For information or assistance with any of the following resources or services, please contact Dr. Gene Davis, Director of the Intermountain Center for Education Effectiveness at Idaho State University, 282-3202 or e-mail at davie@isu.edu

The Center for Effective Schools in cooperation with the Center for Accountability Systems is positioned to assist schools and districts with data analysis. In addition, led by a specialist with experience in assessment development with a national testing company, we can assist in the development of benchmark assessments, data analysis, and staff development for the understanding and effective use of assessments in the classroom.

The ICEE will have a team of trainers led by a specialist on the TEACHMASTER Standards Tool Kit. This service is provided through the Center for Effective Schools and the Center for Technology Solutions. In addition, the Center for Effective schools provides training on the process of curriculum alignment to state standards.

Education is a multi-dimensional discipline requiring constant information and feedback. By establishing strong regional partnerships, educators and policy makers within common geographic areas can share goals and experiences, and work through issues to improve education effectiveness. The ICEE helps build and maintain these collaborative relationships between member organizations.

ICEE is pleased to provide partnership and non–partnership districts and schools with research assistance. Some recent requests for information have included policy briefs on the naming of schools, redistricting, and FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy). Anyone interested in receiving help researching topics of educational interest should contact the Center for Effective Schools.

The ICEE has a team specializing in staff development for teachers and principals based on research and best practices. Once the need has been identified, staff development is provided targeting specific skills, knowledge and teaching strategies.

The Center for Effective Schools maintains a library of resources — books and videos — available for check out. A sample of the titles include: "Effective Schools-Building Foundations for School Improvement," "Helping Disruptive and Unresponsive Students," "Results-Driven Staff Development," and "Instructional Strategies for Greater Student Achievement." Please contact the Center for a complete list of available resources.

The ICEE has a team of building principals, superintendents and classroom teachers, K-12, who specialize in the Effective Schools Process. They are available on a scheduled basis to provide workshops for interested schools and districts. These workshops can be targeted to strategic planning, school improvement planning, curriculum alignment to state standards, or school accreditation process.

The Center for Effective Schools can administer a survey designed to provide perception information from staff, students and parents regarding the characteristics or "correlates" of effective schools. These correlates are grounded in the literature that grew out of more than two decades of effective schools research. This research is significant because it identifies cultural and climate variables within schools that "correlate" with student achievement. It is hypothesized that student achievement will improve within the school if these cultural and climate variables, or correlates, are improved. It is extremely important to note that survey information alone can not be used to determine effectiveness or ineffectiveness of a school. The purpose of the survey information is to provide data, in addition to disaggregated student performance data, that can be used to assist individual schools in targeting areas for development or improvement.

The Center for Effective Schools can provide districts with an effectiveness audit. The audit is an assessment that examines the degree to which a school/school district meets the standards of effectiveness. Each school/school district is compared to similar school/school districts (with similar student, staff and community demographics) that are currently achieving effectiveness standards. The purpose is to identify areas of school/school district operation or system results which can and should be improved. The audit serves as a basis for school district improvement and for allocation of resources. The audit makes specific recommendations and provides possible methods for achieving school district improvement.

Want to secure extra funding?

Technical support for grant proposal development AND project administration is available. If you are an administrator that has multiple funding opportunities come across your desk, RFP's with no time to write them, or limited dollars to hire personnel to complete the projects, let the ICEE offer our assistance. Consider collaborative projects with other school districts and administrators, too.