Domain 4 - Culture and Climate Shift

Each Domain has three practices that describe the broad activities involved in each domain. For each practice, the roles of the state, district, and school is briefly outlined. Practices are not provided in a suggested order of implementation.  Many practices might be implemented simultaneously, although it would be difficult and even counterproductive to focus on too many domains or practices at once. Decisions about what practices to implement when, and how, as well as necessary course adjustments, should consider the particular needs and context of the rapid improvement effort.

Practice 4A: Build a Strong Community Intensely Focused on Student Academic Achievement and Behavioral Outcomes

Practice Description

• Celebrate successes collaboratively – starting with quick wins early in the rapid improvement process – of students, families, teachers, and leaders. Early success promotes an expectation for further success.
• Provide explicit expectations about responsibilities, behaviors, and available supports for each role in improving systems and student performance.
• Model high expectations (of self and others), embed them in everyday practice and language, and reinforce them through shared accountability.
• Ensure the mission and vision are clearly communicated to all stakeholders and drive the work of improvement efforts in the school (exemplified in beliefs and behaviors).

Practice 4B: Solicit and Act Upon Stakeholder Input

Practice Description

• Regularly gather, disaggregate, and analyze collective perceptions held by school personnel, students, families, and the broader community about school climate and its relationship to improvement efforts as well as decision making at all levels.
•  Utilize multiple methods to communicate and solicit feedback and data from all stakeholders, including historically under-served populations, to discuss, explore, and reflect on student learning.
• Acknowledge and respond to constructive feedback, suggestions, and criticism in a way that is timely, consistent and predictable.

Practice 4C: Engage All Students and Families in Pursuing Educational Goals in a Meaningful Way

Practice Description

• Intentionally build all students’ personal competencies to pursue goals, persist with tasks, appraise and be accountable for their progress, hone learning strategies, and direct their own learning to further enhance their capacity to learn and succeed.
• Provide all students with equitable opportunities to connect their learning in school with their strengths, interests, aspirations, and post-secondary goals.
• Partner with families using relevant two-way communication to engage meaningfully in their child’s learning, progress, interests, well-being and long-term goals and to maintain consistent support for all students.