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O'Connell Announces New Web Tool to Help Education Agencies Close the Achievement Gap State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell on Wednesday introduced Signature Practices, a new Web-based searchable database of effective strategies used by California Distinguished Schools to improve student achievement and close the achievement gap. Providing this resource to schools is one of the recommendations made by O'Connell's California P-16 Council in its Closing the Achievement Gap report. “Schools that are struggling to close the achievement gap need to know what really works to improve student achievement with different subgroups of students,” O'Connell said. “For the first time this year, each California Distinguished School was asked to submit two Signature Practices that have led to improved student achievement. Now these strategies are posted in an easy-to-search format so schools statewide can find resources and strategies that may fit their particular needs. Distinguished Schools must also serve as a resource to other schools that want to emulate a practice that has proven effective. This system allows educators to share knowledge, and provides models on how to apply successful strategies in the classroom.” The Signature Practices now online were submitted by 136 public middle schools and 125 public high schools in California that were selected as 2009 California Distinguished Schools. The Distinguished Schools program identifies and honors those schools that have demonstrated educational excellence for all students and progress in narrowing the achievement gap. The new Web-based tool is a way for the California Distinguished Schools to share their successful practices with other schools. Signature Practices reflects two key recommendations by the Superintendent's California P-16 Council. One of the recommendations was to use school recognition programs to highlight success in closing the achievement gap. The other recommendation found educators needed reliable and proven resources that were effective in helping students succeed academically, as well as being easy to access, understand, and apply to the classroom. O'Connell formed the California P-16 Council in 2004 to examine ways to improve student achievement and create a comprehensive, integrated system of student learning from preschool through higher education. O'Connell is committed to implementing all 14 of the recommendations in the Closing the Achievement Gap (Posted 22-Jan-2008; PDF; 2.60MB; 90pp.) report. Users of the Signature Practices Web tool may select the type of information they need for any subgroup of students, the type of intervention, or may access the entire database. To access Signature Practices, please visit Closing the Achievement Gap: Success Stories: Signature Practices Search [http://www.closingtheachievementgap.org/sigpractices]. For the Closing the Achievement Gap Web site, Closing the Achievement Gap: Achieving Success for All Students. Source: California Department of Education |
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