Northwest Regional Comprehensive Center

Printed from: http://nwrcc.educationnorthwest.org/ssos

Statewide Systems of Support (SSOS)

NWRCC provides assistance to state education agencies in improving SSOS. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) (currently known as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 [NCLB]) legislation outlines a pivotal role for the state in helping struggling districts and schools meet the requirements of the law. NCLB requires states to "establish a statewide system of intensive and sustained support and improvement for local educational agencies and schools receiving funds under this part, in order to increase the opportunity for all students served by those agencies and schools to meet the state's academic content standards and student academic achievement standards" (Section 1117 (a)(1)).

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Restructuring
Wrestling the Devil in the Details: An Early Look at Restructuring in California

The Center on Education Policy (CEP) has recently released a publication that looked at California's state restructuring efforts. The Center interviewed state, regional, and school staff, in addition to conducting district-level case studies, observations of restructuring workshops, and document reviews, to learn more about restructuring in California.

Handbook on Restructuring and Substantial School Improvement

The Center on Innovation & Improvement has recently the Handbook on Restructuring and Substantial School Improvement. The Handbook's purpose is to assist states, districts, and schools in establishing policies, procedures, and support to successfully restructure schools.

The Handbook is organized into three sections:

  • Section 1: Overview of Restructuring
  • Section 2: Topical Modules
  • Section 3: Indicators of Successful Restructuring
States Progress Toward High School Restructuring

The National High School Center has recently released a brief outlining the provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) relating to restructuring and includes strategies that states and districts are undertaking, particularly at the high school level.

Government Accountability Office's (GAO) No Child Left Behind Act: Education Should Clarify Guidance and Address Potential Compliance Issues for Schools in Corrective Action and Restructuring Status

The GAO recently released a report focusing on schools that have implemented restructuring programs to meet adequate yearly progress under NCLB. Based on the report's results, the GAO recommends a number of actions:

  • 1. Secretary of ED should inform schools in corrective action when they may continue this corrective action rather than employ a new method;
  • 2. States should report information on corrective action activities taken by each school; and
  • 3. ED should take additional steps to ascertain whether states are ensuring that districts provide the required assistance to schools.
Managing More Than a Thousand Remodeling Projects: School Restructuring in California

The Center on Education Policy recently released a report describing California's school restructuring under the No Child Left Behind Act. Included are case findings of nine schools in four school districts.

It Takes More Than a Hero: School Restructuring in Ohio Under the No Child Left Behind Act

The Center on Education Policy has recently released a report describing Ohio's school restructuring efforts under the No Child Left Behind Act. The report includes findings from interviews with state officials and case studies of nine schools in four school districts: Cincinnati Public Schools, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Mansfield City Schools, and Mount Vernon City Schools.

Kelleher, M., & Scott, C. (2008). It takes more than a hero: School restructuring in Ohio under the No Child Left Behind Act. Washington, DC: Center on Education Policy.

Uncharted Territory: An Examination of Restructuring Under NCLB in Georgia

The Center on Education Policy recently released a report describing Georgia's school restructuring efforts under the No Child Left Behind Act. Including are findings from interviews with state officials and regional administrators and case studies of five schools in three school districts: Atlanta Public Schools, Muscogee County School District, and Stewart County School District.

Duffrin, E., & Scott, C. (2008). Uncharted territory: An examination of restructuring under NCLB in Georgia. Washington, DC: Center on Education Policy.

A Call to Restructure Restructuring: Lessons from the No Child Left Behind Act in Five States

The Center on Education Policy has a released a report synthesizing findings from their research on how the No Child Left Behind Act's school restructuring requirements are being implemented in Michigan, California, Maryland, Ohio, and Georgia. Document reviews and interviews with state officials were conducted in the five states, and case study research was carried out in 19 districts and 42 schools. Among the report's findings are that more schools have entered restructuring and many remain in that status for multiple years; the "any other" restructuring option is the most popular option in the states studied; and the five states varied greatly in the supports they offered restructuring schools.

Top Down, Bottom Up: California Districts in Corrective Action and Schools in Restructuring Under NCLB

The Center on Education Policy has recently released a report describing California's efforts to assist schools in restructuring during the 2008–2009 school year. The report highlights the state's expanded approach to technical assistance, which includes public as well as private providers.

Looking for New Ways To Make Progress: School Restructuring in Maryland, 2008–2009 Follow-Up Report

The Center on Education Policy's report describing the state of Maryland's efforts to assist schools in restructuring during school year 2008–2009 is now available. The report highlights the state's participation in the NCLB differentiated accountability pilot program.

Neuman-Sheldon, B. (2009). Looking for new ways to make progress: School restructuring in Maryland, 2009-09 follow-up report. Washington, DC: Center on Education Policy.

School restructuring: Federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 guidance document

Illinois State Board of Education (2006). School restructuring: Federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 guidance document.

School turnaround teachers: Selection toolkit

Public Impact (2008). School turnaround teachers: Selection toolkit.

The Sit-Down Dinner: Formalizing Restructuring Under the No Child Left Behind Act in Michigan

Scott, C., & Kelleher, M. (2008). The sit-down dinner: Formalizing restructuring under the No Child Left Behind Act in Michigan. Washington, DC: Center on Education Policy.

School Restructuring What Works When: A Guide for Education Leaders

Updated in 2009, this guide from the Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement , reflects the best education and cross industry research on restructuring for chronically struggling schools. That research was compiled by Public Impact, an education policy and management consulting firm in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Statewide Systems of Support (SSOS)
Wrestling the Devil in the Details: An Early Look at Restructuring in California

The Center on Education Policy (CEP) has recently released a publication that looked at California's state restructuring efforts. The Center interviewed state, regional, and school staff, in addition to conducting district-level case studies, observations of restructuring workshops, and document reviews, to learn more about restructuring in California.

Council of Chief State School Officers' State Support to Schools in Need of Improvement

This policy brief from the Consortium for School Improvement at CCSSO, describes systems of support in eight states--Alabama, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The policy brief was developed to facilitate cross-state discussions regarding how diverse states are maximizing their human and fiscal resources to support schools in need of improvement by assisting with data analysis, plan development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation.

States Progress Toward High School Restructuring

The National High School Center has recently released a brief outlining the provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) relating to restructuring and includes strategies that states and districts are undertaking, particularly at the high school level.

Education Commission of the States' (ECS) Education Leadership Policy Toolkit

The ECS, with funding from the MetLife Foundation, created an online resource for state policymakers, school district officials, principals and classroom teachers. The purpose of the toolkit is to expand awareness and understanding of the policies, practices and processes that serve to strengthen leadership for reform and improvement in schools and districts. Eight critical areas ranging from decision making processes to resource allocation to instruction, professional development and accountability - in three school systems: Boston Public Schools, Memphis City School District and National City (California) School District are described.

Strengthening the Statewide System of Support: A Manual for the Comprehensive Center and State Education Agency

The Center on Innovation & Improvement Content Center recently released this handbook that describes a process that enables an SEA to self-assess its system of support and plan for its improvement. The sole purpose of the handbook is to facilitate technical assistance from a regional comprehensive center to guide a team from the SEA in fully describing the statewide system of support, viewing that description within a framework, determining ways to strengthen the system, and developing a plan for improvement.

State-Level High School Improvement Systems Checklist

The National High School Content Center recently released a checklist designed to help states at various stages develop their system of support to reach struggling high schools.