Assessment strategies must be as strong and rich as the outcomes. School success is rewarded and school failure is penalized. School-based staff have a major role in making instructional decisions. Major emphasis is placed on staff development. Health and social services are sufficient to reduce the barriers to learning.
Technology is used to raise student and teacher productivity and to expand access to learning.
The Components comprise a set of integrated principles for school success that are buttressed by the best education research available and the experience of states which have led in developing comprehensive education policy frameworks. These nine Components must be considered as a comprehensive and integrated whole. While their implementation should be strategically phased in, if any one is left unattended the chances of overall success will be deeply flawed. This report is an analysis of the gaps found in Delaware between its education policy and practice and the Essential Components. Delaware students perform at or below the national average on comparative math exams.