High-Performing Districts Research and the District Effectiveness Framework

• In Event: Tinkering Toward What Works: District Reform in a New Era

Abstract

The research provided an in-depth understanding of Ontario’s high performing school systems and how they developed over five years based on case studies in three high performing districts. It also tested the extent to which the characteristics of high performing systems explained variations in two student-related outcomes based on surveys completed by 1543 school and 235 system leaders. Based on the findings of this study, a synthesis of empirical research and insights from school system leaders, a District Effectiveness Framework outlining the characteristics of school systems successful in improving student achievements was developed. This framework will provide a guide for system leadership improvement and add value to the effectiveness of system leadership. Implications for practice were also recommended.

Authors

• Kenneth A. Leithwood, OISE/University of Toronto

• Barry Pervin, Ontario Ministry of Education

• Jingping Sun, The University of Alabama