Networking for Success Utilizing NWEA Tools Barbara Hunter Cox, Director of Teaching & Learning, Dr. Ellen Treadway, Arkansas Public School Resource Center, AR Fusion 2012, the NWEA summer conference in Portland, Oregon This session will examine a unique collaborative approach to implementation of NWEA assessment, funded by a private foundation, managed by a state wide nonprofit and driven with NWEA expertise and tools. The partnership’s state wide network supports systematic implementation resulting in the integration of the data for instructional improvement and networking the schools to share best practices. Annually, the initiative sponsors “Growth Awards” that provides monetary support for districts, schools and individual teachers who have significant gains from the use of NWEA assessment data in their classrooms. Learning Outcomes: - Share our model design for implementation of NWEA in multiple sites within a state - Share the "Growth Awards" concept and implementation strategies - Discuss the unique partnership of a nonprofit, foundation and NWEA in a highly successful implementation design Audience: - New data user - Experienced data user - Advanced data user - District leadership - Curriculum and Instruction Arkansas Public School Resource Center is a nonprofit that serves both Charter and Rural School Districts across the state. APSRC has a wide range of support services including legal, fiscal, technology and teaching and learning. APSRC has an initiative focusing on building a network of partner schools utilizing the NWEA tools resulting in an improvement in academic achievement.

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3. NWEA Fusion 2012
APSRC
Networking for Success
Utilizing NWEA Tools

4. Access the Presentation
Online: Scan the QR Code

Our Contact Information
Link to APSRC online
NWEA Fusion Presentation
APSRC Growth Awards Criteria

5. Topics
Mission of APSRC

APSRC –NWEA Partnership
Growth in Participation
NWEA as a Bridge to PARCC
Experiences of MAP Partners
Recommendations for Building Sustainable
Partnerships

6. APSRC

The Arkansas Public School Resource
Center is a unique nonprofit dedicated to
providing technical support to and
advocating on behalf of charter and rural
schools.

7. APSRC

APSRC is striving to:
• Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of
charter and rural schools
• Increase the number of high-quality school
options
• Enhance the perception of charter and rural
schools among policymakers and the
general public

8. Areas of Focus

• Teaching and Learning
• Technology
• Finance
• School Law
 APSRC employs 13 full-time staff to
provide services to our 180 members

9. Teaching and Learning

Our commitment is to ensure our partner
schools are competitive in academic
achievement.
Our focus is providing access to:
• Resources
• Information
• Technical Assistance
• Targeted Professional Development

10. Teaching and Learning

Currently, APSRC has a major initiative
focusing on Common Core Implementation
called
Achieving by Changing
Funded with private dollars for three years
Designed by APSRC staff
With 47 school campuses involved in the pilot
Adding 60 more campuses this fall
Supported with NWEA MAP data

11. Finance

The Finance staff provides assistance in:
• School Improvement Planning
• Federal and State categorical spending
• Monitoring of fiscal areas
• School financial policy development
• Purchasing and inventory management
• Fiscal distress
• Issues in Teacher Retirement

12. Technology

The Technology team specializes in hands-on
trainings on how to implement Web 2.0
technology in the classroom
Provides training on Technology and the
Common Core State Standards
Assists with continuity plans, eRate
applications and purchasing decisions
Supports the APSRC programmatic areas

13. Legal

Through the staff attorneys and contract legal
counsel, the team offers:
 Comprehensive legal services
Policy development and
Preparation for State Board of
Education, Legislative Subcommittee
presentations and analysis.

14. APSRC

We provide our membership
(charter and rural schools) with a
voice for change and
the resources for quality!

15. APSRC-NWEA Partnership

• Initiated in 2009 with five charter
schools in central Arkansas
• Gradual growth
• Used for wide range of purposes from
instructional modifications to merit
pay to identifying professional
development needs

16. APSRC-NWEA Partnership
our partner in all
• Our AR NWEA team is
aspects
• Over a three year period, teaming with NWEA:
• Investment in Time and Energy = Growth
and Enrollment
• NWEA MAP Workshops
• On-site Data Literacy Coaching
• Support Services and Management
• Recognition through APSRC Growth
Awards
• Annual MAP Users Conferences

17. APSRC-NWEA Partnership
Role of APSRC

Recruiter
Facilitator of Services
Provider of Professional Development
Supporter
Problem-Solver
Communicator
Rewarder

18. APSRC-NWEA Partnership
2011-2012 Data
•
 and Schools
43 MAP Partner Districts
• 35 still eligible to participate in the WFF grant
• 6 new MAP partners starting in Fall 2012
• 159 TOTs Trained in MAP Workshops
• 17 Regional MAP Workshops Provided
• 48, 408 Students Tested
• 7,185 Students Took Web-Based MAP
• Inclusion of MAP data in Arkansas
Comprehensive School Improvement

19. Growth in Students Tested: 2010-2012
Students Tested
60,000

50,000
40,000
Enrollment
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
Students Tested Web-based Tests Administered
2011-2012 48,408 7,185
2010-2011 19,627 0

20. Growth in Number of MAP Partners and
MAP Workshop Participation: 2010-2012

Workshop Participants
MAP Workshops Offered at Regional Hubs
Districts Enrolled
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Districts Enrolled MAP Workshops Offered at Regional Hubs Workshop Participants
2010-2011 19 6 159
2011-2012 43 17 526

