MDE encourages "streamlining" and suggests schools/districts COPY reports when appropriate.

Is what we're doing in education working to improve teaching and learning ... how do we know?  
This essential question summarizes the two, new, streamlined frameworks: District Improvement Framework 2.0 (DIF) and School Improvement Framework 2.0 (SIF).  These two frameworks now have seamless alignment and have streamlined 90 indicators from the old SIF to only 26 indicators for SIF 2.0.  
NOTE: These apply to MDE accredited schools NOT AdvancED or NCA accredited schools

The Education YES! report in ASSIST is called the School Systems Review (SSR) and is suggested as  part of the Comprehensive Needs Assessment.  NCA accredited schools will still need to complete the Interim Self Assessment or the Self Assessment (longer version) by the same deadline in March or four weeks prior to an AdvancED External Review. 

The  district report is called the District Requirements Report which was formally named the  District Systems Review (DSR).  It is suggested the district may complete this as part of the district CNA.  NCA-accredited districts will still need to complete the District Interim Self Assessment or the District Self Assessment (longer version) four weeks prior to an AdvancED External Review. 

District may report results prior to the submission of the Consolidated Application and District Improvement report.  Districts may incorporate school results into the District Report or base the DSR solely on a review of the SSRs.   This may be a viable third option for districts in lieu of the three options described above. 

If you are unsure about whether you have been assigned the correct report, check with your local ISD.  If you need help navigating ASSIST and starting/duplicating a report, click here to view a short video that focuses on reports and a brief tour in the 2nd half that can easily be skipped.

Involving stakeholders in the DSR, SSR, Interim SA, or SA

There are practical ways to involve stakeholders in the completion the D/S Systems Review or Self-Assessment without the administrator completing the report in solitude.  Ideally, the district/school would have selected a few indicators to focus on over a three- to five-year period.  Here are a few practical steps:

1) GATHER staff perception for the 10 District Standards or 26 School Indicators.  You may want to consider how you will collect the data in order to define areas of focus; consider surveying staff OR having small groups divide up the work and report out OR a carousel.

Option 1: COPY last year's report

Once the report is copied, move to step 2 by discussing ONLY those few indicators you decided focus on previously.

Option 2: Survey Staff

Preview and Directions

• The podcast above will demonstrate how to gain access and make a copy of the appropriate survey (Google Form).  To preview these surveys click any of the following links:  District Systems Review Survey, School Systems Review Survey, OR District Interim SA Survey, School Interim SA Survey (see ASSIST site) OR ERS District Resource Check for Focus and Priority Schools.
• COPY HERE: Each of the above surveys are located in a Google Drive Folder.  For those who are tech savvy, open the folder in Drive and "Make a Copy." For everyone else, watch the brief video for copying surveys (90 seconds) which is also embedded at the top of this column.
• Staff rate each indicator on a four point scale that corresponds with the rubric to be submitted in ASSIST.
• SI Team and Administrator review the results and highlight a few key indicators to discuss (i.e. lowest indicators and those with the most variance in responses).
• At a staff meeting, celebrate a couple high points and discuss the indicators with the most variance (those where some staff rated very low and others very high).  Also discuss the lowest indicators.
• Select indicators to FOCUS throughout the year and in the coming years and brainstorm next actions steps to be taken.
• For the next 3-5 years, you may choose to fully engage the staff in addressing those select few indicators, rather than addressing all. 

Option 3: DIVIDE AND CONQUER

• Divide staff up into small, diverse groups (varied grades/contents in each group).
• Print the appropriate report such that each indicator can be separated, preferably on one sheet of paper:  District System Review, School System Review, (NOTE: DSR & SSR last updated 11/2014) OR Interim SA District template, School Interim SA template (NOTE: SA suite last updated 2011).  If you feel as though culture is not addressed sufficiently, consider the ASCD Whole Child Initiative or view a select sample of indicators addressing Health, Safety and Engagement.
• Disperse the indicators as if dealing out a deck of cards to better assure a variety of indicators for each group.
• Have each group discuss their indicators, rating the building overall.
• Then have each group log in to the ASSIST platform and select the paragraph that best describes the school's status, as well as checking each piece of supporting evidence that applies.
• Have each group join another group (or two) and discuss which indicators should be the top priority/focus for the next three to five years.  REPEAT this process until there is only one large group identifying the key indicators (7 indicators or fewer recommend).
• For the next 3-5 years, you may choose to only fully engage the staff in addressing those select few indicators, rather than addressing all.  

OR a 4th OPTION:

• Set each indicator out around the room and have small groups station at one to discuss and rate.  
• Rotate the groups 2-3 times to get more input on each indicator.
• Follow the other steps to narrow down to just a few indicators to track.

2) DISCUSS:  In addition to the staff discussion above, have a smaller group of staff (i.e. SI Team) look over the responses collectively, transfer to ASSIST (if not already done), and answer any additional questions not tied to a specific indicator.  Typically, groups choose a couple indicators to celebrate and a few indicators on which to focus.  You may also wish to have the staff brainstorm possible ways to improve their status on the focus indicators, as this will eventually tie directly to the School Improvement Plan.

3) Finally, REPORT the results of the School Report in ASSIST so the district can review reports before beginning the School Improvement review.  Click on any of the links below to see short videos regarding DIAGNOSTIC REPORTS (not Goals) or navigating ASSIST in order to:  Create (or Copy), Attach, Complete, Submit and Accept Reports, see below.

How to Create, Attach, Complete and Submit

How Districts "Accept" Submitted School Tasks