District Turnaround Leadership Initiative
TXCC will provide technical assistance to support the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to develop and implement the District Turnaround Leadership Initiative (DTLI) in collaboration with TEA's contractor, the University of Virginia School Turnaround Program (UVA-STP). DTLI will result in a comprehensive turnaround program for Texas that builds district capacity to support school improvement by strengthening four essential systemic levers: leadership, instructional infrastructure, support and accountability, and talent management. At the close of Year 3, San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) and Uvalde Independent School District (UISD) completed the pre-launch planning and preparation necessary for full implementation in the 2015-2016 school year. TXCC staff will facilitate a meeting with the TEA Core Team and UVA-STP project staff in late September to develop a plan for scaling the tenets of the UVA model statewide. This project is anticipated to continue through Fall 2017.
Previous Work Updates
2016
July
TXCC will assist and collaborate with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and University of Virginia School Turnaround Program (UVA-STP) staff to develop a guide of tools and best practices for school turnaround to share with other similar struggling districts throughout the state and to scale up the turnaround work that focuses on using a system process to work with the district and not just with individual schools. Moving forward, San Antonio Independent School District will be the only district participating in this initiative.
June
TXCC staff collaborated with Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff and the University of Virginia School Turnaround Program (UVA-STP) to coordinate participation of Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (UCISD) and San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) in the UVA Cohort 12 Year 2 Summer Session in Charlottesville, Virginia. Sessions will be interactive and designed to engage all participants. To prepare for the sessions, all participants were provided readings and pre-work questions. In addition, planning time will be provided to the districts to develop their 90-day plans. Although UCISD will no longer participate in this project, which is a joint decision by TEA and UVA, some UCISD staff will attend the summer training.
March
TXCC staff met with Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff and external partners from the University of Virginia School Turnaround Program (UVA-STP) to review and discuss the reports of site visits to Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (UCISD) and San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) and the recommendations made by the UVA-STP team. The reports centered on four key priority areas/levers to move the turnaround work forward: leadership, support and accountability, instructional infrastructure, and talent management. Each district’s recommended implementation plan outlined the expected deliverables for each priority area, timeline for completion, and the support that the external provider (UVA-STP) will provide. TXCC staff collaborated with and supported TEA staff as they discussed and problem solved with UVA-STP on the challenges faced by each district at this point in the turnaround process. TEA and UVA-STP agreed on UVA-STP’s role in overseeing each district’s recommended implementation plan.
February
Upon returning from the mid-year UVA retreat in Albuquerque, TEA conducted site visits at San Antonio ISD and Uvalde CISD to gain an understanding of progress made by each district with their 90-day plans and the implementation of strategies/knowledge/skills gained at the retreat. In addition, San Antonio ISD was awarded a grant to support a second cohort of seven schools to participate in the DTLI initiative. TEA will support this work with the seven schools and oversee the district and school leaders participation in the work with UVA to build the capacity of leaders to lead change for improved student outcomes. TXCC will work collaboratively with TEA in this new effort.
January
The TXCC supported and collaborated with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to ensure that district shepherds and district and school leaders from San Antonio ISD (SAISD) and Uvalde CISD (UCISD) attended and actively participated in the January 7-10 retreat for Cohort 12 of the University of Virginia School Transformation Program Partnership for Leaders in Education (UVA-STP: PLE). This midyear retreat focused on data-driven analysis and instruction through professional learning sessions and related learning tasks facilitated by Paul Bambrick-Santoyo from the North Star Academy Charter School of Newark. District and school teams focused on assessments, analysis of data, and actions to address areas of need in a data-driven culture. Workshops for school and district teams were provided for school groups to flesh out root cause of problems, and develop the best action steps (highest leverage, clear and measurable, and bite-sized) for the teachers and leaders to take to address concerns. In addition, TXCC staff attended the National Title I Conference with TEA staff to learn more about the changes related to the reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
2015
December
No update this month.
November
The District Turnaround Leadership Initiative (DTLI) project team met to discuss the findings of the fall site visits conducted in DTLI districts. In addition, the team identified follow-up actions for each district and topics to discuss with the executive director of the Darden/Curry Partnership for Leaders in Education at the University of Virginia (UVA), William Robinson, at the January retreat. UVA and Texas Education Agency (TEA) representatives, including Mr. Robinson, will participate in the spring district site visits, and the full he DTLI project team will hold debriefing sessions following each visit. Also, TEA will follow up with each district via phone call to demonstrate awareness/support for the 90-day plans.
