The document discusses the fundamentals of effective schools according to Dr. Lawrence W. Lezotte, highlighting the need for a clear mission, high expectations, and effective leadership. It outlines challenges in education, including higher standards and fewer resources, while emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement through effective systems and practices. Key concepts include monitoring student progress, fostering positive home/school relations, and creating a safe learning environment.

1. NOTES
EFFECTIVE
SCHOOLS
Enduring Fundamentals
of Effective Schools:
The Correlates
Presented by
Lawrence W. Lezotte, Ph.D.
National Education Consultant
1
Your school is
perfectly aligned to
get the results
you are currently
getting.
2
Schools were
never designed,
or even intended,
to successfully teach
all students a
high standards
curriculum. 3
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

2. NOTES
Navigating the
Perfect Storm
1. Higher Standards
2. Higher Percentage of
Challenging Students
3. Fewer Resources
4
Assumption
You and your colleagues
are already doing
the best they know to do
given the context in which
they find themselves.
5
The Leadership
(Change) Challenge
Take a “followership” to a
place they have never been
and are not sure they want
to go.
6
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

3. NOTES
The Three Levers of Power:
1. Sticks
2. Carrots
3. Hugs
7
Different Perspectives
on School Improvement
1. People Change
2. Systems Change
3. Planned Change
8
WANTED…
A Proven System for Action
Effective Schools
Research and Practice
9
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

4. NOTES
Getting Ready for
Continuous Improvement
Creating a
Common Language
Effective Schools
10
Definition of an
EFFECTIVE School:
A school that can, in outcome
terms, reflective of its “learning
for all” mission, demonstrate
the presence of equity in
quality.
11
Definition of an
IMPROVING School:
A school that can, in outcome
terms, reflective of its “learning
for all” mission, demonstrate
the increasing presence of
equity in quality.
12
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

5. NOTES
Policy Pillars for Public
Education in America
Q E
U Q
A U
L I
I T
T Y
Y
13
Policy Pillars for Public
Education in America
Q E
U Level Q Distribution
A Of U Of
L I
Achievement Achievement
I T
T Y
Y
14
Searching for
Effective Schools
Outliers on the High Side
Common Characteristics
15
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

6. NOTES
The Correlate of an
Effective School
An inter-connected
array of systems that
combine to advance the
mission of the school.
16
Trailing
Indicators
Leading
Indicators
17
High Expectations
for Success
In the effective school there is a
climate of expectation in which the
staff believe and demonstrate that
all students can attain mastery of the
essential school skills, and the staff
also believe that they have the
capability to help all students
achieve that mastery. 18
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

7. NOTES
High
Standards
High
Expectations
19
Mindset*
Fixed Intelligence
Developing Intelligence
*Dweck, Carol
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
(2006). 20
Intelligence and
How to Get It*
Fluid Intelligence
Crystallized Intelligence
*Nisbett, Richard E.
Intelligence and How to Get It: Why Schools
and Cultures Count (2009).
21
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

8. NOTES
Expectations
=
Unwarranted
Optimism
22
Strong Instructional
Leadership
In the effective school the principal
acts as an instructional leader and
effectively and persistently
communicates that mission to the staff,
parents, and students. The principal
understands and applies the
characteristics of instructional
effectiveness in the management of
the instructional program.
23
“Leadership is second only
to classroom instruction
among all school-related
factors that contribute to what
students learn at school.”
Wahlstrom, Kyla L., et al.
Investigating the Links to Improved Student
Learning: Executive Summary of Research
Findings. (2010) 24
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

9. NOTES
Authority
is delegated from
Above
Leadership
is delegated from
Below
25
Trustworthy
Competent
Forward Looking
Enthusiasm
26
Principal
Leader of Followers
Principal
Leader of Leaders
(Engagement Paradigm)
27
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

10. NOTES
Clear and Focused
Mission
In the effective school there is a clearly
articulated school mission through which
the staff shares an understanding of and
commitment to the instructional goals,
priorities, assessment procedures, and
accountability. Staff accept responsibility
for students’ learning of the school’s
essential curricular goals.
28
People and
Organizations are
Always Moving in the
Direction of Their
Dominate Thought
29
MISSION
NOT a description of
Current Reality
IS a description of a
Preferred Future
30
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

