Improvement Leadership Education and Development (iLEAD) Research-Practice Preparation Partnership: The Prince George's County Public Schools/University of Maryland Improvement Science Collaborative

• In Event: 64.025 - Problem-Focused and Place-Based Leadership Development: The Improvement Leadership Education and Development (iLEAD) Research-Practice Preparation Partnership

Abstract

Over the 2017-2018 school year, Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) and the University of Maryland, College Park, College of Education (UMD) formed the Improvement Science Collaborative as a member of the Carnegie Foundation’s iLEAD initiative.  PGCPS and UMD decided to embark in this initiative to strengthen and deepen an already productive partnership and to use our collective knowledge, skills, and resources to address significant problems related to student learning and equity. The partnership centers on leadership development through several strategic initiatives, including a revamped Ed.D. and School Administrator Certification program and the launch of multiple improvement networks for leaders across all levels in the system.  

Data

The partnership is being evaluated using a mixed methods design, with data sources including disaggregated student outcome data and participant observations of partnership meetings and improvement network meetings, course design efforts and student course evaluation data using improvement science to address educational problems aimed at equity, excellence, and access are the focus of the effort. Questions regarding the viability of the partnership are the focal point for a strand of this evaluation effort. Interviews with key leaders will be conducted twice per year.

Expected Outcomes

Over the next three years, the partnership aims to accomplish the following:
• Provide effective administrators and educators in PGCPS with opportunities to extend their impact and develop as leaders through two core programs: an Ed.D and a Post- Baccalaureate Certificate program in School Improvement Leadership
• Organize PGCPS leaders who are UMD Alumni into one or more Networked Improvement Communities (NIC) which focus on targeted problems of practice that encompass student learning and equity
• Develop the UMD Center for Educational Innovation and Improvement (CEii), in collaboration with PGCPS, into a regional hub for District-University (research into practice) partnerships and Improvement Science, through hosting opportunities for policy makers, university faculty and researchers, and K-12 educators for shared learning and inquiry, such as an annual Greater Impact Conference.

Current Accomplishments and Challenges

• The Ed.D. program has engaged three cohorts of leaders from across PGCPS and has successfully guiding them through the development of individual dissertation proposals, which address shared and urgent problems of practice. The third (and current) cohort of leaders are on-track to complete their dissertation projects and disseminate their findings in 2019-20.
• UMD and PGCPS are collaborating to engage 40 teacher leaders from the highest needs schools in the district to launch a new “School Improvement Leadership” Certificate program in the Fall semester, 2018. This new program is funded by a federal “Teacher and School Leader Incentive” program Grant.
• UMD and PGCPS have launched an Alumni Leadership Improvement Community through which district educators will be supported/guided in implementing initial short-cycle tests of change ideas, focused on secondary mathematics and science instruction, in the Fall 2018.

Challenges

• How can the UMD/PGCPS partnership be structured for sustainability as district and faculty leadership transition?
• What incentives can be provided to engage tenured and tenure-track faculty in contributing to localized district-and school-improvement efforts?

Authors

• Segun Eubanks, University of Maryland - College Park

• Ebony Terrell Shockley, University of Maryland - College Park