International Center for Leadership in EducationRaymond J. McNulty

Archived Information9 Characteristics of Successful Schools

Keep in Mind . . .

• Class of 2015

• Children Achieving Their Dreams – The Children We Have…….

• Imperfect World

9 Characteristics of Successful Schools

Small Learning Communities

High Expectations

9th Grade

12th Grade

Data

Curriculum

Relationships / Reflective Thought

Professional Development

Leadership

Class of 2015

Dreams of the children we have

Imperfect World

Rigor/Relevance - AllRigor/Relevance - All

WhyWhy

Do We Need Do We Need

to Changeto Change

Schools?Schools?

WhatWhat

Needs to Needs to

Be Done?Be Done?

HowHow

Do We DoDo We Do

It?It?

Schools DoSchools Do

Make aMake a

DifferenceDifference

CharacteristicsCharacteristics 1.1. Small Learning CommunitiesSmall Learning Communities2. High Expectations2. High Expectations3. 93. 9thth Grade Grade4. 124. 12thth Grade Grade

6. Curriculum6. Curriculum5. Data5. Data

7. Relationships / Reflective Thought7. Relationships / Reflective Thought8. Professional Development8. Professional Development

9. Leadership9. Leadership

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

1.1. Small Learning CommunitiesSmall Learning Communities2.2. High ExpectationsHigh Expectations

• Especially in LiteracyEspecially in Literacy

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

1.1. Small Learning CommunitiesSmall Learning Communities

2.2. High ExpectationsHigh Expectations

3. 93. 9thth Grade Grade

4. 124. 12thth Grade Grade

What does it take to graduate?

9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade• English

• Math

• Science

• Social Studies

• PE

• English

• Math

• Science

• Social Studies

• .5 PE

• .5 Computer

• English

• Math

• Science

• Social Studies

• Fine Arts

• English

• Elective

• Elective

• Elective

• .5 Health

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

1.1. Small Learning CommunitiesSmall Learning Communities

2. High Expectations2. High Expectations

3. 93. 9thth Grade Grade

4. 124. 12thth Grade Grade5. Data5. Data

In the last 30 years, jobs have been redistributed: employment share and earnings have shrunk for high school drop outs

• Until the 1970’s the United States’ economic dominance rested on a solid agricultural and manufacturing base where workers with high school or less could provide a comfortable living for their families

• Today, ideas rather than natural resources comprise an increasing share in GDP growth

High school drop outs

High school

graduates

Some college,

no degree

Associate degree

Bachelor’s degree

Graduate degree

Employment share

Earnings

1973

2001

32%

$25,900

40%

$32,000

9%

$51,000

12%

$40,000

7%

$57,700

Employment share

Earnings

9%

$20,700

31%

$29,600

21%

$52,600

18%

$35,80011%

$68,200

10%

$37,100

Source: Autor, Levy, Murnane, 2003; Carnavale (ETS), 2003

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

1.1. Small Learning CommunitiesSmall Learning Communities

2. High Expectations2. High Expectations

3. 93. 9thth Grade Grade

4. 124. 12thth Grade Grade

6. Curriculum6. Curriculum5. Data5. Data

Curriculum

• The National Education Association addressed this issue by appointing a Committee of Ten in 1892 to establish a standard curriculum.

• The goal of high school was to prepare all students to do well in life, contributing to their own well-being and society's good, and to prepare some students for college.

Rigor/Relevance Rigor/Relevance FrameworkFramework

1.1. AwarenessAwareness2.2. Comprehension Comprehension 3.3. ApplicationApplication4.4. AnalysisAnalysis5.5. Synthesis Synthesis 6.6. EvaluationEvaluation

Knowledge TaxonomyKnowledge Taxonomy

Application ModelApplication Model

1.1. Knowledge in one disciplineKnowledge in one discipline

2. Application within discipline2. Application within discipline

3. Application across disciplines3. Application across disciplines

4.4. Application to real-world Application to real-world predictable situationspredictable situations

5.5. Application to real-world Application to real-world unpredictable situationsunpredictable situations

1 2 3 4 5

ApplicationApplication

KnowledgeKnowledge

1

2

3

4

5

6

Rigor/Relevance FrameworkRigor/Relevance Framework

LevelsLevels

CC DD

AA BB 1 2 3 4 5

456

321

Bloom’sBloom’s

ApplicationApplication

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

1.1. Small Learning CommunitiesSmall Learning Communities

2. High Expectations2. High Expectations

3. 93. 9thth Grade Grade

4. 124. 12thth Grade Grade

6. Curriculum6. Curriculum5. Data5. Data

7. Relationships / Reflective Thought7. Relationships / Reflective Thought

CharacteristicsCharacteristics 1.1. Small Learning CommunitiesSmall Learning Communities2. High Expectations2. High Expectations3. 93. 9thth Grade Grade4. 124. 12thth Grade Grade

6. Curriculum6. Curriculum5. Data5. Data

7. Relationships / Reflective Thought7. Relationships / Reflective Thought8. Professional Development8. Professional Development

CharacteristicsCharacteristics 1.1. Small Learning CommunitiesSmall Learning Communities2. High Expectations2. High Expectations3. 93. 9thth Grade Grade4. 124. 12thth Grade Grade

6. Curriculum6. Curriculum5. Data5. Data

7. Relationships / Reflective Thought7. Relationships / Reflective Thought8.8. Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development

9.9. LeadershipLeadership

College Algebra

Required Skills:Add, subtract, multiply, divide and

simplify rational expressionsUnderstand functional notation Solve systems of two linear equations

in two variablesSolve quadratic equations in one

variableGraph a linear equation and quadratic

functionDetermine the perimeter and the

circumference of geometric shapesRepresent geometric objects and

figures algebraically

There has also been a skills convergence: high school graduates seeking a family wage job face requirements similar to those

entering college

Source: American Diploma Project, 2003

Machine OperatorEastman Chemical Company

Required Skills:Calculate and apply ratios, proportions and

percentages to solve problemsAdd, subtract, multiply, divide and

simplify rational expressionsRecognize and solve problems using a

linear equation and one variableApply principals in equations involving

measurementsDetermine the perimeter and the

circumference of geometric shapes

• Colleges and employers demand similar knowledge and skill sets

• In math, they require algebra, geometry, data analysis, and statistics

• In English they demand strong oral and written communication skills, analytical and research skills

International Center for Leadership in Education

Raymond J. McNultyray@LeaderEd.com

www.LeaderEd.com

9 Characteristics of Successful Schools