MAISA has been the recipient of an MDE grant to provide Combined Technical Assistance to MI Excel Schools and will provide professional development focused on the reason(s) the school was identified for Improvement, Corrective Action, or Restructuring. The MAISA developed Instructional Support Model includes 3 main components; 1) data-driven decision making, 2) support to investigate and select evidence-based interventions, and 3) coaching for intervention implementation fidelity.
Instructional Support Model
The goal of the Instructional Support Model is to assist MI Excel schools in addressing target populations and subgroups that are not making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in math or english language arts (ELA). Based on their data, school teams will select evidence-based interventions to enhance instructional practice, with the support of professional development, technical assistance, and coaching. This initiative is an opportunity for school staffs to deepen and extend their capacity. Teachers will partner with Instructional Coaches skilled at helping them to refine and enhance their instructional practices to continually improve student achievement.
How Does It Work?
First, a school team is assembled. The identified team members attend a data-driven decision-making training session to focus on the unique situation of the school and the school culture for data collection. The school team may request assistance to develop a data profile and to investigate and select evidence-based interventions. Instructional Coaches will provide ongoing support to teachers for implementation fidelity of the selected intervention(s).
Data-Driven Decision-Making
The school team may request a Data Coach to facilitate an in-depth analysis of data. School teams will apply protocols as they:
• Identify questions raised by their data
• Engage staff in the data analysis process
• Engage staff in clarifying the problem
• Identify additional data needed
• Identify professional development needs
• Review alignment with School Improvement Plan
Evidence-Based Intervention Investigation and Selection
School teams will have assistance to investigate and select evidence-based interventions (EBIs) that meet one of the following criteria:
1. Reviewed on registries of EBIs and meet targeted needs
2. Peer-reviewed and meet targeted needs
3. Backed by extensive documentation and theoretical links, when a targeted need does not yet have a formally established research base
Instructional Coach Support
The purpose of the instructional coaching position is to provide support in literacy and math instruction of evidence-based intervention/implementation fidelity. An Instructional Coach provides individual or group support to teachers surrounding data-based instructional issues and supports the implementation of a selected Evidence-Based Intervention.
Instructional Coach support may include:
• Helping teachers to implement the selected literacy and/or mathematics evidence-based intervention
• Collaborating with teachers before and after lessons
• Co-teaching or co-planning instruction
• Facilitating professional learning communities
• Assisting teachers in analyzing formative assessment data
• Offering strategies that differentiate teaching and learning for students
• Working with teachers on literacy and mathematics strategies
• Working with teachers to implement specific instructional strategies and identified supports
