Region III Comprehensive Center - Focus Area - School Reform and Improvement

School Reform and Improvement
Center for Equity and Excellence in Education

Research and Best Practices in School Reform and Improvement
Applicability of Comprehensive School Reform Models to Language Minority Populations

Dr. Denise McKeon, Region III Comprehensive Center

COMPONENT INDICATORS
(with special consideration to characteristics of language minority and Limited English Proficient students)

Effective, research-based methods
Has evidence of improving the achievement of language minority students specifically

Has been replicated with diverse populations of language minority students; has been replicated in a wide variety of schools (different proportions and types, e.g., students of mostly one language/cultural background vs. students from many different language/cultural backgrounds)

Comprehensive design Contains schoolwide reform plan for curriculum, instruction, assessment, management, etc. that meets the needs of all language minority students(those who are on grade level in their native languages vs. those who may be academically delayed on LI).

Professional development Provides high quality, on-going training and technical assistance that prepares educators to work effectively with language minority and LEP students.

Measurable growth Has or helps schools develop measurable goals for the performance of language minority students that are free of linguistic and cultural bias.

Support within the school Requires that faculty, administration and staff work together to assure the success of language minority students.

Parent and community involvement Involves the parents of language minority students(and the community from which such students come) in school improvement activities by tailoring such activities to the linguistic and cultural characteristics present in the community.

External assistance Uses external assistance from a comprehensive school reform entity with experience or expertise in school reform and the education of language minority students.

Coordination of resources Helps identify ways other resources (particularly those with special skills and knowledge of language minority and LEP students) can support reform.