Giving Compass' Take:

• Linda Jacobson reports from the National Conference of State Legislatures’ summit in Los Angeles that school turnaround expert Monique Chism emphasized the importance of strategic leadership. 

• How can philanthropists help school districts access the information and resources they need to develop a strategic plan? 

• Learn more about the importance of leadership support for administrators. 

With almost all state plans for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) now approved by the U.S. Department of Education, the question related to school improvement isn’t so much what works to help low-performing schools, but how to implement strategies in the most effective way, a panel of speakers said on the second day of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ summit in Los Angeles.

Under ESSA, states are required to set aside 7% of their federal funds for school improvement, which Monique Chism, of the American Institutes For Research, suggested they distribute on a competitive basis.

While the federal School Improvement Grant (SIG) program was not found to be successful on a national level, Chism noted that at state and district levels, there were improvements. One lesson learned was the importance of leadership. “Strategic leadership matters, not just leadership,” she said, defining this as having competencies in areas such as supporting and mentoring teachers, community engagement, and increasing opportunities and access for students.

She added that with limited funds, it’s best for leaders to concentrate on teacher quality. “If you ever have to focus on one thing, focus on teachers,” she said.

Read the full article about strategic leadership by Linda Jacobson at Education Dive.