Supportive Schools
Schools must make closing gaps a schoolwide responsibility and set high expectations and provide rigorous, deep curriculum. Schools should provide safe, orderly learning environments for students and educators. Additionally, schools must identify data-driven strategies and programs to increase achievement and effective schoolwide leadership teams. Ongoing professional development for school-based leaders on effective strategies will also facilitate closing the achievement gap.
Strong District Support
The role of the school district is vital to the success of the schools, teachers and students. Districts must make closing achievement gaps a district priority by developing an effective leadership team. Districts should provide additional resources and support for students experiencing achievement gaps. They need to proactively train and engage teachers in strengthening curriculum, student assessments and the latest research on effective strategies. Districts must also focus on decreasing class sizes to provide individualized attention to students facing the achievement gap.