Connecting districts and schools to improve teaching and learning: A case study of district efforts in the Beach Promenade Unified School District.

摘要

While research is ongoing into district design, studies have yielded findings that vary greatly and demonstrate the diversity of district attempts to improve classroom instruction. Specific elements of district designs have been identified, but their applicability to other districts continues to be of question. Districts working to improve classroom instruction, and ultimately student achievement, must identify and understand the elements of effective district designs. Specifically, districts must understand how each of the elements impacts the effectiveness of the design.;The purpose of this study was to examine how a district developed and implemented a design to improve classroom instruction. The study explored the elements of the district design, the factors that shaped the design, the methods employed by the district to implement their design, the extent of implementation, and the effectiveness of the district in implementing the reform.;A qualitative case study was utilized to examine the complexity and depth of the district's efforts to implement an instructional reform design. Data was collected at the district level to generate new knowledge through the use of open ended interviews, a researcher rater guide, and document review.;Instructional reform is a complicated endeavor, particularly when designed by the district and implemented districtwide. At the outset of this investigation, the perception of the reform effort was one of a district with a clear vision moving toward implementation of that vision through a managed change process resulting in significant reform. Upon reflection, the complexity of the implementation process at Beach Promenade Unified School District encountered challenges yet maintained the initial vision to improve classroom instruction and close the achievement gap.;As both state and federal accountability systems hold districts responsible for student achievement, it is critical that the key roles districts play in the implementation of effective classroom instruction continue to be studied and documented. To further understanding, this study examined how one school district sought to systemically increase the instructional capacity found in each classroom and school.