Leadership Matters - October 2013

Illinois Center for School Improvement  provides support of student performance 

By Dick Spohr, Interim Director Illinois Center for School Improvement

It is my pleasure to introduce the Illinois Center for School Improvement (Illinois CSI) to you. Illinois CSI is a partnership between the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and American Institutes for Research (AIR). Illinois CSI’s mission is to lead the delivery of high-quality, research-based statewide system of support services designed to raise student performance by increasing district-level capacity for exceptional teaching and learning. In collaboration with ISBE, AIR, Regional Offices of Education/Intermediate Service Centers (ROEs/ ISCs), and other statewide education associations,

to support their efforts to advance continuous improvement plans, implement Common Core State Standards, close achievement gaps, and focus on instructional excellence. Through Illinois CSI, your leadership team also will be provided with easy access to timely and relevant professional

Illinois CSI will begin services to districts and schools later this year. Many districts

development and expertise. Many these foundational Illinois CSI resources will become immediately available on our website upon its launch in October. Other services, particularly on- site coaching and access to a District Leadership Team Learning Network, will be provided to of

and schools have received Statewide System of Support (SSoS) services in the past, such as capacity-building coaching and access to local and statewide professional development. Many of these services will continue to be available in the future. Through SSoS’s existing local delivery system established in partnership with ROEs/ISCs, Illinois

“All districts will have access to a set of Illinois CSI foundational services and aligned resources created to support their efforts

to advance continuous improvement plans, implement Common Core State Standards, close achievement gaps, and focus on instructional excellence. Through Illinois CSI, your leadership team also will be provided with easy access to timely and relevant professional development and expertise.” - Dick Spohr, Interim Director, Illinois CSI

some districts based on criteria developed by ISBE. In the coming weeks, ISBE will be notifying districts of Illinois CSI services they may access. Illinois CSI staff will contact districts that are eligible to receive additional services to request an opportunity to provide more information and determine how we may best meet their needs.

CSI will develop and coordinate an array of services to ensure all districts will have access to consistent, high-quality support for maximizing student achievement through effective leadership, use of data and assessments, and implementation planning. All districts will have access to a set of Illinois CSI foundational services and aligned resources created

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