The goal is more than just the development of a plan. The purpose is to improve learning. Data gathered as part of a comprehensive reform process can identify both strengths and needs. Schools that are less successful in their attempts at school-wide reform are often all over the map, implementing elements in bits and pieces. Successful school reform efforts give teachers the structures and resources that will help them to succeed.
Successful schools assume that all children can attain high levels of academic achievement.
In successful schools, blaming the family or the community is unacceptable. This guide was developed to provide a coherent framework for planning school-wide improvements. Its purpose is to help you begin to redesign your school, to move beyond piecemeal reforms, and to reconfigure your entire academic program to help every student meet challenging standards. Even if you and your school are not yet involved in comprehensive school reform, this guide can be helpful because it presents a broad view of reform efforts within the context of the CSRD program. If your school has already undertaken school-wide reform, the guide can help you do an even better job.