Onward to
Excellence II
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Impact & Benefits
Impact on Student Achievement
OTE II keeps a relentless focus on student results. It is not a quick-fix but will improve test scores and other important outcomes if the school sticks with the process.
If the OTE II process is followed, schools can expect to see teachers starting to use "best practices" during the end of the first year. Schools will begin to see improved student achievement once such practices are established during the second year. As practices are refined and a cycle of continuous improvement takes hold, student achievement continues to improve in year three and beyond.
Research has shown that student performance does improve when OTE II is properly implemented:
Two studies conducted by NWREL on large numbers of schools in the northwestern states and Mississippi demonstrate that Onward to Excellence leads to more teacher collaboration and research-based teacher practices in schools, and that OTE schools show larger student achievement gains than non-OTE schools when the process is faithfully implemented.
A study by the Mississippi Department of Education found that the model may be most effective in high-poverty districts. High-poverty OTE districts in Mississippi had significantly higher student achievement gains when compared to non-OTE high-poverty districts.
Schools and districts in Oregon, Washington, Mississippi, and Alaska provide evidence that achievement scores and other student outcomes improve when OTE II is implemented with strong school and district leadership.
Other Benefits
It is difficult to fully measure the impact of whole-school reform processes like OTE II. There are many variables to consider and school change is complex. In addition to its proven potential to raise student achievement, OTE II schools experience other benefits along the way:
Common Purpose -- a clear focus is established as all staff work together toward an agreed-upon goal. OTE II in high schools and middle schools provides a way to unify a large teaching staff across grade levels, departments and disciplines.
Shared Leadership -- OTE II provides clear structures and roles for a school leadership team, the principal, and teachers including how to reach consensus about important decisions.
Teacher Professional Learning Community -- teachers learn how to work together, learn from each other, and support each other in order to create a climate of trust in which innovations can happen. OTE II works with the school and district to create a professional development plan that supports teachers in achieving their school goal.
Alignment to State Standards- - all faculty are trained on how to align teaching with state standards and standards-based assessments.
Family and Community Involvement -- schools are given many opportunities to involve all stakeholders in the improvement work and build better relationships with parents and the community.
Continuous Improvement -- OTE II teaches schools "how to fish" thereby building internal capacity for long-term change.
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