.
November
SECC staff met with staff from the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Office of School Recovery and the Center on Innovations in Learning to plan for professional development sessions focused on building MDE’s and districts’ capacity to use MS SOARS/Indistar for monitoring School Improvement Grant, Priority, and Focus Schools. The professional development will be offered to districts in late January 2015. SECC staff are providing technical assistance to MDE on designing the training agenda, curriculum, and materials that will be used during the professional development.
October
SECC staff met with the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Office of School Recovery staff to begin the process of developing professional development sessions focused on building MDE’s and districts’ capacity to use MS SOARS/Indistar for monitoring School Improvement Grant (SIG), Priority, and Focus Schools. The professional development will be offered to districts in late January 2015. SECC staff are providing technical assistance to MDE on designing the training curriculum and materials that will be used during the professional development.
September
SECC staff collaborated with the MDE Office of School Recovery staff to plan and design work sessions scheduled for early October that will focus on building MDE’s and districts’ capacity to use MS SOARS/Indistar for monitoring SIG, Priority, and Focus Schools. SECC staff are collaborating with MDE on developing a training manual and materials to be used during trainings that will be provided to districts in January so they can effectively monitor Focus Schools by using MS SOARS.
July
At the request of MDE staff, on July 17, SECC staff drafted questions for a panel of administrators who presented at the 2014 Summer School Improvement Conference on August 1, 2014. On July 18, SECC and MDE staff participated in a planning meeting for the School Improvement Conference that was held July 31 and August 1. The conference agenda was finalized, including the outline of the sequence for presentations, work sessions, and networking activities. The teams also developed seating arrangements for the conference attendees. On July 22, SECC staff developed a list of online resources and publications that conference attendees could access for information on school turnaround practices and research. The resources included links to websites and publications developed by SECC, Texas Comprehensive Center, SEDL, and the seven national Content Centers. During the conference (July 31–August 1), SECC staff assisted MDE by managing an “Ask the Expert”/Resource table, where SECC answered conference participants’ questions and provided handouts and resources (including the resource list mentioned above). On August 1, a SECC staff member facilitated a panel consisting of a district superintendent and two school administrators (principals). Also on August 1, SECC staff met with Marcus Cheeks, MDE Office of Federal Programs, Adrienne Williams, office director of Program Development, Focus Schools and other MDE staff from the Focus Schools and School Recovery offices. During the meeting, training of district staff who work with Focus Schools on Indistar/MS SOARS and other school turnaround practices was discussed. SECC staff will begin collaborating with the MDE Focus Schools staff on planning Indistar/MS SOARS training sessions in the near future.
April
On April 22, SECC staff and MDE staff participated in a planning meeting for the School Improvement Grant (SIG) Summer Institute to be held July 31 and August 1. The team developed the conference agenda, outlining the sequence for presentations, work sessions, and networking activities. The theme of the conference was decided, potential speakers and topics were suggested, and the format and materials for the conference were discussed. SECC staff will continue to assist MDE staff in finalizing the details for the summer institute.
March
On March 6, SECC staff and a representative from Academic Development Institute (ADI), a partner in the Center on Innovations in Learning, facilitated a one-day training session for SIG and priority school coaches. The training consisted of reviewing coaching guidelines and role expectations, reviewing new elements of MS SOARS (Mississippi’s version of the Indistar performance management system), using best practice resources to guide monitoring and support to SIG and priority districts and schools, and strategies for providing constructive feedback using the MS SOARS system. On March 7, SECC staff and a representative from ADI participated in a half-day MS SOARS training session for MDE staff working with the state’s Focus Schools. The training consisted of reviewing the MS SOARS performance management system with an emphasis on coaching. Also discussed was the role of school leadership teams in facilitating improvement and change in schools using MS SOARS. A videotaped leadership team meeting from the Indistar system was viewed. Finally, potential revisions to the MS SOARS online forms and documents were discussed. In an afternoon session, MDE, ADI, and SECC staff reviewed the Turnaround/Transformation indicators (used by SIG and Priority Schools in the MS SOARS system) and the Rapid Improvement indicators (used by Focus Schools) and developed a “crosswalk” document, highlighting the common indicators in both sets.
February
SECC staff and MDE turnaround staff scheduled and planned a “refresher” session on coaching using best practices for March 6. SECC and MDE staff collaborated on topics and materials for the session. A second work session was scheduled for March 7 to assist in aligning MS SOARS SIG and rapid improvement indicators and to provide an overview of MDE staff roles and responsibilities with Focus Schools. SECC staff also contacted the director of MDE’s Office of School Improvement and School Recovery to seek assistance regarding two key topics related to school improvement for SECC Information Requests resulting from the November 2013 SECC/TXCC regional school improvement institute. MDE provided information on how it plans to sustain initiatives, practices, and/or focus in schools and districts after funding ends. Information also was provided on MDE’s approach to supporting SIG schools and districts.
January
The SECC staff provided information on the November 2013 Supporting Sustainability Efforts in School Turnaround regional institute to the SECC Advisory Board. Additionally, MDE and SECC staff discussed potential upcoming work related to district SIG implementation. Also discussed was MDE/SECC collaboration in future planning of MDE’s summer statewide SIG conference. Plans were made to send an MDE team, including a SECC staff person as a member, to the 2014 Indistar Summit.
