Executive Summary and Profile Vision

Definitions of Rubric

Not Evident Little or no evidence exists

Emerging Evidence indicates early or preliminary stages of implementation of practice

Operational Evidence indicates practices and procedures are actively implemented

Highly Functional Evidence indicates practices and procedures are fully integrated and effectively and consistently implemented

INDICATORS In fulfillment of this standard, the system:		Not Evident	Emerging	Operational	Highly Functional
1.1	Establishes a vision and purpose for the system in collaboration with its stakeholders			X
1.2	Communicates the system’s vision and purpose to build stakeholder understanding and support			X
1.3	Identifies system-wide goals and measures to advance the vision			X
1.4	Develops and continuously maintains a profile of the system, its students, and the community				X
1.5	Ensures that the system’s vision and purpose guide the teaching and learning process and the strategic direction of schools, departments, and services			X
1.6	Reviews its vision and purpose systematically and revises them when appropriate			X

Focus Questions

Please respond to the following questions regarding the processes that are in place to support the school system’s implementation of the research-based practices outlined in the indicators rubric. Responses to these questions should support the school system’s self-assessment on the indicators rubric. Be thorough and concise in your answers, focusing on quality and depth over quantity.

1. What is the process for establishing and building understanding of a commitment to the

vision statement among the school system and its stakeholders?
The Tuscaloosa County Board of Education committed to a two-year study of student achievement through The Lighthouse Project, an initiative of the Alabama Association of School Boards. Board members, along with stakeholders from various other groups, participate in monthly study sessions to examine their beliefs about student learning, to study system data, and set goals for improvement. As a result, the system developed a new vision statement in the 2009/2010 school year in collaboration with teachers, administrators, board members, community members, and central office personnel. The vision statement encompasses the values and beliefs of the Tuscaloosa County School System that all students “Learn, Grow, and Achieve.” In addition to this revised vision, a new mission statement and beliefs were developed to guide the system’s continuous improvement process. The establishment of the vision included the following activities.

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  Participation in The Lighthouse Project
  
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  Survey of stakeholders concerning their beliefs about learning and leadership
  
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  Survey of stakeholders regarding the system’s instructional goals
  
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  Review of previous vision, mission, and beliefs
  
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  Creation of a District Leadership Team
  
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  Meetings with various stakeholders to identify core beliefs about learning
  
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  AdvancED Standards’ Team Leaders’ Meetings
  
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  Advisory Council Meetings
  
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  Board Meetings
  

After receiving input through this process, the leadership team reviewed data from surveys and meetings. A draft vision was created and input solicited from various stakeholder groups. The final copy of the vision statement was developed from this input and communicated through the system’s website, in principals’ meetings, teachers’ meetings, central office staff meetings, the system’s Administrative Retreat, and through written communication. The system continues to build understanding and commitment of its vision through the following procedures.

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  Participation in The Lighthouse Project
  
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  Posting of the vision, mission, and beliefs in the central office, local schools, website, district newsletters, and the Parent/Student Information Guide
  
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  Review of the vision at various stakeholder meetings
  
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  Superintendent’s presentations
  
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  State of the Schools Address
  
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  Development of Continuous Improvement Plans
  
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  Revision of the system’s strategic plan
  

2. What is the system’s process for maintaining and using information that describes the

school system, its programs, services, and schools and their performance?
The Tuscaloosa County School System utilizes various forms of data to guide district and local school decisions. This information is the foundation of decisions regarding programs, services, and resources. The local schools’ Continuous Improvement Plans drive the system’s goals through the dissaggregation of data pertinent to student achievement. Professional development goals and school culture goals are also addressed to support instruction. The system maintains and uses this information through the following processes.
Maintaining Information

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  Software Technology Information, Inc. (STI) student and employee data management program
  
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  STI Assessment for benchmark testing
  
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  System website
  
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  Local schools’ websites
  
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  Continuous Improvement Plans
  
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  STI Professional Development management program
  
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  Response to Instruction Problem Solving Teams
  
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  Technology survey
  
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  The Lighthouse Project surveys
  
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  District calendar
  
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  Data meetings
  
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  DIBELS website
  

Utilizing Information

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  Professional development
  
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  District profiles
  
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  Alignment of instruction for K-12
  
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  Review and revision of Parent/Student Information Guide
  
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  Involvement in the Parent Leadership Academy
  

3. How does the leadership ensure that the system’s vision, purpose, and goals guide the work

of the school system and its schools?
Various methods are used to ensure that the system’s vision, purpose, and goals guide the work of the school system. The following practices are examples of the methods that provide the communication necessary for monitoring and reviewing the system’s vision and goals throughout the year.

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  The Lighthouse Project study sessions
  
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  Board of Education work sessions
  
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  Central Office Administrative Team Meetings
  
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  Curriculum and Instruction Staff Meetings
  
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  Principals’ Meetings
  
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  Continuous Improvement School Leadership Teams’ Meetings
  
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  Monitoring and review of Continuous Improvement Plans
  
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  Walkthroughs at schools
  

4. What process is used to ensure that the vision and purpose of the school system remain

current and aligned with the system’s expectations in support of student learning and the

effectiveness of the school system and its schools?
The school system revised the vision, mission, and beliefs in the spring of 2010. The District Leadership Team will continue to study system data, review improvement plans, and make adjustments as needed to ensure that the purpose of the system remains current and aligned to student achievement.
Current
Revision of the vision, mission, and beliefs is based on stakeholder input and the development of new system goals and strategic plan.
Aligned
Goals based on student achievement data are supported through the following methods:

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  Use of scientifically-based researched strategies and programs
  
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  Response to Instruction Training
  
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  ARI, AMSTI
  
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  Administrator training based on the national and state leadership standards
  
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  Common assessments
  
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  Strategic Teaching Training
  
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  Differentiated Instruction Training
  
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  English Learners Training
  
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  Aspiring Administrators’ Academy
  
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  New Teachers’ Meetings
  
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  Use and sharing of best practices
  
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  Participation in The Lighthouse Project
  

Overall Assessment
Operational: The school system has committed to a shard purpose and direction. The system and its schools have clearly defined expectations for student learning aligned with the system’s vision that is supported by system and school personnel and external stakeholders. These expectations serve as the focus for assessing student performance, and system and school effectiveness. The vision guides allocations of time and human, material, and fiscal resources.

Standard 2

Governance & Leadership
STANDARD: The system provides governance and leadership that promote student performance and system effectiveness.
Impact Statement: A system is successful in meeting this standard when it has leaders who are advocates for the system’s vision and improvement efforts. The leaders provide direction and allocate resources to implement curricular and co-curricular programs that enable students to achieve expectations for their learning. Leaders function with clearly defined authority and responsibility and encourage collaboration and shared responsibility for system and school improvement among stakeholders. The system’s policies, procedures, and organizational conditions ensure equity of learning opportunities and support for innovation.

Indicators Rubric

Please indicate the degree to which the noted practices/processes are in place in the school system. The responses to the rubric should help the school system identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement as well as guide and inform the school system’s responses to the focus questions.