Florida — Middle School Mathematics Initiative (MSMI)

The MSMI helped districts implement the new requirements set forth in Florida's A++ legislation, with special emphasis on sixth-grade mathematics. Completed in the Spring of 2008, the MSMI was sponsored by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE), the International Center for Leadership in Education (ESCORT), the Florida and the Islands Comprehensive Center (FLICC) and the Florida Council of Teachers of Mathematics (FCTM).

Sample Math Lessons

Ma.6.A.1.1 (PDF)

First Institute (February/March/April 2007)
Second Institute (May 2007)
Third Institute (August 2007)
Fourth Institute (Fall 2007)
Fifth Institute (Winter 2008)
Sixth Institute (Spring 2008)

First Institute (February/March/April 2007)

Rigor, Relevance, Relationships, Reflective Thought (PPT)

Second Institute (May 2007)

Third Institute (August 2007)

Fourth Institute (Fall 2007)

Fifth Institute (Winter 2008)

Sixth Institute (Spring 2008)

Florida — Middle School Science Initiative (MSSI)

MSSI helped districts implement Florida's new science standards, with special emphasis on seventh-grade science. MSSI was co-sponsored by the FLDOE's Office of Math and Science and FLICC. In a series of institutes, designed as train-the-trainer modules for districts, MSSI helped Florida roll out the new science standards and new techniques to improve classroom instruction. The first year (2008–2009 school year), MSSI sponsored regional institutes to build rigor and relevance in the science classroom. The regional institute series for 2009–2010, MSSI's second year, leveraged FLDOE's efforts to implement lesson study and Response to Intervention methodologies statewide to build the capacity of FLDOE's Regional Assistance Centers, districts and schools. Thereby, MSSI led to the improvement of student achievement in science across the state for years to come.

MSSI 2008–2009 Materials

Second Institute (Spring 2009) (PPT)

Additional Resources

Florida — Secondary School Redesign Initiative (SSRI)

The Secondary School Redesign Initiative (SSRI) was created to assist the Florida Department of Education in implementing the Secondary School Redesign Act passed by the Florida legislature in 2006. This legislation effectively shaped the state's vision for a research-based framework for the redesign of secondary schools. Such an effort requires an intensive system of statewide support. To meet this need, the FLICC partnered with the David C. Anchin Center at the University of South Florida, the Florida Association of School Administrators (FASA) and the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE) to construct a model for such a support system.

Through the collaborating partners, participating schools and districts were offered ongoing site-based coaching, professional development institutes, and networking and sharing opportunities. Schools broadened the examination of their data through the Learning Criteria, designed more rigorous and relevant lessons, and deepened relationships with students and among faculty.

SSRI focused on building human, structural, organizational and material capacity. Training in critical components of secondary redesign and the development of Professional Learning Communities built capacity at the school and district levels. State capacity has been increased through the cadre of trained coaches, the networking and sharing among the project schools about successful initiatives, and the whitepapers, tools and resources developed during the project. In 2009–2011, districts aligned their resources and refined their initiatives. Cohesive district plans that will sustain the work were also developed. SSRI partners and coaches were proud of the progress of the schools and districts willing to share what they have learned with colleagues across the State of Florida seeking to engage in redesign.

Based on the success of SSRI, the Helios Foundation funded a similar program working with our partner FASA. The subsequent work was based on SSRI and implemented in Polk County, FL using FLICC's SSRI coaches.

SSRI 2008–2009 Materials

Newsletters

2009 School Showcase Presentations

Additional Resources

Florida — Secondary School Technical Assistance (SSTA)

FLICC also assisted the FLDOE with bolstering the support for secondary schools. From 2007–2010, FLICC facilitated the school and district improvement process by promoting an academic major initiative (called Major Area of Interest or MAI) and assisting in technical assistance visits for middle and high schools. For MAI, FLICC and the FLDOE developed a series of podcasts to help students and parents understand the importance of choosing a high school major. For the technical assistance school visits, FLICC worked with the FLDOE Bureau of School Improvement and the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) to implement the Making Middle Grades Work and High Schools That Work programs across the State of Florida.

Florida — Response to Intervention (RTI)

In May 2010, FLICC — in conjunction with the Florida Department of Education — designed and delivered a statewide conference on Florida's Response to Intervention (RTI). The RTI conference stressed the urgency and provided impetus to focus on implementing RTI in secondary schools and the content area of science. The RTI model is a multi-tiered approach to providing high-quality instruction and intervention matched to student needs. This approach uses learning rate over time and level of performance, to make informed instructional decisions. RTI involves the systematic use of assessment data, to most efficiently allocate resources in order to decide how to differentiate instruction and improve learning for all students.

There are two overarching goals of RTI. The first is to deliver evidence-based interventions and the second is to use students' responses to those interventions, as a basis for determining instructional needs and intensity. The major issues in RTI involve the need to enhance the range and diversity of academic and behavioral interventions in general education (Tier I) and to increase the impact of supplemental interventions in Tiers II and III. RTI does not focus on how to make eligibility decisions that divorce special education from general education. So the focus for our conference was directed at general education scenarios, not necessarily special education ones.

For more information on this initiative please contact Dr. John Lockwood at jlockwood@ets.org.

RTI 2010 Session Materials

PowerPoint Presentations

Puerto Rico — Information and Technology (I&T) Support

FLICC provides information and technology support to the Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE) to help them capture and manage important accountability data. This data is leveraged for program improvements and to enhance teaching and learning.

FLICC continues to assist the PRDE as it migrates from primarily paper-based data collection systems to a new suite of automated systems for student management, finance and management decision-making. This initiative will help the PRDE develop the capacity for:

Strategic planning for technology and data
Formal system and data governance processes
Analysis of data sources and supporting policies and procedures
Data quality management and accountability
Applying technology and data to support teaching and learning
Managing federal accountability reporting (Education Data Exchange Network and Consolidated State Performance Report processes)
Data analysis to support Data Driven Decision Making (DDDM)
Program data collection and compliance management
Grant submission, implementation and accountability reporting
Organization development to support the integrated use of technology and data
Evaluation and design of statewide longitudinal data systems
Coaching managers in technology options and opportunities

The PRDE is in the early stages of adoption and integration of management systems that will improve the consistency of management decision-making and improve the quality and timeliness of data required for accountability reporting. This will address long-standing challenges with federal compliance reporting, program management, organizational integration and fact-based decision-making.

For more information on this initiative please contact Dr. Bridget McGilvra at bmcgilvra@ets.org.