540.000 Office of School Improvement

      Description

      • The Office of School Improvement (OSI) facilitates professional learning aligned to state and/or district initiatives in order to positively impact student growth and development. This service provides districts an opportunity to collaborate professionally on standards-driven topics that complement district school improvement planning and activities. Collaboration enables districts to link instruction, assessment, and curriculum to the state and national standards by providing opportunities for professional learning and growth. Professional learning experiences and mandated professional development are aligned to the work of the NYSED and other relevant initiatives. In addition to professional learning, BOCES coordinates individual staff development opportunities for component districts. These events encompass unit design and interdisciplinary curriculum, focusing attention on increased success for all students. Activities that promote best practices, innovative instructional strategies, technology integration and interdisciplinary teaching are offered on a shared basis throughout the year.

      Requirements

      • Districts must choose either the Base or Enhanced service.

      District Responsibilities

      • Collaborate with the Director of Learning and School Improvement and School Improvement staff to meet the professional learning needs of the district.

      Service Responsibilities

      • Base Service

        • Facilitate regional leadership meetings (3-4 meetings per year) for English Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science, and Social/Emotional Learning; These meetings serve as the opportunity for School Improvement staff to share information from SCDN statewide meetings and from NYSED Curriculum and Instruction representatives. Other regional leadership meetings may be established based on regional requests (I.e. Elementary Principals forum, PD Directors meetings, etc.)
        • Provide regional professional development/workshops on topics of interest to districts (facilitated by BOCES staff and/or outside consultants)
        • Coordinate Shared Services and provide technical assistance and management of billing for aidable supports and services

        Shared Services

        Must be approved by the Director of Learning and School Improvement through the OSI reimbursement process. If approved, districts may receive support and aid on substitute reimbursements, teacher stipends, consultants, and resources. Please note: An approved list is generated each year by the Office of School Improvement.
        Activities within Shared Services include:

        • Joint (or shared) professional learning events/opportunities initiated by Monroe One component districts
        • In-district workshops, run by BOCES, district personnel, or consultant(s) that are considered a “spin-off” of one of the regional or shared initiating activities
        • Out-of-district workshops that are run by BOCES

        Enhanced Service

        • All aspects of the base service and:
        • Ten days of customized support
          • Scope of the customized support is determined collaboratively between the Office of School Improvement staff and the district
          • Examples of customized support include
            • Coaching cycles (live or via videoconferencing), walk through visits
            • Curriculum development, supported lesson planning
            • Facilitation of PLCs, grade level meetings, collegial circles, co-teaching planning meetings, peer review sessions
            • Development of instructional or professional learning materials
            • Co-planning of professional learning opportunities with district staff
            • Program evaluations/audits
            • Support with implementation of new curricula
            • Regional assessment development
            • Conference coordination
            • In-district workshops