21. ABC: Achieving by Changing
and Connection to NWEA

Developed by APSRC, ABC is a comprehensive and
integrated approach to implementing the change
necessary for the transition to the Common Core
State Standards.
Data Literacy
• Examine what is working
• Build on best practices
Requirement for ABC vs. Voluntary Participation

22. NWEA and the ABC Initiative Cadre I
% of MAP Partners

Central-4 districts & 6 campuses-80%
North Central–4 districts & 8 campuses-80%
Northeast – 5 districts & 10 campuses-100%
Northwest – 5 districts & 9 campuses-90%
Southeast – 2 districts & 2 campuses-50%
Southwest – 5 districts & 8 campuses-90%

23. NWEA as a Bridge to PARCC

MAP as Springboard for discussion:
• Computer-Assisted Testing
• Use of Assessment Data in Instructional
Modifications
• Adaptive Testing
• Growth over Time/Growth Measure
• NCLB Waiver

24. 

25. Experiences of MAP Partners
APSRC Growth Awards

Presented at the Fall APSRC
Criteria - 60% of students met projected
growth target from fall to spring
Category 1 Teacher Awards- 8 at $1,000 each
Category 2 School Awards-2 at $3,000 each
Category 3 District Awards-2 at $8,000 each

26. APSRC Growth Awards
sponsors “Growth
Annually, the initiative
Awards” that provide monetary support for
districts, schools and individual teachers who
have significant gains from the use of NWEA
assessment data in their classrooms.
Criteria for selection include:
• Utilization of the Data
• Artifacts
• Professional Development to support use
• Student work and Lesson Plans

27. Experiences of
MAP Partners

“I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am about the NWEA
MAP Training I attended today!! I have been given the
opportunity to truly see what we can do for our students with
the MAP results. Once we can get this fully implemented at
our high school, it will be INCREDIBLE!! This will
absolutely change what an education at our high school looks
like. Needless to say, I'm a little Excited about the potential!!
Tom, Alison, and Sandie were wonderful. They were able to
guide us to understanding as well as challenging us to create a
high school plan.”

28. Recommendations
 team
 Work closely with your NWEA
 Do not undervalue “word of mouth”
 Make connections as much as possible to current
issues of urgency
 Leverage local resources to supplement NWEA
resources
 Facilitate shared workshops and encourage districts
support staff participation
 Record successes and challenges to share at trainings
 Be a responsible steward of grant funds

29. Design Elements
Strategies Utilized In Our Work

Identifying and Developing Opportunities
Developing a Culture of Change
Structuring Learning Opportunities and
Networking
Sharing Resources and Knowledge
Recognizing Excellence
Building Sustainable Partnerships

30. Identifying and Developing
Opportunities

 Issue of Merit Pay tied to Student Growth
 Foundation funded Pilot
 Support new Teacher Evaluation Policy
Agenda – Resulting in Act 1209 – Teacher
Excellence Support System (TESS)
 Provide on-site Professional Development
which is “tailored” to include NWEA
examples

31. Building Relationships that
Support a Culture of Change

 Opportunity to participate in NWEA was
specifically marketed to APSRC partner
rural and charter schools
 Asked that rural/charter schools be
included in Pilot for Act 1209
 Rural and Charter Board of APSRC involved
in issue analysis that was shared with
legislative committee

32. Structuring Learning Opportunities

 Instead of individual school professional
development in the set up of MAP, began
pairing veteran schools and novice schools
resulting in cross fertilization of ideas
 Last year established regional partner sites as
training “Hubs” which greatly accelerated
participation
 APSRC serves as facilitator of issues and
provides support – even at the school and
classroom levels

33. Sharing Resources and Knowledge


With regional hub development schools
assumed leadership roles
 Fall Conference has a NWEA focus and
multiple schools present their
innovations, learnings and strategies
 APSRC staff visited each site serving as an
initial “sounding board/problem solver”
 Specific Professional Development was
designed for Growth Awards Criteria and
distributed digitally

34. Developing a Culture of Change
- Building Relationships
Building Relationships
- Building Relationships
Creating a support system for implementation
and problem solving with APSRC as the first
step
Providing personalized professional
development for struggling schools
Providing data analysis assistance and writing a
section for inclusion in the ACSIP plan

35. Networking

 Annual Conferences
• Fall: Annual APSRC Conference with
MAP Users Conference
• Spring: APSRC Technology Conference
• State Charter Conference
• Ongoing: Learning from the Leaders
Drive-In Conferences
Innovative Technology
www.apsrc.net

36. Strategies Utilized In Our Work

Building Strategic Alliances
Designing Systematic Implementation
with feedback loops
Building Capacity at the school site
Focusing on Connecting NWEA to the real
“work” of schools
Reporting Outcomes
Celebrating Successes

37. Collaborative Approach

Funded by a private foundation
Managed by a state-wide nonprofit
Driven with NWEA expertise and tools

38. Outcomes of Partnership

State-wide network supports
systematic implementation
Resulting in the integration of the data
for instructional improvement and
Networking so that schools can share
best practices

39. Arkansas Public School
Resource Center
www.apsrc.net
(501)492-4300
Barbara Hunter Cox
Director, Teaching and Learning
bhuntercox@apsrc.net
Ellen Treadway
Teaching and Learning Specialist
etreadway@apsrc.net