BEST PRACTICES
Middle School Best Practices Framework-NY
Research teams investigated ten consistently higher- and five consistently average- performing middle schools to determine differences in their practices along the five themes of the framework below. Here are the results for New York middle schools. For more information about each finding, click on the cell.
| Organizing Themes |
District Practices |
School Practices |
Classroom Practices |
 |
Involve all stakeholders in developing aligned curriculum and goals and support their participation |
Ensure that the curriculum is articulated horizontally and vertically and available to all students |
Teachers collaborate to ensure consistency for students and to monitor results in order to improve the curriculum |
 |
Hire highly qualified educators who "fit" with the district vision; provide opportunities for growth |
Provide supoprt to take on leadership roles by participating in projects, committees, and teams |
Use strategies learned in grade-level teams, district department meetings, and professional development |
 |
Involve teachers and administrators in program and material selection; support teachers by providing what's needed for success |
Team teaching, looping and blocking: equal opportunities for all students to access required knowledge and skills |
Differentiate instruction in inclusive classrooms |
 |
Analyze data from frequent and multiple assessments of performance by student, teacher, and school |
Assessment data are shared frequently among students, teachers, and administrators to inform higher performance |
Diagnostic, benchmark, and other assessments are frequently administered and analyzed for levels of mastery |
 |
Establish a climate of mutual respect and responsibility |
Apply resources to intervene to remove barriers to learning |
Teams of teachers and specialists first adjust instruction to meet student needs before making referrals |
