Usher in the new era of school reform. The authors help you transform your schools into organizations that take proactive steps to prevent failure and ensure student success. Using a research-based five-level hierarchy along with leading and lagging indicators, you’ll learn to assess, monitor, and confirm the effectiveness of your schools. Each chapter includes what actions should be taken at each level.

Usher in the new era of school reform. The authors help you transform your schools into organizations that take proactive steps to prevent failure and ensure student success. Using a research-based five-level hierarchy along with leading and lagging indicators, you'll learn to assess, monitor, and confirm the effectiveness of your schools. Each chapter includes what actions should be taken at each level.

Dramatically improve schooling by harnessing the collective power of the High Reliability Schools(tm) (HRS) model and the PLC at Work® process. Featuring some of America's best educators, this anthology includes information, insights, and practical suggestions for both PLCs and HRS. The overarching purpose is to demonstrate how these two approaches, taken together, complement each other and support educators in their efforts to create a culture of continuous improvement.. Use this resource to ensure a guaranteed and viable curriculum: Study the HRS and PLC practices with guidance from numerous practitioners and experts, developing good teachers into great teachers through a culture of accountability. Learn how to keep your school focused on the right work in order to achieve learning for all through a continuous improvement process. Understand how the HRS model can improve success with the PLC process and how the PLC at Work process is the cornerstone of a high reliability school. Explore the ways in which strong leaders can model and improve the why and how of PLC at Work through a collaborative culture. Explore the five levels of the HRS model, and then learn how to relate each level to PLC at Work process to improve education in your school or district.

Gain key insights on leading a High Reliability School from experts who have years of experience guiding schools and districts through the process. HRS success requires strong leaders who understand the five big ideas shared in this book. With data-driven approaches and research-backed strategies, the authors demonstrate not only how to help schools thrive but also why their methods succeed. This book will help administrators of current or aspiring K-12 High Reliability Schools: Understand the roles of all educators in high reliability organizations Unpack the five big ideas of high reliability leadership and how these ideas relate to their own school or district Utilize practical tools to better apply the HRS framework Improve school culture, student achievement, and organizational efficacy Sustain highly effective school systems Contents: Introduction: The High Reliability Schools Framework Big Idea 1: Becoming a High Reliability School Is a Measurement Process Big Idea 2: Certain Levels of the HRS Framework Have a More Direct Relationship to Student Achievement as Measured by External Tests Than Others Big Idea 3: Schools Must Tailor Programs and Practices to Their Specific Needs Big Idea 4: Without Adequate Focus and Energy, Even Effective Programs and Practices Will Start to Degrade Big Idea 5: Standards-Referenced Reporting and Competency-Based Education Are at the Top of the HRS Framework Because of Their Magnitude of Change and Their Focus on Equity Epilogue Appendix: HRS Measurement Tools References and Resources Index

'The authors discuss international developments in school improvement, and comment on the findings from large-scale studies over time, including those that relate to the development of High Reliability Schools (HRS). ... They describe how the project was designed and implemented; how changes were made along the way, based on increasing knowledge; and how schools differed in the ways that they implemented the project and in their levels of effectiveness, outcomes, and improvement trajectories.' -- back cover.

As educational standards continue to transform, it has become essential for educators and pre-service teachers to receive the support and training necessary to effectively instruct their students and meet societal expectations. However, there is not a clear consensus on what constitutes teacher effectiveness and quality within the education realm. The Handbook of Research on Professional Development for Quality Teaching and Learning provides theoretical perspectives and empirical research on educator preparation and methods for enhancing the teaching process. Focusing on teacher effectiveness and support provided to current and pre-service educators, this publication is a comprehensive reference source for practitioners, researchers, policy makers, graduate students, and university faculty.

Put data to WORK to better meet the needs of all students Have you become hyper-focused on state tests? Do you have important data collected, warehoused, and gathering dust? The time has come to dust off that data and put it to work for your students. The new reporting requirements under ESSA, combined with the flexibility to act on that data, provide a huge opportunity for education leaders. This is your opportunity to rebuild data processes and rekindle excitement about using data for school and student growth. Getting MORE Excited About USING Data addresses both cultural and technical aspects of using data, starting with underlying beliefs about students, assessment, and individual and collective teacher efficacy. This updated edition features: Guiding questions and protocols for effective professional learning communities, shared leadership teams and subject/grade teaching teams New material on the use of formative assessment in schoolwide planning and instructional design Renewed focus on the role of students Tips on the electronic challenges of storage, retrieval, privacy and security Real-life examples from schools and districts ranging from specific data displays to sustained, long-term change The straightforward language, adaptable models, and focus on human elements make Getting MORE Excited about USING Data an essential resource for every leader. The time is now to use data to establish a collaborative culture with student success at its core. "Holcomb leads educators to use data as a catalyst to foster their passion for continuous learning, I highly recommend her pragmatic approach in looking at data as a means to stir the hearts and minds of educators for the sake of our future human resources: the students we serve." Kathy Larson, Author Coaching for Infinite Results "This book is full of practical supports, resources, and illustrations. It is well grounded in the work of schools and the importance of data to that mission." Megan Tschannen-Moran, Professor of Educational Leadership College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA

Uncommon Sense for New Teachers: A Good Beginning is Half the Work is a uniquely written resource for any preservice or new teacher moving into the profession of education. Noted by its author as “the book to read, before deciding what other books to read,” it offers deft perspective on the pressing issues weighing heavily on the minds and hearts of new teachers, including what teachers don’t learn before they start, but should. Written in short-read sections within each unit—relevant topics can be read in any order—each serves as the whisper in one’s head about what one might think, and how to act uncommonly when the next situation arises each day. This book supercharges new teachers, as they apply what they discover in their own way, in any grade, content area, or community.

The teachers aren’t the problem—it’s the system that needs fixing. The missing element in 70 years of school reform is a surround-sound focus on High-Expertise Teaching. We could have it in any district, regardless of zip code, if we reengineered the twelve processes that impact teachers’ knowledge and skill. A handbook for action and a persuasive case for making every school a reliable engine of constant learning, this book outlines the actions necessary to ensure High-Expertise Teaching reaches more children, more of the time. Informed by a substantial research base and decades of implementation, scholar-practitioner Jon Saphier presents the foundational elements of High-Expertise Teaching in this capstone work, along with A comprehensive plan for effective implementation to scale An assets-based approach to high expectations, culturally responsive teaching, and rigor Templates for re-engineering school- and district-based processes Guidance for leaders on honing their own skills to implement change Excellent teaching is complex and demanding, with challenges beyond what any teacher-preparation program can cover. That’s why we must create a workplace environment that enables and prioritizes continuous professional learning about High-Expertise Teaching.