an examination of strategies and practices in selected maine schools david l. silvernail erika stump...
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An examination of Strategies and Practices in An examination of Strategies and Practices in Selected Maine SchoSelected Maine Schoolsols
David L. Silvernail Erika StumpDavid L. Silvernail Erika Stump
Maine Education Policy Research InstituteMaine Education Policy Research InstituteUniversity of Southern Maine University of Southern Maine
October 2011October 2011
In 2010-11 the Maine Legislature requested
that the Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) at the University of Southern Maine conduct a study of higher performing, more efficient Maine public schools.
Study Goals: To identify strategies and practices
schools are using effectively to support all learners.
To disseminate this information to all Maine schools and communities statewide.
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Study Overview:
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perform better than the statewide average and better than predicted, be helping all students perform better, and, in the case of high schools, have a graduation rate above the state average.
To qualify as a More Efficient school,
a school must:
meet the performance criteria, have a return on spending better than the statewide average and better than predicted.
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To qualify as a Higher Performing school, a school must:
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Table 1: Schools Meeting Selection Criteria
School LevelSchools
Evaluated
Higher Performing
(HP)
More Efficient
(ME)
K-8 Schools 96 16 (16.8%) 10 (10.5%)
Grade Schools (K-5)
228 67 (27.8%) 54 (23.6%)
Middle Schools (6-8)
93 22 (23.7%) 17 (17.9%)
High Schools (9-12)
107 14 (13.3%) 9 (8.6%)
Total 524 119 (22.7%) 90 (17.2%)
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Table 2: Higher Performing and More Efficient Maine Public Schools by Superintendent Region
K-8 School
Grade School (K-
5)
Middle School (6-
8)
High School (9-
12) Total
Schools
HPMETotal Schools
HPMETotal Schools
HPMETotal Schools
HPME
Aroostook 11 1 13 3 3 0 14 1Penquis 9 0 36 12 20 7 16 1
Washington 20 4 12 0 0 0 6 0Hancock 23 0 2 1 2 1 5 0Mid-coast 10 2 24 4 7 0 8 0Western Maine
10 2 38 4 13 1 15 0
Cumberland 1 1 44 11 21 7 15 6Kennebec 10 0 40 8 15 0 16 0York 2 0 29 11 12 1 12 1Total 93 10 228 54 22 17 107 9
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A culture of a learning community systematically: 1.engaged in focused intellectual work; 2.implementing rigorous curriculum and intellectually engaging instruction driven by assessment; 3.holding pervasive high expectations and high standards focused around intellectual work in the culture and community of the school; 4.led by teachers and administrators who are intellectual agents and believe they have the moral responsibility to help children become intellectual thinkers who can contribute to the greater good of society. 5.efficiently using available resources to maximize learning opportunities for students and staff.
Distinctive Culture in More Efficient Maine Schools
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Preliminary Findings:Defining Intellectual Work
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Transform: Constant inquiry using
various reasoning processes and all levels of higher order thinking to
work with information and
concepts.
Share: Clear communication of invigorating
conclusions that enhance existing
ideas.
Understand: Focused, sustained
and thorough academic and
social/behavioral learning.
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Preliminary Findings:Guiding Practices
of More Efficient Maine Public Schools
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There is rigorous curriculum and intellectually engaging instruction
informed by assessment.
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Preliminary Findings:Guiding Practices
of More Efficient Maine Public Schools
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Rigorous Curriculum
& Intellectu
ally Engaging Instructio
n
Data-informed actions focus on improving instruction and
providing sustained, early and focused interventions for
promoting intellectual work.
Common, concise focus in curriculum development and professional
learning, often surrounding literacy (reading, writing and numeracy).
Collective expertise surrounding data:
collection > knowledge > action.
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Preliminary Findings:Guiding Practices
of More Efficient Maine Public Schools
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There are pervasive high expectations and high standards focused around intellectual work in the culture and community of
the school.
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Preliminary Findings:Guiding Practices
of More Efficient Maine Public Schools
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High Standards and High Expectatio
ns
Structured communication and
support systems used with the community at large to maintain focus on student
learning.
Collective responsibility and accountability among
all members of school community to stay focused on intellectual work and continued learning.
Pervasive academic focus evident in various facets of
the school.
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Preliminary Findings:Guiding Practices
of More Efficient Maine Public Schools
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Collective professional expectations
and accountability for continued learning.
Focused, collaborative and guiding leadership.
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Preliminary Findings:Guiding Practices
of More Efficient Maine Public Schools
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All staff is trained and held accountable for implementing
strategies that result in efficient and
effective practices.
Learning time (school day, class time,
professional meetings, independent study time, etc.) is resourcefully
organized and orchestrated to provide sufficient opportunities for focused intellectual
work.External resources (volunteers, grant funding, community
collaborations, etc.) are purposefully selected and integrated to clearly support the school’s academic focus and
directly enhance student learning.
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Compton, Robert. The Finland Phenomenon: Inside
the World's Most Surprising School System. (2011) Memphis: True South Studios.
New South Wales Department of Education and Training. (2003) Quality Teaching in NSW public schools (Discussion Paper). Sydney: Department of Education and Training.
Newmann, F. M. & Associates. (1996). Authentic achievement: Restructuring schools for intellectual quality. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Papert, Seymour, Ph.D. (2002) Hard Fun. Bangor Daily News.
Preliminary Findings:Literature References
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Complete case study analyses and prepare reports.
Disseminate findings for Stage I of the study.
Conduct Stage II of study: Focus on Improving Schools, particularly high schools (contingent upon funding).
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Next Steps
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Erika (Kika) Stump at: [email protected] (207) 228.8117
David L. Silvernail at: [email protected] (207) 780.5297
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Questions?
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