PSBA issued its recommendation for improving low-performing schools, and it's not the voucher program the governor proposed Tuesday.

PSBA  issued its recommendation for improving low-performing schools, and it's not the voucher program the governor proposed Tuesday.

What Works: Raising achievement in underperforming schools

State School Boards Association issues reform recommendation

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

By Eleanor Chute, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Pennsylvania School Boards Association today issued its recommendation for improving low-performing schools, and it's not the voucher program the governor proposed Tuesday.

The PSBA, which reviewed research on what works, recommended focusing on three key areas: recruiting, preparing and improving teachers; preparing students for academic success; and providing schools with tools for success.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11285/1181493-100.stm#ixzz1aavZ7Sox

Help for Underperforming Schools Outlined in PSBA Research Paper

From PSBA, 10/12/2011, Todd Hosterman, PSBA Senior Research Associate

In an effort to address the issues facing struggling schools in the commonwealth, the Pennsylvania School Boards Association's Education Research & Policy Center has released its latest white paper titled, Raising achievement in underperforming schools. In the research document, the Center undertook a multi-faceted approach to analyze school improvement research, strategies and needs, investigating various means for supporting and improving public schools in Pennsylvania.

Certainly, there is no one-size-fits-all model, policy change or piece of legislation that can work in all places and in all instances. The 11 elements presented in the Center's report are offered as a starting point for the conversation of how to help underperforming schools. They have been identified in research as well as anecdotally as areas for focus that have the potential to move underperforming schools toward improved student outcomes.

http://www.psba.org/news-publications/headlines/details.asp?id=2195

The full report can be downloaded online at

Download the full 32 page PDF 

For more info on PSBA's Education Research & Policy Center:

www.psba.org/issues-advocacy/issues-research/education-research-policy-center.asp.