October
TXCC staff met with staff of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Darden/Curry Partnership for Leaders in Education (PLE) to review and discuss a site visit report to a District Turnaround Leadership Initiative district and the recommendation made for proposed follow-up based on the current needs of the district. In addition, to assist TEA’s s efforts in training district shepherds to effectively lead change, TXCC, TEA, and PLE staff collaborated to finalize the logistics for district shepherds to attend the Darden School of Business Shepherd Summit: Building the Capacity of Principal Supervisors on November 15-16, 2015 in Mesa, Arizona.
September
The University of Virginia coaches completed their first first site visits of the year in late September. The District Turnaround Leadership Initiative project team met to analyze site visit reports and to verify timelines and deliverables in preparation for the district shepherd institute in mid-November.
August
The District Turnaround Leadership Initiative (DTLI) project team met in mid-August to debrief observations and takeaways from the July bootcamp. Based on the needs of the project and the schools, the DTLI project team adjusted its membership to include coaches from lead4ward who are also working intensively in each school. The team developed initial recommendations for scaling DTLI supports to the rest of the state and will share those recommendations with TEA leadership in September.
June
The District Turnaround Leadership Initiative (DTLI) project team coordinated with staff from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the University of Virginia to finalize logistics for the July 2015 boot camp in Charlottesville, Virginia. Additionally, TXCC and TEA staff began conversations about how the project will be scaled and sustained in subsequent years.
May
The District Turnaround Leadership Initiative project team and University of Virginia (UVA) field staff conducted on-site visits in Uvalde ISD and San Antonio ISD to monitor and provide support for key action items identified by the districts during the March convening in Charlottesville. In addition, project team members coordinated with officials from both school districts to finalize travel logistics and rosters for the July 2015 summer boot camp at UVA.
April
TEA and TXCC staff are coordinating with district administrators in San Antonio and Uvalde to finalize rosters and travel logistics for the Summer 2015 School Administrators’ Bootcamp at the University of Virginia (UVA). Additionally, TEA and UVA staff are conducting site visits in each district to provide support the district teams as they implement the action plans they developed at the District Administrators’ Bootcamp in March 2015.
March
The Texas Comprehensive Center (TXCC) staff attended the University of Virginia (UVA) Boot Camp to provide support and technical assistance to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff (3 attendees) with the District Turnaround Leadership Initiative. In addition, district leaders from the San Antonio Independent School District (7 attendees) and the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (3 attendees) also attended the training. The training focused on five key areas critical to the successful turnaround of underperforming schools: 1. Defining the purpose 2. Creating discovery strategy 3. Rethinking instructional and support structures 4. Exploring change leadership 5. Determining next steps As a culminating activity to the 3-1/2 day training, each district created an Implementation Plan. Three Critical Deliverables (CD) are addressed in the Implementation Plans: CD #1–School Readiness Assessment; CD #2–Strengthen Instructional Infrastructure; and CD #3–District-determined deliverable that that builds on the Implementation Plan developed after the District Readiness Assessment and the district’s takeaways from Boot Camp. Throughout this training, TEA and TXCC staff collaborated with UVA staff to identify areas of support that each district needed and determine a plan to address those needs to ensure staffs’ readiness to launch the initiative in August 2015.
February
The District Turnaround Leadership Initiative (DTLI) Project Team is finalizing preparation for the first DTLI Bootcamp, which will be held in March 2015. UVA staff provided on-site support to Uvalde ISD in order to ensure appropriate district staff have been assigned to shepherd project implementation. TEA and TXCC staff collaborated with staff from UVA and Region 20 ESC to conduct site visits to San Antonio ISD in order to diagnose the health of their school-based data teams and processes. The team is finalizing a report to district administrators in order to inform their planning and work during the March Bootcamp.
January
The District Turnaround Leadership Initiative (DTLI) team has focused on observing the professional learning team data meetings in seven of the San Antonio ISD DTLI schools. Using information and observational data, the DTLI team will provide the district with feedback and suggested next steps to ensure that teachers’ collaborative work focuses on improving instructional practice to improve student outcomes. Additionally, the team has been working to prepare and arrange the logistics for participants’ attendance at the spring DTLI Boot Camp.
2014
December
In December, the DTLI team focused on reviewing the site visit summary reports for each district. The site visit reports provide each school district with feedback and suggested next steps for ensuring a successful launch of the turnaround initiative this summer. Additionally, the team reviewed the District Assessment Planning Framework for one of the districts. The planning framework was collaboratively developed by UVA and district staff to ensure that (a) DTLI campuses understand the district’s rationale for administering assessments, (b) the district’s curriculum (including a comprehensive scope, sequence, and pacing guide) and assessments are aligned to state standards, (c) districts clearly communicate expectations for teachers to plan for and implement the district curriculum, and (d) administrators have a system in place for monitoring the effectiveness of implementing the curriculum with fidelity. The planning framework also addresses the need for establishing an assessment timeline, conducting professional development for teachers on administering assessments, providing teachers with time for collaboratively analyze student achievement data, and monitoring measurable outcomes and implementing interventions to meet students’ diverse needs. In January, UVA and district staff will create a planning framework for the other district participating in the initiative.
