District & School Improvement Services

District Organizational Assessment

The Organizational Assessment provides districts with an external and research-based review and examination of district structures, programs, and practices supporting and inhibiting effective district and school improvement efforts. Through a formative examination of how the district is organized to support teaching and learning, we work collaboratively with district officials and jointly determine recommendations and actions intended to improve the coherence of district improvement strategies and its ability to improve instructional practice among all teachers within and across schools. The organizational assessment is customizable and can attend to specific instructional issues or specific student populations depending on the particular needs and context of the district.

The Organizational Assessment involves interviews with targeted district staff, focus groups and/or interviews with principals and other relevant school staff, a review of district documents related to school improvement practices, and an analysis of contextual issues impacting the district's efforts. Education Alliance staff will also review pertinent State Education Agency (SEA) regulations, policy, and frameworks that influence district's school improvement efforts.

After our initial analysis, The Education Alliance provides district leaders with a set of findings regarding the district's strengths and areas of concern regarding school improvement efforts, as seen from the various perspectives of interviewees and the document review. This initial analysis serves as a starting point from which The Education Alliance staff can then "walk" district leaders through a process of collaborative inquiry and analysis, where district leadership considers specific actions to improve their district-wide system of support for school improvement.

Other District & School Improvement Services

• Strategic Mapping Process
• Strategic Problem Solving Process
• Designing Services for Underperforming Districts and Schools