Ineffective

COMPLETING THE IMPACT SURVEY FOR

COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL REFORM GRANT RENEWAL

NOTE: This is a revised version of Dr. Jerry Jailall’s presentation at the recent Comprehensive School Reform grantees meeting, published here at your request.

Purpose

Demonstrate the bang for the bucks.
What difference is the initiative making? How is the school being transformed?
What successes did you have in the 9 components and overall effort?

Note: In God we trust, all others bring data.

Problem

When impact survey responses are not clear and specific, it leads to additional information gathering calls, interviews, site visits, etc. This consumes time and inadequate information provided to us may result in a denial of additional funding.

General Guidelines in Expressing Evidence

Grand theorizing or philosophizing does not help us. Provide specific information--what, when, where, why. Remember: Specific, not general.

No editorializing, asserting, generalizing.

Just the facts ma’am.

Show, don’t tell.

Surveys

Give # of people surveyed, who, when, why, and summarize the results and their implications (so what?).

Achievement/Participation Rates

Show how the increases moved from a lower figure/percentage to a higher figure percentage; show the time frame (month and year).

Name specific tests/instruments/programs used.

Show the number & percentage of increases or decreases.

Services/Resources

Name the specific tasks/activities/functions done or provided & their specific effects. Give dates.

DOS & DON’T S OF REPORTING YOUR IMPACT

INEFFECTIVE RESPONSES	PROBLEM/CONCERN
Evidence of CSR Taking Root: The empowerment of the School Leadership Team & administrative support of the faculty in attaining our reform agenda must be considered as evidence of a successful effort. (HS)	Vague Unclear Wordy
Student Achievement: Test scores indicated an overall increase in student achievement. XX Assessments conducted every 8 weeks revealed continuous growth in reading with more students moving into the upper levels of the reading program.	What tests? What assessments? Increase from what to what?
Evidence of CSR Taking Root: There is evidence of more technology being used for instructional purposes this year. (HS)	What? Where? How? By whom? Grades?
How Have You Assessed/Evaluated This Influence?: Mid-term EOC scores outpacing previous scores. (HS)	From what to what? What scores? What subjects
Student Benefits: More students are developing their technology skills due to greater access & the integration of computer skills into course assignments. (HS) Computers have been purchased for the classrooms that are clearly visible as evidence. (ES)	Which students? What subjects? What skills? What assignments? Yeah, right! So what?
Student Benefits: There has been an increase of student participation in school activities over year. (HS)	From what to what? In what? Which students?
Barriers: The impact of this CSR was hampered by school closings due to hurricanes, floods & snow. (HS)	What aspects? How many days?
What Technical Assistance Have You Utilized in Your CSR Effort so Far?: A large part of our technical assistance has been in the form of professional development experiences provided by XX consultants. They assisted us in implementing a variety of research-based school reform initiatives that were used to strengthen our goals. The XX initiative provided technical assistance through workshops, in-service programs & conferences. (HS)	Who? What specifically did they do? What workshops, conferences, programs??
What Central Office Assistance Have You Utilized in Your CSR Effort so Far? Several Central Office staff have served to promote & assist the implementation of this grant. Dr. XX, Executive Director of Secondary Education has provided assistance in securing resources & providing much needed technical advice.	What resources? What advice? How often?
Specific Examples of How You Disseminated Information on Your Comprehensive School Reform Effort. Regular progress have been made to the school board. County commissioners & local churches are provided with a progress report, as is the local newspaper. (HS)	When? How? What? Frequency?

DOS & DON’T S OF REPORTING YOUR IMPACT

MORE EFFECTIVE RESPONSES, BUT COULD HAVE ADDED …

Evidence of CSR Taking Root:

The School Leadership Team has a broad base of support–administrators & faculty members. (HS) (How many of each?)

Teacher attendance at parent functions is 100%.(HS)

There is a waiting list to participate on the Collegial Group & School Leadership Team. (HS) (What does this do?)

79% rated the program as good, 21% rated the program as fair, & no one rated the program as poor.

The master schedule was changed to accommodate the CSR program. (How?)

Teacher Benefits:

Changing the Culture of School

21 staff/38%, (5 hours of training) (HS)

Differentiated Instruction

55 staff/100% (4 hours) (HS)

(What did these lead to? How did it transform the school?)

Student Benefits:

In a survey of students, 45% reported increased motivation, 40% reported a rise in self-esteem, & 15% reported increased attendance because of the XX program. (ES)

The Travels Around the World project involved every student using the internet to secure evidence of the culture, climate, geography etc. of various countries & submitting reports of their findings. Students dressed up in the attire of their country, exhibited their projects, parents & members of the community visited the school &, samples of food of each country were prepared, & everyone got involved in the learning process. (ES)

What TA have you utilized in your CSR effort so far?:

UNC University administered & analyzed staff, teacher, student & parent surveys.

(How many? When? Results?)

Support Within the School:

In September 1999, 72% percent indicated support for the reform initiative. In April 2000, 90% of teachers indicated strong support.

Cite evidence to show how you have engaged the various stakeholders & community partners in your CSR effort.

Two parent /community meetings were held, one in September 1999 & one in February 2000. These meetings focused on student achievement through parent/student/teacher conferencing & on the overall school improvement plan for XX School. (HS). Then what happened? How was the school improved?