November
In November, the DTLI team focused on addressing the areas of support that participating DTLI districts identified as necessary to ensure they are prepared to fully implement the DTLI model. In response to these identified needs, TXCC and TEA will work with the University of Virginia (UVA) staff to develop a plan to support effective professional learning community (PLC) meetings at all campuses in one of the districts. The plan will focus on assisting the district to determine the current state of PLCs in participating schools based on indicators of effective PLCs. TEA will also contact staff at the Region 20 Education Service Center to discuss involving them as facilitators of the PLC support plan and in providing assistance to identified Focus schools. The DTLI team will also review and analyze school master schedules to provide suggestions to address challenges encountered in scheduling weekly PLC meetings. For a second district, the DTLI team is seeking assistance from the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) and the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) to identify candidates for human resource and chief financial officer positions that are currently open. In December, UVA staff will hold face-to-face meetings with district leaders to problem solve other challenge areas that need to be resolved so that they will be ready to fully engage in the turnaround leadership initiative by March 2015.
October
Currently two districts, San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) and the Uvalde Independent School District (UISD), will participate in the District Turnaround Leadership Initiative (DTLI). Both will be making key adjustments to current systems and programming in order to ensure that they are prepared to successfully participate in the DTLI process. The DTLI project team will be meeting with SAISD to ensure that the reconstitution plans for three of the participating campuses align to the goals of the UVA turnaround plan. In addition, UISD will be encouraged to reach out to Region 20 ESC for assistance in identifying a new Chief Financial Officer. Furthermore, TEA and TXCC staff will collaboratively review UISD campus schedules and recommend adjustments to provide 60 minutes of teacher collaboration time every day.
September
During September, the University of Virginia School Turnaround Program (UVA-STP) staff finalized pre-launch implementation plans with each of the participating districts to ensure that they are prepared to fully engage in the work in the spring. TXCC and TEA staff have collaboratively planned a project team meeting designed to analyze the implementation plans and to schedule on-site visits to the districts in order to provide targeted support based on their specific needs.
August
During August, the University of Virginia School TUunaround Program (UVA-STP) staff completed the District Readiness Assessments (DRA) and provided a comprehensive overview for participating districts that included key findings and next steps for formalizing the partnership. The TXCC hosted and facilitated a meeting with TEA and UVA-STP staff to review and discuss key DRA findings and to develop plans for targeted district support. In addition the team met with the Gibson Consulting Group (UVA’s evaluator on the project) to review and provide input on the project evaluation model and process.
July
During the month of July, UVA-STP staff conducted District Readiness Assessments (DRA) in the three districts that have applied to participate in the District Turnaround Leadership Initiative during the 2014–2015 school year. TXCC staff will be meeting with the TEA and UVA-STP project staff in late August to discuss the results of the DRA process and to finalize plans for pre-launch support.
June
Currently, the University of Virginia School Turnaround Program (UVA-STP) staff are preparing to conduct District Readiness Assessments (DRAs) in order to determine a school district’s preparedness to engage in the turnaround initiative. Presently, three districts (Laredo ISD, San Antonio ISD, and Uvalde ISD) are scheduled to participate in the DRAs during the months of June–July 2014. As each district’s DRA is completed, UVA-STP staff will analyze the data and share findings with the DTLI team. Based on this analysis, TEA may also consider inviting additional districts to participate in the initiative. In order to help maintain momentum for the initiative before the spring boot camp, the DTLI team agreed that the UVA-STP would implement a transition, or pre-launch plan with the districts selected for participation. The plan includes the following components: conducting a pre-boot camp session, selecting and leveling schools by priority for participation, identifying needs, creating talent management strategies for supporting personnel, changing how central office is perceived by community at large, creating and implementing a district office to support the initiative, establishing high-functioning professional learning communities, and training and coaching district shepherds to facilitate and monitor the change process. Finally, TEA and TXCC staff are investigating the use of an online platform for communicating progress of the initiative to regional education service centers, practitioners in the field, and other stakeholders.
May
The University of Virginia School Turnaround Program (UVA-STP) staff are currently conducting District Readiness Assessments (DRAs) to determine district preparedness to engage in the turnaround initiative. TXCC and TEA staff continue to discuss the need to maintain engagement of districts selected to participate in the initiative during the intervening period between selection and the first boot camp session in Spring 2015.
