Essential Elements: Schools-to-Watch Application Process Presenters: Dr. David Payton, Joel Weiss Brian Sherman

A Collaboration Involving… The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform The New York State Middle School Association The New York State Education Department

EE: S-T-W Leadership Team Dr. David Payton (retired); NYSED Middle Level Supervisor, NYSMSA Board of Directors, Site Visitation Team Leader Marybeth Casey; NYSED C&I - Middle Level Supervisor Bruce MacBain ; EE: STW Principal, NYSMSA Board of Directors, Site Visitation Team Member Dawn Scagnelli ; NYSED FACS, Site Visitation Team Member Joel Weiss (retired); experienced MS Principal, M-L Liaison, Site Visitation Team Leader Dr. Nance Wilson; Adolescent Literacy Expert, SUNY Cortland School of Education, Site Visitation Team Member Brian Sherman (retired); experienced Superintendent, experienced MS Principal, former NYSMSA Board of Directors, M-L Liaison, Site Visitation Team Leader

Essential Elements: Schools-To-Watch Program Since its inception ten years ago, New York’s EE: STW program has operated as a program to identify and recognize exemplary schools that are successfully implementing New York State’s Essential Elements and the National Forum’s criteria for high performance.

Why an EE:STW Program? An opportunity for self-study and targeted school improvement. A program to identify and publicize effective middle schools that are committed to continuous improvement. An opportunity for mentoring An opportunity for networking about good practices A national campaign to educate professionals and the public about criteria and indicators for high- performing middle schools

Benefits to submitting an application… A thorough, research-based, review of the middle-level school and its programs consistent with the Regents Policy Statement on Middle-Level Education, the State Education Department’s Essential Elements of Standards-Focused Middle-Level Schools and Programs, and Commissioner’s Regulations related to the middle grades. Engagement of the educational community in a constructive school improvement activity. Identification of school/program strengths as well as areas in need of improvement. Development of a research-based continuous improvement plan for the school.

Benefits to Earning a Site Visitation… Site visit by team of middle-level educators with follow-up resulting in a full report addressing all criteria Possible national and state recognition for the district, school, and staff. Possible membership in a select group of nationally recognized middle-level schools. Professional development opportunities and networking Coaching towards continued success.

Re-branding of the Essential Elements: Schools-To-Watch Program …. The NYS Middle School Association and the EE: STW Leadership Team have determined that the time is now right to transform the EE: STW program from primarily a recognition program to a statewide school improvement effort where recognition is but one component. It is our hope that this modification in focus can produce dynamic positive change in middle schools in New York State.

Introducing the EE:STW School Improvement Process to Faculty What are the Essential Elements? The benefit of the EE: STW process to the teaching staff… Additional videos:

Two-Year Application Timeline January – July of Year 1: Application preparation and submission August – September of Year 1: Peer review process of submitted application documents October – January of Year 1 to 2: Site visits to schools February - Year 2: Notification of Essential Elements: Schools-To-Watch Designation or Rising School Designation March – May of Year 2: Celebrations at Schools June – Year 2: Attendance at National Forum’s Awards Conference in Washington, DC October – Year 2: Present at the NYS Middle School Association’s Annual Conference

National Forum Schools-To-Watch Program and the New York State Essential Elements: Schools- To-Watch Program Both are based on the same research. The National Forum organizes the research into four domains whereas our State program organizes the research into Seven Essential Elements.

Alignment of the 4 Domains and the 7 Essential Elements National Forum Academic Excellence Developmental Responsiveness Social Equity Organization, Structure, and Processes New York’s EE:STW Mission & Vision Program Organization & Structure Instruction Leadership Network of Support Professional Learning The NYSMSA Application Rubric includes a very easy-to-understand crosswalk comparing the two programs and showing how the two have organized the same research base into their respective categories.

The administrator’s perspective of the value of the EE: STW process for their building…

Nine Steps in the Application Process Access the Electronic Data Collection Files Become familiar with the EE: STW Application Materials Complete the EE: STW Self Study Rubric and also the STW On-Line Self Study Complete the Application – Part I – Descriptive Information Complete the Application Part II – The Narrative Complete Part III – the Assurances Assemble the Completed Application Submit the Application

EE: STW Self Study Document

National Forum On-line Survey

EE:STW Application Narrative

Why Re-designation After Three Years… Schools selected for recognition as a School-To-Watch must be re- designated every three years to maintain their EE: STW status. Schools-To-Watch criteria go beyond State Assessment performance. EE:STW values and recognizes a sustained trajectory of improvement.

RememberRemember In the true tradition of Middle-Level Education: This is a team effort. If you are completing the process in response to a top-down directive and/or one individual is primarily responsible for writing the application, or You are doing this solely for recognition and not to continuously improve your school to benefit the students and yourselves, You are likely to be unsuccessful.

Not comfortable seeking recognition as an EE:STW School at this time? What should you do?

You should: Use the EE:STW process strictly for school improvement. Complete a self-assessment using either the Essential Elements Rubric or the National Forum’s STW Rubric. Use the data from the self-assessment to prepare a continuous improvement plan (CIP). Implement the “CIP”. Evaluate the results, revise and implement the CIP. When you have established a positive trajectory and a culture of continuous improvement, consider applying for EE:STW Recognition.

Resources Available:

Additional Resources: New York State Middle School Association New York State Education Department

New York’s EE:STW Partner Educational Organizations: The New York State Middle School Association** The Statewide Network of Middle Level Liaisons The New York State United Teachers The New York State Education Department The National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform ** Designated by the National Forum as the host organization for NYS.

The Mission of the EE: STW program is: To develop, identify, honor, and nurture schools with middle grades that are academically challenging, developmentally responsive, socially equitable, organized and structured for continuous improvement and exemplars of the implementation of the Essential Elements of Standards-Focused Middle-Level Schools and Programs.

“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” -- Vince Lombardi, football coach