Chicago Consortium- 5 Essesntial School Reports

A new website launched this morning that gives detailed information about teachers’ and students’ attitudes toward their school.

The five key areas are:

Instructional Leadership: Whether the principal has clear expectations for staff, understands how children learn, and helps plan instruction; whether the school uses a consistent curriculum across grade levels; whether teachers feel like they have influence on hiring, planning school spending and curriculum, and setting rules for students

Professional Capacity: Whether teachers feel responsible for helping each other and for helping students learn; whether teachers look forward to coming to work, and would recommend the school to parents.

Family and Community Ties: Whether parents are greeted warmly and invited to sit in on classes; whether teachers feel they trust people in the neighborhood, that neighbors know their students, and that it is safe for children to play outside.

Learning Climate: Whether students feel like their teachers pay attention to them and are willing to give them extra help; have high expectations; and trust their teachers.

Ambitious Instruction: Whether teachers have quality discussions with their students; whether students participate in key English, math and writing activities; and whether students say they understand their teachers’ expectations.