MISSION

Building SEA and District Capacity to Catalyze and Support Inclusive and Sustainable District and School Improvement

The mission of the Comprehensive School Reform Support and Capacity Building program was to partner with state education agencies (SEAs) and local education agencies (LEAs) to develop aligned and coherent systems of support for district and school improvement that increases schools' and districts' capacity—the organizational conditions, skills, and knowledge—to effectively support inclusive and sustainable school improvement.

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 has increased our collective focus on the need to improve teaching and learning and the organizational conditions of all schools and for all students, especially students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds and different cultures or who do not speak English as a first language. With the increasing number of schools being identified for improvement through state educational accountability systems, SEAs and LEAs are being asked to develop systems and supports that will assist those schools in making adequate yearly progress.

Developing a coherent and effective state or district system of support can be a daunting task, especially when the schools most needing assistance are those that often lack appropriate resources yet have the greatest need for customized and adaptable programs, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach to school improvement. States and districts are working to address the needs of these schools and their students, yet are often constrained by historical funding patterns and bureaucratic organizational structures. There is an urgent need for SEAs and LEAs to develop coherent and aligned tools, strategies, and processes to better guide, catalyze, and support school and district improvement efforts. However, doing so will require that individuals and departments find new ways to work together.