2008-2009
Supporting School Restructuring--Technical Assistance System Activity
Previous MACC work with this project involved assisting the department in assessing the needs of districts in:
1. Assessing schools’ needs using multiple forms of data
2. Identifying the CAPA indicators that correlate with student achievement
3. Identifying current department practices in the key CAPA indicator areas
This work involved the use of data from the Collaborative Assessment for Planning and Achievement (CAPA).
In Year 4, MACC continued to focus on this primary project’s two goals:
1. The short-term goal was to develop and implement a system of technical assistance and support for restructuring schools based on a thorough data analysis.
2. The long-term goal was to assist department staff as they internalize and differentiate New Jersey's technical assistance system based on the needs of individual districts and schools in need of improvement.
Comprehensive Needs Assessment for Migrant Students
MACC has worked in partnership with the New Jersey Migrant Education Program over the past two years to conduct its data-driven, federally-mandated CNA, a process that was completed in March 2008. The Comprehensive Needs Assessment provides a detailed road map for service delivery.
In Year 4 MACC continued to work with the state to transform the CNA findings into meaningful actions. MACC focused on two principal objectives for this project:
1. to provide strategic guidance in the state's development of a Service Delivery Plan that transforms its Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) goals and objectives into actions, and to
2. assist with identifying research and resources to build the SEA's capacity to provide technical assistance to LEA's that are striving to meet program improvement targets in the areas of school readiness, improving Elementary Reading and Math Proficiency, improving Secondary Reading and Math Proficiency and high School Graduation.
Systems Thinking Project with Newark Public Schools
The purpose of this project is to assist the New Jersey Department of Education in the development of a Systems Thinking approach to school improvement planning and implementation for Newark Public Schools. The Systems Thinking approach provides districts with a framework that (1) identifies the key functions of districts and schools (known as leverage points) and (2) explains how to create systemic approaches to reform in the key areas that align and integrate the knowledge and resources of the district.
In Year 4 MACC assisted NJDOE in developing SEA policy that utilized the Systems Thinking approach as a vehicle for continuous improvement for districts in need of improvement. MACC contributed to the content for the initial Systems Thinking training for the school leadership teams as well as the planning for ongoing support for the schools and district.The intended outcome was a district process for helping schools to assess and prioritize their improvement needs and identify and implement improvement strategies. The school plans will be utilized to develop a district plan that organizes and maximizes the district's improvement efforts.
Implementing the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum Technical Assistance System (NJQSAC)
New Jersey's new monitoring and evaluation system shifts the focus from compliance to assistance, capacity-building, and improvement. It is a single comprehensive system that consolidates and incorporates the monitoring requirements of applicable state laws and programs and complements federally required improvements. The system focuses on monitoring and evaluating school districts in five research-based components that have been identified as key factors in effective school districts. These components include:
1. instruction and program
2. personnel
3. fiscal management
4. operations
5. governance
In Year 4, MACC supported New Jersey in developing, providing and evaluating ongoing technical assistance to the school districts that are identified for intervention through the district review.
State Committee Project
In Year 4, the State Committee focused its work on the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum, school restructuring and other initiatives that have been identified as priorities by the Commissioner or other department staff.