The ICI team provides high-quality services to schools through one-on-one consultations, site visits, network meetings, planning sessions, institutes, study groups, action research and dissemination of professional literature. Services for schools are coordinated with other Department of Education organizations, service providers, and university partners.
Accountability and Instructional Supports
The ICI team customizes and differentiates support to principals based on schools’ needs and requests. The team can facilitate the planning of curriculum maps and units of study, coach schools in analyzing data, assist the monitoring of student progress, and can help schools planto strategically meet accountability targets.
Additional services include:
Designing study groups for principals and assistant principals within and across networks; Assisting content-area assistant principals in coaching and supervision in their disciplines; Training coaches and teachers in methodology, instructional approaches, and strategies; Providing new Principal support forums; Principals’ in Training courses, and New teacher support groups.
Special-Needs support:
The ICI team facilitates professional learning services in response to specific needs of English Language Learners, Special Education, Gifted and Enrichment, and at-risk General Education students. Its team can coach schools in aligning curriculum and student support services to the specific needs of identified groups.
Specialized Services specifically include the supports to:
Create lab sites to model effective instructional strategies for dual-language programs and students with interrupted formal education; Coordinate training and ongoing support for programs such as Reading Recovery, Wilson implementation for Special Education students, School wide Enrichment Model, and Advanced Placement and Assist in the implementation of practices to accelerate credit accumulation to meet graduation requirements.
Youth Development Support:
The ICI team will assist schools in research-based curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular practices to develop the emotional and psycho-social domains. They will organize professional development that supports the academic, emotional, social, and psychological development of students. They also will coach schools in developing services for youth, the school safety plan, and the Comprehensive Educational Plan.
Services include:
Supporting coaches and teachers in sustaining a culture of respect and cooperation through instructional practices and programs, such as conflict resolution and peer mediation. Assisting schools in implementing advisory-type programs to address the needs of middle and high school adolescents. Coaching schools in strategic programming to improve student attendance and reduce dropout rates. Connecting schools to community-based organizations and other external agents to facilitate relationships that reduce social barriers to success and assist in developing programs and practices that personalize the secondary school experience.
Organizational and Professional Development:
The ICI team will assist schools in building school capacity to sustain a high-quality teaching staff. Their team will coach schools in monitoring the effectiveness of staff development as measured by student learning outcomes. They also will share exemplary professional development strategies that meet the Standards for Professional Development.
Services include:
Training and ongoing support of key personnel such as assistant principals, coaches, and teacher leaders. Forming professional learning communities around the “thinking curriculum” — standards-based instruction, assessment driven instruction, integration of the arts and technology, and career opportunities.
Facilitating connections with service providers and coordinating efforts in customizing services. Disseminating information on current research around teaching and learning through Web sites, blogs, e-mails, and network meetings.
Additional Supports:
A dedicated operations liaison for schools and Integrated Service Centers (ISC). An arts specialist to facilitate workshops and coordinate all arts training and celebrations. An instructional technology specialist to provide workshops and manage Web sites and blogs. New grants sourcing, and support for existing grants in collaboration with the ISC. Training and placement of Reading Recovery teacher leaders. Principals’ hotline.
