The Purpose of the School Quality Review 1999-2007
School Quality Reviews were part of the district's school improvement efforts from 1999-2007. The reviews conducted during that time are available to the public on this website. School Quality Review process was discontinued in 2008, to be replaced by a School Audit. The information that follows describes the school quality review process that was followed from 1999-2007. ______________________________________
A School Quality Review was carried out within the Saint Paul Public School District to:
- promote a culture of reflection, inquiry and continuous improvement,
- systematically gather and share information related to school quality to inform decision-making,
- identify long-term strategies critical for student success,
- provide for comprehensive, continuous learning related to school-wide change for the intent of improvement, and
- improve school quality.
The suggestions contained within a School Quality Review Report are intended to assist the school in making specific, deliberate changes that enable improvement.
Premise:
A fundamental premise of the School Quality Review process is that no system or organization remains static. Changes will occur and are a part of life for individuals within the organization, as well as the school or program itself. The School Quality Review is conducted using a qualitative assessment method, which is also an “action research” model of involving participants in understanding their own renewal or improvement process. To enhance students’ learning and achievement, schools need to constantly engage in the development or renewal of educational practices. “Change is a process, not an event.” (Michael Fullan, The New Meaning of Educational Change, page 41, 1991) A School Quality Review is carried out within the Saint Paul Public School District to:
Assumptions of the School Quality Review Process:
- The School Quality Review (SQR) Process is an ongoing process in which an individual school, in conjunction with a team of reviewers coordinated by the District’s School Quality Reviews and Improvement Planning Department, examines current educational practices and determines how to best or better meet the learning needs of the students.
- An SQR is the shared responsibility of the School Quality Reviews and Improvement Planning Department, the school itself, and the Area Superintendent of the school.
- The SQR will promote constituent involvement and ownership for improvement and accountability, which is a natural result of the participatory, systematic assessment and planning.
- The collective insights and knowledge of people within the school/program and those of the representative group of trained SQR Team members will have a significant impact on a school’s developmental improvement plan.
- The SQR will respect the uniqueness of this school and of its initiatives undertaken to enhance student learning.
- Schools benefit from internal and District reviews that use both unique and comparative data.
- Schools must be willing to assess their current reality with total candor and honesty, using data to translate good intentions into effective strategies to obtain meaningful improvement targets. (Richard DuFour, “In the Right Context,” Journal of Staff Development, 2001-Winter.)
- Rigor and high standards for students can be achieved through the school’s engagement in a continuous process of reflection, renewal and improvement of practice.
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