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��о����ʦ�ҷ��黨��Ƶ "The Network"

The ��о����ʦ�ҷ��黨��Ƶ School Improvement Network is an innovative community of practice that supports school and district leaders. Facilitated by ��о����ʦ�ҷ��黨��Ƶ’s Center for Educational Innovation and Improvement (CEii), the Network offers leaders the opportunity to share strategies, test interventions, and learn from those who face similar challenges. Through the Network, leaders engage in cross-district collaboration, resource sharing, and flexible learning experiences designed to meet the needs of school and district teams. In a time of high professional learning needs and limited resources, the Network is a cost-effective way for Maryland districts to engage in high-quality, relevant, and connected learning opportunities. 

Pricing & Registration Information

Membership is offered at an introductory price of only $500 per school or central office team for up to five members.

Click  to register.

Free Services for Network Members 

Workshops

CEii offers quarterly in-person half-day workshops, designed exclusively for Network members and hosted at The Anacostia Building’s conference center. Space is limited to the first 50 registrants per workshop.

Webinars

Monthly 60-minute webinars are offered in alignment with Needs Assessment and Problems of Practice across Network membership. Webinars will be recorded for asynchronous viewing for members 

Facilitated Affinity Groups

Network members investigate, evaluate, and share best practices around a topic of interest following each monthly webinar. Affinity groups will be organized by role-like jobs and facilitated by a faculty member to support adult learning. 

Facilitated Problem of Practice Groups

Using the tenets of Improvement Science, groups focus on some of the toughest challenges schools/districts face. Topics include:

• Chronic Absenteeism
• Teacher Retention and Development
• Special Education
• Multi-Lingual Learners
• School Improvement Planning)
• PoP groups will meet quarterly to discuss research, best practices, and innovative ideas while sharing resources and expertise

Improvement Needs Assessment

Membership begins with an Improvement Needs Assessment. The survey and follow-up will determine alignment between your goals and the offerings of the Network and broader improvement science community.

Quarterly Newsletter

School Improvement Quarterly: Your source for insights, best practices, and stories from our network, dedicated to advancing continuous improvement efforts. We delve into the latest strategies, successes, resources, and innovations driving positive change across schools, districts and communities.

Resource Hub

All Network Members will have access to a customized Resource Hub platform which will store learning materials from Network webinars and workshops, as well as protocols used with PoP and Affinity groups. Additionally, Network member contact information and archived CEii Improvement Newsletters will be available through the Hub.

Discounted Professional Learning Services

Institutes and Conferences

Organized by themes and grounded with the practitioner experience in mind, ��о����ʦ�ҷ��黨��Ƶ Institutes and Conferences are designed to provide meaningful engagement, practical strategies and networking opportunities for members. Institutes and conferences leverage ��о����ʦ�ҷ��黨��Ƶ faculty, leaders in education and members as presenters and keynotes. Network members will have discounted registration for our landmark conference, the School Improvement Leadership Institute.

School Improvement Leadership Academy (SILA)

SILA is a six-month program that teaches principals, assistant principals, and other school leaders how to use improvement science methodologies to design, implement, and evaluate school improvement efforts. These efforts enhance student achievement and close gaps between student sub-groups in literacy and mathematics. Participants who complete the program become skilled at using their school improvement plans to address problems of practice and drive equity in their schools. problems of practice and drive equity in their schools.

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Central Office Leadership Academy (COLA)

The Central Office Leadership Academy (COLA) is designed to help central office leaders, including managers, supervisors, directors, assistant superintendents, and executive cabinet members to examine and develop strategies for solving the tough problems they face on a daily basis. This is a six-month program grounded by a problem of practice that is aligned to the participant's district strategic plan. Over the course of the Academy, participants will work through the problem by obtaining critical knowledge, research, key strategies, and practices, while making ongoing application of the content.

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Online Courses

For central office and school level leaders, UMSIN will develop and offer asynchronous online courses for individuals and teams to develop their improvement- leadership skills. Courses will include up to six modules, with opportunities for applied practice in between. Course topics will include: Introduction to the Cycle of Improvement, Improvement Science in Practice, and Facilitating Improvement Teams. A ��о����ʦ�ҷ��黨��Ƶ Certificate and Badge is earned with completion of each course.

