1. Organizational Conditions For Excellence
March 3, 2017
Organizational Conditions For Excellence
Diana Mendley Rauner, Ph.D.

2. Our Mission and Vision
The Ounce of Prevention Fund give children in poverty the best chance for success in school and in life by advocating for and providing the highest quality care and education from birth to age five.
High-quality early learning opportunities from birth that prepare children for success in school and in life are an integral part of our nation’s education system.

3. Organizational Footprint: Illinois
Direct Service
Reach 4,000+ children through center-based and home-based programs
Professional Development
52 partner agencies
3,320 community-based providers trained each year
Advocacy
Impact over 400, low-income children under the age of five each year through advocacy for early childhood services

4. Organizational Footprint: National
ILLINOIS OREGON TENNESSEE

5. 30 Years of Lessons Learned
Deep understanding of partnerships, systems, capacities, and policies that support high-quality early learning programs. 
Engaging and empowering parents as partners is essential to lasting outcomes for children and families.
Leaders and organizations drive effective practice.

6. Program Innovation
The Beethoven Project, Chicago
Educare
Chicago

7. EDUCARE MODEL

8. The Five Essentials – Early Ed
Organizational Conditions for Excellence
The Five Essentials – Early Ed
Five essential levers for practice effectiveness and children’s early achievement:
Instructional and inclusive leadership
Collaborative, job-embedded professional learning routines
Ambitious interactions and instruction
Child-centered supportive learning environments
Strong ties and partnerships among families, schools, and communities

9. The Five Essential Supports Framework
Bryk, Sebring, Allensworth, Luppescu, & Easton (2010)

10. Building the Capacity of Early Learning Professionals
Knowledge Development Training
Conference
Workshop
Coursework
Readings
Assistance Job Aids
Coaching Work samples
Mentoring Protocols
Consultation
Technical assistance
Peer Learning Groups:
Data dialogues
Study groups
Lesson study
Team lesson planning
Interdisciplinary meetings
Relationship based Strength based

11. Adult Learning
Involvement in planning their learning
Taking their experience into consideration
Creating problem-centered learning
Immediate relevance

12. Program and Practice Development
TRAJECTORY OF OUR WORK
Lead. Learn. Excel.
National, 2016
Lead. Learn. Excel.
Illinois, 2014
Investing in Innovation (i3) Professional Development Initiative
Chicago, 2012
Business case will inform target markets & delivery at scale
Full release versions of professional learning developed & continuously improved
Consultation strategy expanded based on pilot and business case
Initially funded by private grants to support operational capacity building and full release versions of tools and services; revenue strategy informed by business case
Pilot of instructional leadership & job-embedded learning model in 200 programs
Beta versions of professional learning piloted in all programs
Piloting of consultation strategy
Implementation funded by public Race to the Top grant; tools & services development funded by private grants
R&D on instructional leadership and job-embedded learning in 4 programs
Alpha versions of professional learning approaches piloted
Funded by i3 public grant and matching private grants,
History of PD Work
Since 1981

13. Job-Embedded Learning Leadership & Organizational Capacity
Building the Capacity of Early Learning Professionals
Ambitious
Interactions &
Instruction
Job-Embedded Learning
Leadership & Organizational Capacity
Lead Learn Excel motivates a leader to expand her identity from an administrator into that of an instructional leader whose day-to-day practice provides teachers with the relationships, guidance, conversations, and collaboration that continuously generate professional learning, practice excellence and improvement.

14. Instructional Leadership Job-Embedded Learning
lead learn excel
We work with leaders to develop the skills and systems they need to support everyday teacher learning & improvement.
Build instructional leadership knowledge, skills, and mindsets
Support leaders to install 3 job-embedded teacher learning routines
Data Dialogues
Team Lesson Planning
Peer Learning Community
Instructional Leadership
Job-Embedded Learning
Excellent
Classroom
Instruction

15. Lead Learn Excel Impact
Leaders transform their mindsets and role to focus on driving improvement and instructional excellence.
Teachers continuously improve when learning is collaborative, routine, and embedded in daily practice.
High-quality instruction supports the learning and development of every child in a school.

16. Impact at Scale
Leveraging Implementation Science & School Improvement Research
Effective Interventions
Effective Implementation Methods
Strong
Essential Conditions
Socially Significant Outcomes

17. © 2014 Ounce of Prevention Fund. All rights reserved.