School Improvement Resources
The resources on this page are designed to assist districts and schools in all phases of the school improvement planning process including development, implementation, monitoring, and sustainability.
Turnaround/Comprehensive Support & Improvement (CSI) Resources
From Identification to Implementation: A Strategic Roadmap for CSI School Improvement Webinar Recording–An overview of the CSI planning process, with emphasis on coherence, pacing, and preparing for strong Day One implementation.
Webinar Slide Deck–The slide deck used during the webinar, provided as a reference to support continued planning conversations.
District CSI Timeline Planning Checklist– A practical guidance document to support sequencing of tasks, alignment across school and district teams, and readiness for implementation.
Needs Assessment Toolkit Including Root Cause Analysis
CSDE Needs Assessment Toolkit Including Root Cause Analysis: Provides schools with a structured, step-by-step process for engaging in meaningful needs assessment conversations. It guides teams through activities such as identifying focal problems, analyzing evidence, understanding underlying causes, and selecting root causes that require immediate attention. The Toolkit focuses on how teams engage in the needs assessment process.
Comprehensive Needs Assessment Rubric & User Guide: Complements the Toolkit by providing the criteria and rating system teams need to describe the current state of each major school system accurately and consistently. While the Toolkit helps teams facilitate the process, the CNA rubric helps teams evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the systems being discussed.
Change Management
Evidence-Based Practices
Evidence-Based Practices: The CSDE Evidence-Based Practice Guides are intended to inform school and district decision-making regarding instructional and student support programming and to optimize the use of local, state, and federal school improvement funds. National Implementation Research Network Hexagon: This tool is designed to assist with the selection/adoption of an evidence-based practice or program. The Hexagon Tool helps individuals and teams of educators gather information about the six broad factors: Needs, Fit, Resource Availability, Evidence, Readiness for Replication, and Capacity to Implement.
Developing and Sustaining Effective Teams
Effective Teams in Education
- Five Characteristics of an Effective School Team
- The Basics of Developing Effective Teams
- What Makes Effective Teaching Teams Tick?
- Laying the Groundwork for Effective Teaching Teams
- Strategies for Creating Effective School Leadership Teams
- Four Steps to Create a More Cohesive Teacher Team
- National College for Teaching and Leadership: Teams and School Improvement
Effective Partnerships
- Partnership Planning Maps
- CSDE External Provider Rubrics
- National Implementation Research Network Stakeholder Engagement Guides
- Professional Learning Communities: This resource includes protocols that offer structured processes to support focused and productive conversations, build collective understanding, and drive school improvement. Thoughtful use of these protocols is an integral part of building resilient professional learning communities.
Walkthrough Tools
- Commissioner’s Network Walkthrough Tool
- Commissioner’s Network Multi-Class Walkthrough Tool
- CSDE Commissioner's Network and School Improvement Grant Virtual Walkthrough Tool
- K-2 Literacy Walkthrough Form
- K-2 Literacy Learning Walk Debrief Discussion Guide
- Math Walkthrough Tool
90-Day Planning 101
Contact
Jennifer Webb
Bureau Chief, Turnaround Office
CONNECTICUT Education
Phone: 860-713-6603
Email: Jennifer.webb@ct.gov