2013
December
In December, SECC staff provided follow up to the November 2013 Supporting Sustainability Efforts in School Turnaround regional institute by sharing the institute website with links to the agenda, presenter and facilitator information, session descriptions, and presentations and handouts. Staff also contacted the MDE to follow up with questions raised during the institute. Additionally, SECC staff shared with MDE staff resources from the Building State Capacity and Productivity Center and the Education Reform Hub.
November
Four MDE staff members participated as a Mississippi team in SECC’s regional institute, Supporting Sustainability Efforts in School Turnaround, on November 6–7, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Mississippi team members, representing MDE’s Office of School Recovery and the Office of Federal Programs, actively participated in the various institute’s sessions, namely the four plenaries, the role-alike discussions, and the five Conversations with Experts.
October
The SECC staff held a conference call with MDE staff to discuss the technical assistance requests for the Year 2 activities regarding the Focus schools. Revisions were made to the Year 2 scope of work. The time frame for the work will be decided upon after MDE staff discuss the work with department directors. The SECC staff also participated in MDE’s “Planning for Life after SIG” Webinar on October 23.
September
MDE and SECC staff participated as a Mississippi team in the USDE’s Office of School Turnaround/Center on School Turnaround’s symposium, The State Role in Leading School Turnaround, on September 25-26, 2013, in Arlington, Virginia. During the symposium, SECC staff facilitated the concurrent session, The Role of School Boards in Turnaround. Also, SECC staff served as a thought partner with the MDE to identify potential ideas for the MDE’s October 23, 2013, webinar on sustainability. SECC staff also participated in the regional comprehensive center’s pre-convening meeting on September 24, 2013.
July
The SIG/Priority School Improvement Summer Conference was held July 29–30, 2013. SECC and RMC partner staff facilitated the Sustaining Improvement Effort: Part 2 concurrent session during the morning of the first day of the conference. During the session, participants reviewed the process used on March 20, 2013, for intentionally promoting and extending successful improvement efforts and networked with other Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 school teams on key sustainability issues. The session culminated with participants developing 2013–2014 Sustainability Action Plans for two successful School Improvement Grant (SIG) components, and then participating in peer reviews by other SIG schools of their Action Plans. A session was also held at the SIG/Priority School Improvement Summer Conference for non-SIG priority schools on the use of MS SOARS as a continuous improvement process. Participants were provided with strategies for holding effective school leadership team meetings, developing cultures of candor within team meetings, and learned about the use of various best practice resources for entering data, creating plans, and monitoring their progress in the implementation of school improvement indicators.
June
SECC and the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) communicated regarding the agenda and logistics for the July 29 SIG sustainability training. SECC and RMC staff collaborated to finalize preparations for the SIG sustainability session. SECC staff also finalized the content for the conference session on the use of MS SOARS as a continuous improvement process. Information regarding Indistar’s new Flag to Assess feature was also provided to MDE.
May
A planning meeting was held in May 9 with MDE staff to plan an agenda for assisting focus schools in their use of MS SOARS (their version of the Indistar performance management system). As part of that work, a series of webinars was proposed that would cover various steps in the use of MS SOARS and resources focused on best practices. On May 10, SECC and MDE participated in a planning meeting to develop the state SIG conference, to be conducted July 29–30. The conference agenda was developed, with SIG concurrent sessions planned for the morning of the first day. Concurrent sessions will address a follow-up on the sustainability workshop held in March for SIG schools and an introduction to the MS SOARS system and process of implementation quality for priority schools. A May 16 SECC/RMC conference call was held to further develop the sustainability session.
April
A planning meeting was held with MDE staff in mid-April to begin development of a follow-up work/reflection session on the sustainability work initiated in March. SECC staff will meet with Mississippi staff in May to collaborate on ideas and activities for the follow-up session. SECC staff working on the low-performing schools project attended the Indistar Summit. The summit provided networking opportunities with other states using the Indistar system and updates on new features of the system.
March
SECC staff facilitated a session on sustaining effective practices for School Improvement Grant (SIG) Cohort 1 districts/schools in Mississippi on March 20 for all of their SIG districts and schools. Participants in the sessions reflected on the programs, resources, and practices in their SIG plans that they were implementing and that were perceived as being successful based on evidence provided by the districts and schools. Follow-up sessions are scheduled for the summer to continue decisions around which programs, resources, and practices are to be sustained as their SIG grants conclude.
February
SECC's discussions with MDE staff confirmed that assistance with indicator rubrics and in facilitating the implementation of schoolwide plans is needed. The work in these areas is scheduled to begin in late spring and continue through the summer and into Fall 2013. A sustainability workshop is scheduled for March 20 to facilitate reflection and planning by SIG Cohort 1 schools on sustaining effective practices. A follow-up session has been tentatively scheduled for May.
January
SECC held a work session with MDE staff on January 7. The focus of the session was to determine the needs of MDE regarding support for their low-performing schools. A sustainability workshop was planned for March 20 to facilitate reflection and planning by SIG Cohort 1 schools on sustaining effective practices. Other areas of support discussed included assisting MDE staff with indicator rubrics and in facilitating the implementation of schoolwide plans. Tentative dates for these areas of support are scheduled for late Spring and Summer 2013.
2012
December
SECC staff held several telephone conferences with MDE staff to discuss needs around sustaining effective practices enacted by School Improvement Grant (SIG) schools over the past several years. The first work session to begin the process of determining those practices, programs, and resources to be sustained will be held in January 2013. Topics will include Understanding Sustainability, Strategies for Achieving Sustainability, and Exploring a Sustainability Planning Process.
