A five-year study has shown what works for educators at the local level who are trying to implement standards, said John Kendall, a principal researcher at McREL (Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning). He described the findings of the study—which involved 10 U.S. regional education laboratories—at his session, "How Districts and Schools Succeed with Standards-Based Reform."
- Clarify learning targets.
- Promote equity through a common set of expectations.
- Renew emphasis on student learning.
- Align curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
- Direct technical assistance and intervention where they are most needed, through accountability systems linked to standards.
- They took a systemic approach to reform.
- They showed effective leadership.
- They created a collaborative culture.
- They collected evidence of improved student learning.
For more information on the study, see the relevant Issues Briefs on the McREL Web site at http://www.mcrel.org.