Districts and Education Systems

District Based Education Reform

We know there are great teachers and great schools. However, we need to move beyond one class and one school – and make education work for all students in a district system. We strengthen the capacity and leadership of stronger districts and advance new district practices and programs to improve student success. Our intention is to enable other districts to replicate gains in student achievement.

Our work is based on the critical understanding that no one single intervention or marginal policy change can produce student achievement. Rather, when the elements of a local or state education system are addressed as a whole it becomes more effective.

Elements of an Effective Teaching & Learning System

“…a set of elements that, when well designed and connected, reliably support all students in their learning. These elements ensure that students routinely encounter well-prepared teachers who work in concert around a thoughtful, high-quality curriculum, support by appropriate materials and assessments. Furthermore these elements of the system are designed to help students, teachers, leaders, and the system as a whole, continue to learn and approve.”

Linda Darling-Hammond Charles E. Ducommon Professor of Education Stanford University

To develop district capabilities and promote system wide impact, we make investments in the following areas.

• The Effective Education Systems Initiative. A study to uncover the common elements of eleven California districts and education organizations which have shown student success system-wide, particularly in improving the academic achievement of disadvantaged students.

   

• District Collaboration. Partnerships that combine resources and share knowledge to improve student learning for all students across the districts. These partnerships also document and disseminate evaluations and lessons learned. (See CORE for collaboration partners.)

   

• District Innovation. Innovative programs or practices that create and sustain high quality student experiences across the district and are positioned for effective learning. We have a long-term goal of improved statewide practices and policy, and a near-term focus on district and education systems within each state. (See Envision schools for a district innovation partner.)