Three years back, in our ongoing mission to move from good to great, we brought in an outside organization, Blue Ribbon, to assess and evaluate our performance as a school district. That assessment identified many areas where we were accomplishing great things, but it also identified areas for us to grow.

Most importantly, we were able to walk away from the evaluation with a school improvement process that highlighted nine major categories of critical performance elements found in excellent schools.

Those categories are as follows:

Student Focus and Support
Goals and objectives flow from the school's vision and student needs, and reflect high aspirations for all students. The school strives for and achieves excellence and equity. A cohesive and integrated network of programs, co-curricular activities, and services has been implemented to support the full spectrum of students in achievement of the goals and objectives of the school. The staff has aligned curriculum and put in place strategies to ensure successful transitions of students entering the school and transitioning to other schools. Examples of and participation rates in programs and services provide evidence that the school is committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure student success.

School Organization and Culture
The school culture exemplifies a caring community of learners that supports continuous learning and improvement flowing from student-focused goals. Examples document that members are engaged in collective inquiry, reflection, and responsible decision-making about learning. Hiring and assignment of staff, opportunities for students to build sustained and caring relationships with adults, a healthy peer climate among students, and the existence of a safe positive environment demonstrate that this school is focused on the welfare and continuous achievement of all students and staff.

Challenging Standards and Curriculum
The curriculum is rationally designed to ensure high levels of achievement of the school's goals and objectives by all students. These goals and objectives include learning of significant content by all students, and citizenship, interpersonal and workplace skills. The curriculum is based on knowledge of effective practice, and the nature of the student body, programs and curricula are consistently implemented, and are regularly monitored, evaluated and improved. Students are meeting rigorous standards for promotion and/or graduation.

Active Teaching and Learning
There is clear and compelling evidence that there is purposeful decision making governing all aspects of the teaching and learning program. There is a discernible link between instructional strategies and student achievement. Teaching practices and learning experiences reflect current research on cognition, teaching and learning. An abundance of technology, print and media resources is available to all students and staff to ensure that educational goals and student needs are met.

Technology Integration
School utilizes technology in an effective, efficient manner by incorporating the National Education Technology Standards for all students: Basic Operations and Concepts; Social, Ethical and Human Issues; Technology Productivity Tools; Technology Communication Tools; Technology Research Tools; and Technology Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Tools.

Professional Community
The school recognizes the vital role continuous professional development plays in achieving the school's mission. The school has developed a culture that encourages teachers, administrators and school staff to work together as members of a professional community, supporting each other in the improvement of student learning. Professional growth and development, both inside and outside the school walls, is continuous and thoughtfully planned, based on analysis of data on student and faculty needs, and is integral to implementing new school initiatives and/or changes in curriculum. Formal and informal support is provided to beginning and experienced teachers. Staff members are given opportunities for leadership and recognition. Finally, teachers, administrators and support staff are provided with the time and opportunity to reflect on what is working and to change what is no longer effective.

Leadership and Education Vitality
Dynamic leadership engages the school and community in continuous school improvement focused on student learning and based on vision, data, knowledge of research, effective practice and continuous monitoring and assessment that has resulted in high levels of student achievement and implementation of comprehensive plans to meet current and future challenges.

School, Family and Community Partnerships
A pattern of actions taken by the school demonstrates commitment to and recognition of the important role that families, partnerships and community play in suppoerting learning. The school has impletmented strategies (e.g., services that meet the needs of families, parent conferences, meeting schedules that facilitate parent participation), and methods for promoting two-way communication that are effective in involving parents from all segments of the community in supporting their children's education. Examples illustrate how the school has successfully engaged the educational resources of the community, families, and other partners to support educational goals and provided reciprocal benefits.

The criteria by which Blue Ribbon schools were evaluated were based on the effective schools research in the 1980's, stimulated by the publication of A Nation at Risk.

For more information on the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, please visit these links:

• Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, Inc.
• Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Assessment Process (09/10/2007)
• CCSD 46 Assessment Results (11/28/2007)
• Superintendent's Message (11/17/2008)

Posted 01/05/2010