EDU 552 Effective Schools: Restructuring for the Future

Course Description

This course focuses on what effective schools are doing to increase achievement of all students. It examines approaches for developing and implementing a strategic school improvement plan, including school- and community-wide decision making, shared governance, and action research.

Topics and Objectives

Perspectives on School Improvement

· Analyze the characteristics of effective schools.

· Examine possible internal and external barriers to school improvement.

· Analyze the history of the school improvement movement.

· Identify influential individuals in the area of school improvement.

Planning and Implementing School Improvement

· Examine the components of the school improvement framework.

· Examine ways to solicit faculty, staff, student, parent, and community endorsement of a school improvement plan.

· Describe the process for establishing shared governance.

Action Research and School Improvement

· Describe the purpose and elements of action research.

· Identify the elements of an action research plan.

· Examine methods for collecting, analyzing, and reporting data related to the school Improvement process.

Continuous Improvement

· Examine methods for sustaining and improving a school improvement plan.