Success in Sight. Noteworthy Perspectives

Today’s schools are complex systems with complex problems. Addressing those problems often requires significant change efforts. However, many school administrators don’t know how to select a focus for these efforts or how to lead staff through such changes--and even if they did, the job is too large for one person. One solution to this dilemma is to form partnerships with organizations or consultants who can help get the change process started and help build sufficient local capacity to continue its momentum. This "Noteworthy" focuses on one such solution--"Success in Sight," McREL’s comprehensive, research-based school reform program, which helps schools get the change process started and build sufficient local capacity to continue the momentum. Through the story of one school, it explains the roots of the "Success in Sight" approach, as well as the theory of change and action embedded in it. It present the six stages of "Success in Sight"; discusses the implications for states, districts, and schools; poses questions that schools can consider to determine if they are ready to successfully engage in school improvement; and offers suggestions for actions to increase their readiness. (Contains 12 exhibits.)