School Improvement

This won't be a popular statement, but here it goes....

I have not seen any true school improvement occur because of money.

Okay, there it is.

School improvement comes from the heart of the school - the people.  It's the collaborative, caring atmosphere that puts kids first.  It's the continuous progress as the team learns together and moves forward.  It's the trust and community built over time.

Money is okay, but it isn't what makes any difference.  If so, education and other government-fed programs would have shown some progress by now.  A lot of money is awarded for many reasons.

Here is an example of money being thrown at a problem.  I was on a review team in a school district.  The district had received money, resources, extra staff, etc.  During the visit, I went to see the sparkling new computer lab and how it was being utilized.  The teacher was so excited to show me that every computer was occupied by a student and that a chart in the room indicated regular use of the new lab.  When asked what students were doing on their computers, the response was vague - they could do whatever they wanted.  A discussion followed:  How do students use their time to get the most out of their computer time?  What formative assessments allow students to know what they need to improve?  Can the lab be better utilized for specific lessons and/or activities that target student needs?