Effective Governance Initial outline for aligning policy with our governance goals
Overview As stated in the district’s educational philosophy, “In everything we do, our goal is to improve the quality of education for all our students.” Research shows that when school boards behave in accordance with certain standards student achievement is improved. 1 In fact, some research finds the effectiveness of school board governance as the single most important determination of school district success or failure. 2 1. Alsbury, 2008a; Delagardelle, 2008; IASB, 2000 2. Delagardelle, 2008, p. 191
Student Outcome Goals The percent of graduates who are college-, Student achievement on state assessments 1 3 career-, or military-ready will increase in all subjects in will increase 4% pts 8% pts Student achievement on state assessments Student participation in extracurricular or 2 4 of third-grade reading will increase co-curricular activities will increase 9.4% pts 19% pts at the Meets performance level or above
Project Objective The goal of this work is impact the nearly 160,000 students of Dallas ISD by aligning the behaviors of the school board to those most closely correlated with improving outcomes for students . This is a long-term goal that may take multiple years to achieve . We hope to make critical progress with this initial governance reform package. Nothing in the package should be surprising or new, simply the next step of a journey the board has already begun.
Project Timeline JANUARY MARCH APRIL Present proposed updates related to First read of governance reform VOTE on governance reform Advocacy & Accountability strands. package at board briefing. package at board meeting. 21st 11th 17th 7th 25th FEBRUARY APRIL Present proposed updates related to the Second read of governance reform Structure strand, and board training package at board briefing. recommendations.
Policies under review
Process 0 0 Gather feedback Discuss possible policy changes with Trustees, 1 3 staff, and TEA. 0 Draft LSG-aligned updates Compile policy package 2 After reviewing research committee members, Create proposal with all policy proposals, designated administration, and policy Fellows rationale, and supporting materials for the will draft possible language Board
Accountability 1 AIB - ACCOUNTABILITY PERFORMANCE REPORTING BE - BOARD MEETINGS Write LOCAL policy to define: Add EXHIBITS to: 1. A student outcome progress monitoring calendar 1. Provide administration a template to follow when 2. A student outcome monitoring report presenting progress monitoring reports to the board 3. The frequency of modifications to student outcome goals, 2. Give examples of "Board work" (items required by law or GPMs, constraints, CPMs, and monitoring calendar. items directly pertaining to the Board's adopted student outcome goals, constraints, or progress measures)
Accountability 2 BG - BOARD SELF-EVALUATIONS BJCD - SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION Write LOCAL policy to define: Update LOCAL or EXHIBIT to: 1. The board self-evaluation instrument as the Lone Star 1. Define the Superintendent's annual evaluation is based Governance Framework only on the Board-adopted student outcome goals and 2. Board self-evaluation should occur quarterly constraints, using data reported as scheduled via the Board's monitoring calendar 2. Require the Superintendent to provide a plan for BBE - BOARD MEMBERS AUTHORITY addressing student outcome goals, including both an implementation timeline and measures Revise LOCAL policy to update: District shall track and report average annual cost of ● staff time spent on governance, including: time of any staff members spent preparing for, attending, and debriefing after any and all Board-authorized public meetings, closed sessions, and all hearings.
Advocacy AIB - ACCOUNTABILITY PERFORMANCE REPORTING BAA - BOARD LEGAL STATUS POWERS & DUTIES Write LOCAL policy to define: Update LOCAL policy Single-member Constituent Responsibilities to include that trustees: Board Members hosting a community meeting to discuss ● progress toward student outcome goals at each feeder Shall meet with students at least once per year AND ● pattern with low performing campuses during the families, staff, and community members at least once per previous 12 month period. year to listen for and discuss their vision and values. BBD - BOARD MEMBERS TRAINING AND ORIENTATION BE - BOARD MEETINGS Revise LOCAL policy to include: Revise LOCAL policy Monthly Board Meeting Agenda Preparation to include that the agenda: Prior to being seated, all newly selected Board Members ● received training on Lone Star Governance from fellow Shall include time to recognize the accomplishments of ● Board Members on their Board or from a TEA-certified its students and staff regarding progress on student Lone Star Governance Coach. outcome goals
Structure BE - BOARD MEETINGS BDB - BOARD INTERNAL ORGANIZATION - INTERNAL COMMITTEES (OR ADD BDG - GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE) Revise LOCAL policy Consent Agenda Items to define that items can be pulled from the consent agenda provided: Revise LOCAL policy and EXHIBIT to specify a standing governance committee that will: A written question was properly submitted ... and two ● three Trustees request the item be pulled for separate Review all "local" policies in the C-G series, and ● consideration... Board-adopted "exhibit" policies, and any components unrelated to Board operating procedures that may be in the B series to identify policies regarding school system Revise LOCAL policy Minutes and Records to specify that the operations that are neither required by law nor an Office of Board Services shall keep complete records of the appropriate exercise of the Board's oversight authority action of Board meetings, including: as defined by the Board's adopted constraints. Responsible for leading at least one community training ● Categorizing every minute used as: Goal Setting; Goal ● on Lone Star Governance Monitoring; Constraint Setting; Constraint Monitoring; Board/Superintendent Evaluation; Voting; Community Engagement; Training; Other
Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you’re going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus. Oprah Winfrey
Let’s do this.
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