The School Technical Assistance Process
Assugnment of a Technical Assistance Team
The process begins by assembling a Technical Assistance Team (TAT) of 4-6 people, depending on the size of the school. These people are preferably drawn from within the school’s school district and at least the team leader should have previous experience with the Baldrige-based examination process (such as used by the Ohio Award for Excellence program). Preferably one member should be a School Improvement Coordinator (from a different school than the one being assisted).
The Attributes of the School Technical Assistance Process Using the School Improvement Rubric (SIR)
Rubric Training to Goal Setting in as little as five days!
The panel to the left describes a process that occurs in a series of ten half-days.
Supported by a comprehensive set of tools and training materials.
See the Resource Center.
Baldrige-like, proven, non-prescriptive process.
We have taken proven approaches and adapted them for the school building setting.
Technical assistance that stays!
The training is just-in-time training and the short-cycle check-ups help ensure follow through by the school leadership team.
Rubric Training
Rubric training involves four half-day workshops covering 1) concepts, 2) the School Improvement Rubric (SIR), 3) the SIR Question Bank and 4) site visit preparation. This is team training with the assigned TAT.
On-Site Evaluation
The TAT goes on-site at the school for a day of interviews, gathering information with which to score the Rubric, aided by the use of a Question Bank if necessary, The TAT meets for a half-day of diagnostic work followed by another half-day on-site as needed to fill in gaps or gather more information.
Consensus Report
The TAT meets for a half-day to develop a consensus feedback report comprised of a scored SIR, a list of improvement opportunities and (optionally) a list of strengths.
Feedback Workshop
The consensus report is presented to the school leadership team at a half-day goal setting Feedback Workshop. After presentation of the assessment results, the school leadership team is facilitated to identify strategic improvements and to develop annual goals to implement those improvements.
Short-Cycle Check-Ups
To help the school leadership team to stay accountable for follow through, the TAT also facilitates a series of "short-cycle check-ups". Short-cycle is defined locally, but at least twice annually. The check-up is a workshop with the school leadership during which progress in achieving goals is evaluated, progress against the Rubric is self-assessed and plans are revised as appropriate.
