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Project Teams - Mission & Action

Mission Statement

The Middle School Reform Project Teams will develop recommendations for the Steering Committee’s approval on the specific components of the comprehensive plan for middle school reform. The project teams’ recommendations will include strategies and initiatives that effectively meet the diverse needs of middle school students, including special education and ESOL students; produce a rigorous and challenging middle school education program that improves teaching and learning; prepare students for rigorous high school standards; and promote continuous improvement in all middle schools. There will be a specific focus on addressing the achievement gap of African American and Hispanic students, English language learners, students with disabilities, and students impacted by poverty.

Action Plan

The project teams are established by the Steering Committee and will receive guidance and feedback from the Steering Committee regarding the teams’ recommendations and progress. The project teams are responsible for completing assigned tasks, making recommendations, and providing regular updates and reports to the Steering Committee. To formulate and recommend reform strategies and initiatives, the project teams will research scientifically-based practices, benchmark exemplary models, review and analyze relevant data, and develop recommendations that encompass the complete scope of the teams’ charge. The seven project teams are organized under the following reform elements:

  1. Leadership and Professional Development
  2. Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
  3. Extended Learning Opportunities
  4. Technology
  5. Organizational Structure
  6. Human Resources
  7. Parent and Community Engagement/Communication

The development of comprehensive reform recommendations requires extensive collaboration. Consequently, the project teams’ membership is established by the Steering Committee and includes stakeholders from all of the administrative offices, school-based administrators, teachers, support staff, parents, and students. The project teams are chaired by community superintendents and directors in the offices of Organizational Development, Curriculum and Instructional Programs, Special Education and Student Services, Information and Organizational Systems, and Human Resources.

Communication

  1. The Steering Committee will meet with project team co-chairs for an orientation and discussion of the teams’ charge.
  2. A kickoff meeting will be held for all team members to receive the charge and clarify roles and responsibilities. At the kickoff meeting, project teams will break into their respective teams to set future meeting dates.
  3. Project team co-chairs will meet periodically with liaisons from the Steering Committee or directly with the Steering Committee to provide updates and present items requiring action by the Steering Committee.
  4. Project team co-chairs are responsible for ensuring that stakeholders are maintaining effective communication with the groups they represent.

Boundaries

  1. Each Project Team has responsibility for
    • identifying and collecting research,
    • determining what data need to be collected,
    • reviewing/analyzing data,
    • determining how to get stakeholder input beyond the committee members,
    • identifying innovative strategies, processes or systems, and/or best practices, and
    • providing feedback and making recommendations to the Steering Committee.
  2. Decisions will be reached through consensus. Although every effort will be made to reach consensus, if an impasse is reached, the Steering Committee will be asked to provide direction.
  3. The project team chairs are responsible for securing the resources and supports needed by the team to complete its work.
  4. When compiling research data and other information, the project team will use standard templates that will be provided by the Steering Committee.

 

Updated March 13, 2006 | Maintained by Webmaster