School Improvement Grants: An Inside View

• In Event: Roundtable Session 19
  In Roundtable Session: Characteristics of School Improvement Grants and Turnaround Schools

Abstract

The School Improvement Grants have inspired schools to approach the work on turnaround in ways that, with some exceptions, is only marginally different from past school improvement efforts. This paper documents findings from a study focused on the district capacity to administer the SIG grants by addressing:

1. What interventions districts are using to support SIG schools

2. How those strategies are unfolding in early implementation

In one state, researchers visited district offices and interviewed the officials who worked administrating the grant or providing support to recipient schools. Researchers also visited SIG schools themselves and interviewed school leaders and teachers at each site. In all, the research team conducted a total of 40 interviews.

Authors

• Robin Lake, Center on Reinventing Public Education

• Sarah Yatsko, University of Washington

• Elizabeth Cooley Nelson, Center on Reinventing Public Education, University of Washington

• Melissa Bowen, University of Washington