First is a standards-based reform design that teaches schools how to use the expected standards to evaluate every student's work, and how to support all students' mastery of reading and writing at every grade level. Grade level teams devote regular time to meet during the school day. One hour a month is spent looking at student work and comparing it to the city standards. Progress of students reading below grade level is monitored every 8-12 weeks. Students are re-grouped appropriately.
Schools identify and publish consistent standards for good work, grade by grade.
School-wide data is disaggregated to examine school strengths and areas for improvement in literacy. Professional Development Central to the success of any school change effort is professional development. At the core of this initiative is ongoing, site-based professional development that will enable teachers to make and sustain immediate changes in their instruction. These changes must be consistent from classroom to classroom and grade to grade, so that there is little variability in instructional practice. Teachers also must have opportunities to visit other successful classrooms, both within and outside of their individual school.