The Power of Focus: Lessons Learned in District and School Improvement

The Power of Focus: Lessons Learned in District and School Improvement details a framework and strategies to help schools and districts make data-driven decisions to improve the learning for all students. The book begins by examining the Seven Areas of Focus as follows: Area 1: Identify and implement a schoolwide Instructional Focus Area 2: Develop professional collaboration teams to improve teaching and learning Area 3: Identify, learn, and use effective research-based teaching practices Area 4: Create a targeted professional development plan that builds expertise in selected best practices Area 5: Realign resources (people, time, talent, energy, and money) to support the Instructional Focus Area 6: Engage families and the community in supporting the Instructional Focus Area 7: Create an internal accountability system growing out of student learning goals that promote measurable gains in learning for every student The discussion shares strategies for implementing each area, suggestions for district support, and hands-on tools for leaders to launch the work in their own schools and districts. A thorough discussion of leadership and central office improvement suggests that student learning demands improvement at all levels of the system and provides examples for using student and district data to make improvements based on identified needs. The authors are principals at Focus on Results, a consulting group comprised of successful practitioners, all of whom have been in leadership positions in schools and districts that have shown dramatic improvement in student learning.