|
MCGRAW-HILL RESEARCH FOUNDATION POLICY PAPER CO-AUTHORED BY SUPERINTENDENT CARVALHO RELEASED TODAY In a policy paper released today by The McGraw-Hill Research Foundation, "Strategies for Rescuing Failing Public Schools: How Leaders Create a Culture of Success," co-authors Miami-Dade Superintendenl Alberto M. Carvalho and McGraw-Hill Research Foundation Senior Advisor Dr. Steven L. Paine, argue that strong leadership can help even the worst performing schools achieve dramatic changes in achievement and morale. Based on their experiences transforming some of the lowest-performing schools and districts in the U.S., Carvalho and Paine suggest it is critical to select, develop and appoint superintendents and principals who will insist on cultural and environmental change while instituting high standards of academic achievement and devoting greater resources toward developing exceptional teachers. Both Carvalho and Paine assert that a critical element for success involves changing the culture of a low-performing school or district from one that expects failure to one that insists upon success. Cultural change is difficult to quantify and assess, the authors acknowledge, making it equally challenging to systemize and scale. It can be accomplished, however, by developing and advancing education leaders committed to cultural change and high academic standards for all students. The paper details Superinlendent Carvalho's and Dr. Paine's first-hand experience at successfully turning around failing schools and dislricls -- urban and rural -- in Florida and West Virginia with an intense focus on instructional standards, with correspondingly high standards for educational achievement for all students, regardless of race or background; measurement and accountability for meeting student achievement goals; making better use of digital technology to collect student performance data for ongoing, formative assessment; and supporting great teachers through focused professional development. Carvalho discussed the paper's themes as a featured speaker at the 3rd annual "Innovation in Education" Summit in New York City, sponsored by The McGraw-Hill Research foundation. Thought leaders in the education sector gathered at the summit to discuss issues and trends impacting today's school systems. # # # 11-JJS/177/TTR |
