Giving Compass' Take:

Research from more than 80,000 hours of classroom observations conducted around the world found that three strategies for school improvement center around using evidence based framework, a holistic approach, and implementing a balanced assessment system.

Will there be challenges in implementing these strategies if they have to be specifically tailored to school needs?

Read about the common misconceptions about managing school improvement.


What effect does student engagement have on student performance and school quality? A lot, according to the more than 80,000 hours of classroom observations we conducted around the world.

Our research found significantly higher student performance at schools that measure fundamental school quality factors and boast high levels of student engagement. When students are committed—and behaviorally, cognitively and emotionally engaged—they participate actively in class, feel safe and complete more challenging work that meets their personal learning needs.

School leaders agree. According to the 2018 Gallup Survey of K-12 School District Superintendents, roughly nine out of 10 superintendents say student engagement is one of the three most important indicators of an effective school.

Instead, schools should introduce and institute an ongoing process focused on learners. By addressing student needs, a focus on learners inherently increases student engagement—a critical first step in improving outcomes. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to continuous improvement. But in more than 40,000 classroom observations across the country and around the world, we’ve found common strategies that successful and effective schools implement.

  1. Adopt a research-based framework: A system like the AdvancED Continuous Improvement System offers proven processes, protocols and personalized professional services, as well as a suite of research-based tools and resources.
  2. Take a holistic approach spanning academic and non-academic measures. It’s important for schools, stakeholders, teachers, and leaders to look at multiple factors that ultimately affect student outcomes, such as teaching and learning, resource allocation, and school climate and culture.
  3. Implement a balanced assessment system. The importance of a balanced assessment system is widely understood, but there are varying definitions when it comes to different areas of assessment.

Read the full article about school improvement by Mark Elgart at EdSurge