April
Staff from TXCC, TEA, and the Partnership for Leaders in Education reviewed district applications to determine districts’ potential interest in the University of Virginia School Turnaround Program (UVA-STSP). A rubric was used to measure each applicant’s potential level of commitment and the nature of the district leadership assigned to the initiative. Four districts were recommended for participation, each of which received a call from TEA and UVA-STSP to gather more information and answer questions. One district subsequently withdrew due to key leadership vacancies at the district level, The remaining three districts will engage in an on-site, District Readiness Assessment (DRA) in the next three months to confirm participation in the initiative and identify recommendations that will be incorporated into district pre-launch plans.
March
In March, staff from TXCC, TEA, and the Partnership for Leaders in Education collaboratively developed a rubric to use in the selection of district applicants for participation in the District Turnaround Leadership Initiative (DTLI). To encourage more districts to submit applications for the initiative, project team members personally called the 11 districts that previously expressed interest in participating in the initiative, to remind them of the March 14 due date for applications. Next, TXCC and TEA staff scheduled time to review applications and determine, based on demonstrated criteria and commitment, which districts will be eligible to move on to the next phase of the DTLI process.
February
TXCC collaborated with TEA and a consultant with the Darden/Curry Partnership for Leaders in Education at the University of Virginia (UVA) to plan and host an informational session on February 18 for leaders from districts that met requirements to participate in the District Turnaround Leadership Initiative. Seven school districts were represented and received information about the initiative and the application process. The meeting included a superintendent testimonial from Ogden, Utah, whose district is experiencing strong gains as a result of participating in UVA’s School Turnaround Program.
2013
November
The TEA awarded the DTLI grant to the University of Virginia School Turnaround Specialist Program (UVA-STSP). The TXCC and the TEA will meet with UVA-STSP leads in December to determine the project timeline. On November 6–7, TXCC staff accompanied TEA and education service center (ESC) staff attending a regional institute, Supporting Sustainability Efforts in School Turnaround, hosted by the Southeast and Texas Comprehensive Centers. During the institute, Texas attendees met with their counterparts in the area of school turnaround from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Participants conversed with experts in the field from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Academic Development Institute, American Institutes for Research, the Darden/Curry Partnership for Leaders in Education at the University of Virginia, the National Center on Time and Learning, the National Implementation Research Network, New Frontier 21, and RMC Research Corporation.
October
In September and October, TXCC and TEA met to begin initial discussions on the district selection process for the District Turnaround Leadership Initiative (DTLI) grant. More conversations on the selection process are to occur.
July
During July, TXCC participated with TEA staff from the departments of 1) Educator Leadership and Quality and 2) Accreditation and School Improvement; they attended four presentations from the turnaround leadership initiative proposal finalists. TEA will award the contract in the near future.
June
In June, TXCC staff participated with TEA staff from the departments of Accreditation and School Improvement and Educator Leadership and Quality in a review of proposals submitted for the District Turnaround Leadership Initiative. Top submitters will be invited to conduct face-to-face presentations of their proposals in July, with a decision on award following shortly thereafter.
April
On April 29, the District Turnaround Leadership Initiative (DLTI) request for proposal was posted in Electronic State Business Daily. Proposals will be due on June 4 and awarded on July 22, 2013.
March
TXCC staff met again with TEA leaders from the Division of Accreditation and School Improvement and others involved in turnaround work. In addition, leaders from the Division of Educator Leadership and Quality, including associate commissioner Michele Moore and senior policy advisor Mark Baxter, joined the meeting to continue discussion regarding plans for a state turnaround leadership initiative.
February
TXCC leadership conducted a conference call with Paul Kohler and Marie Mancuso from the West Comprehensive Center (West CC) regarding their past work with the University of Virginia’s School Turnaround Specialist Program and the states served by the former Southwest Comprehensive Center. This partnership yielded the development of a consortium focused on building internal, state, and regional capacity to support and sustain school turnaround. The West CC agreed to share with TXCC and TEA several documents, including a memorandum of understanding developed for the consortium members and a summary report of the work to date. Once received, this information was passed along to Ms. Partridge and others participating in the January meeting.
January
TXCC leadership met with Sally Partridge, new Associate Commissioner of Accreditation and School Improvement; Karen Batchelor, Director of Program Monitoring and Interventions; Alice McAfee, Director of Enforcement Coordination and Governance; and Gaye Lang, Senior Advisor on Charter School Turnaround. The group discussed TXCC support for state initiatives in school turnaround and improvement. Ms. Partridge shared information on an emerging initiative involving collaboration with colleges and universities to create a program for the preparation of turnaround leaders. TXCC will seek out details of a similar project led by the former Southwest Comprehensive Center that might inform the development of such turnaround leader work in Texas.