Micro-credentials

Aligned to the asynchronous courses, UMSIN members will have the opportunity to pursue and achieve educator micro-credentials that certify both knowledge and competence in key areas related to leadership, equity, and improvement.

Improvement Tools and Services

��о����ʦ�ҷ��黨��Ƶ Resource to Advance Improvement Science in Education (RAISE)

RAISE (formerly known as NILS) is an online tool to facilitate the work of Networked Improvement Communities (NICs). RAISE is the only platform on the market organized to promote collaborative learning of network members through shared improvement tools such as the Fishbone Diagram and the Drive Diagram.These are central to the improvement science approach and an interactive Plan/Do/Study/Act (PDSA) tool allowing users to run multiple simultaneous short cycle tests of targeted strategies, aimed towards the improvement of problems of practice.

Improvement Science Seminars

Network members can take a deep dive into Improvement Science methods and strategies through a day-long seminar curated to improvement learning needs of specific schools and districts. Topics could include: the Six Principles of Improvement Science, Understanding Problems of Practice and Conducting Causal Systems Analysis, Designing a Theory of Improvement to guide the selection of change strategies; Testing strategies through short cycle inquiries using PDSA cycles.

Customized Improvement Services 

Networked Improvement Communities Development and Coaching

Networked Improvement Communities are “scientific” professional learning communities that use the principles of Improvement Science to address tough problems schools and districts face, from student learning to systems change. CEii offers coaching and support to help schools and districts to design, implement and evaluate NICs, help spread and scale effective practices and change ideas from NIC work.

Executive Leadership Coaching

CEii utilizes a multi-layered coaching system involving a variety of coaching philosophies, modalities and approaches customized to meet the one’s needs. Coaches are well versed in the latest coaching models and have experience as system level leaders, including but not limited to principals, supervisors, directors, chiefs, deputies, assistant superintendents, and superintendents. Each coaching experience starts with a comprehensive consultation to identify areas of need and program a tailored and unique coaching experience.

Research Practice Partnerships

Research-Practice Partnerships (RPPs) connect teachers and/or leaders together with researchers around a shared problem of practice. CEii offers strategic coaching and support for those involved in research-practice partnerships or those who would like to develop them. CEii brings expertise to tailor support to your needs and interests.

Equity Audits and Program Evaluations

Members of the CEii team have experience conducting program evaluations and equity audits. Based on the specific program needs, the team will work with you to design evaluation tools, feedback timeline, and reporting structure.

Strategic Planning Support

CEii provides customized support for the development of a renewed district strategic plan, vision, and mission. We are uniquely equipped to utilize tools and framework of improvement science to support districts tracking their progress and adjusting their strategy to accelerate fulfillment of their strategic vision. 

Specialized Education Degree Programs 

Network members will receive first-hand information and meet faculty responsible for three ��о����ʦ�ҷ��黨��Ƶ signature programs. Each program has its own unique application process and yields either a certification, degree, or both.

EdD in School System Leadership

The Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in School System Leadership is a “Practice Based” doctoral program developing leaders who can create and lead collaborative and inclusive system improvement initiatives. The program enrolls cohorts of students who work together over 42 months to identify, investigate, and solve real school system problems. The Ed.D. in School System Leadership is aligned to the NELP standards and approved by the Maryland State Department of Education for Superintendent II certification.

Admin 1 Principal Certification

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in School Improvement Leadership, Online is an 18-credit graduate program that targets experienced teachers and leaders who aspire to become school-system administrators. This program provides a statewide, cohort-based professional learning experience in meeting the requirements for state certification. Successful completion leads to Maryland Administrator 1 certification eligibility.

Teacher Leader Certification Program

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in School Improvement Leadership, Online is an 18-credit graduate program that targets experienced teachers and leaders who aspire to become school-system administrators. This program provides a statewide, cohort-based professional learning experience in meeting the requirements for state certification. Successful completion leads to Maryland Administrator 1 certification eligibility.