11. NOTES
NEW MISSION
Learning for ALL
Whatever It Takes!
31
Opportunity to
Learn/Time on Task
In the effective school teachers allocate a
significant amount of classroom time to
instruction in the essential skills. For a
high percentage of this time students are
engaged in whole class or large group,
teacher-directed, planned learning
activities.
32
Big Issue:
School Readiness
Prerequisite Knowledge
Learning Gaps are
First Opportunity Gaps
33
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

12. NOTES
Big Problem:
Agrarian Calendar
Age-based Placement
34
Big Opportunity:
Disruptive Technology
Increased Student
Engagement
35
Big Idea:
Assure Alignment Between
• Intended Curriculum
• Taught Curriculum
• Tested Curriculum
36
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

13. NOTES
Frequent Monitoring of
Pupil Progress
In the effective school student academic
progress is measured frequently through
a variety of assessment procedures.
The results of these assessments are used
to improve individual student
performance and also to improve the
instructional program.
37
Monitoring
Summative
Formative
38
Big Idea:
Feedback
Timely
Explicit
39
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

14. NOTES
Bookends of an
Effective System
1. Clear & Focused Mission
2. Frequent Monitoring and
Reporting Progress on the
Mission
40
Safe and Orderly
Environment
In the effective school there is an orderly,
purposeful, businesslike atmosphere
which is free from the threat of
physical harm. The school climate is
not oppressive and is conducive to
teaching and learning.
41
Prerequisites
1. On Duty All the Time,
Everywhere
2. Behave with Consistency
Enforcing the Rules
42
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

15. NOTES
Violence in Schools
Among K-12 teachers, percentage who say this occurred in school
setting in the last school year (2008-09):
Verbal 76%
confrontations
Fights 65%
Staff abused 36%
by student
Student with 28%
weapon at school
None of the above 16%
Source: Zogby for Crisis Prevention Institute survey of K-12 general-
education teachers, Sept. 26-Oct. 5, 2009. 43
Positive Home/School
Relations
In the effective school parents understand
and support the school’s basic mission
and are given the opportunity to play
an important role in helping the school
to achieve this mission.
44
Question:
“Can we get bad social service
even though we are all good
people?”
Ron Edmonds
45
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

16. NOTES
The following screen is adapted from:
What Works in Schools:
Translating Research into
Action
by Robert J. Marzano
ASCD (2003).
46
School-level Factors (Ranked)
1. Opportunity to Learn
2. Time
3. Monitoring
4. Pressure to Achieve
5. Parental Involvement
6. School Climate
7. Leadership
8. Cooperation 47
NEW MISSION
Learning for ALL
Whatever It Takes!
48
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

17. NOTES
A System
A network of interdependent
components that work together
to accomplish the aim of the
system.
49
A System Must
1. Have a clear aim.
2. Be managed.
3. Have a pervasive sense
of mission.
50
Senge’s Double-Loop
Learning Model
Mission,
Higher Core Beliefs,
Loop & Core Values
Lower Tactics,
Strategies,
Loop & Behaviors
51
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

18. NOTES
Levels of Culture
Organizational
Artifacts:
Culture and Visible organizational
structures and processes
Leadership (hard to decipher)
by
Espoused Values:
Edgar H. Schein Strategies, goals, philosophies
Jossey-Bass (espoused justifications)
(2004)
Basic Underlying Assumptions:
Unconscious, taken-for-granted beliefs,
perceptions, thoughts, and feelings
(ultimate source of values and action) 52
Root Cause
Analysis
The 5 “WHY’s”
53
80/20 Rule
54
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

19. NOTES
“Hot Spotting”
A Precise Problem
Finding Strategy
55
Common Characteristics of
Effective Change Models
Created by Passion
Guided by Leadership
Driven by Data
Supported by Staff
Development
56
Getting Ready for
Continuous Improvement:
1. Common Language
2. Empowered
Leadership Group
3. Time
57
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

20. NOTES
The 5 T’s of School Improvement
Theories
• Effective Schools
• Systems Thinking
• Continuous Improvement Teams
• Empowerment
• Consensus Building
• Problem Solving Constantly
Improving
Time
• Team Time
Student
• Staff Development Achievement
• Study Groups
Technology
• Real Time Data
• Just-In-Time Information
• Research/Proven Practices
Tools
• Data Gathering
• Data Analysis
• Data Display 58
Getting Ready for
Continuous Improvement:
Establish the
Process: Reflect
inclusive & collaborative
Clarify Mission,
Core Values, Study Plan
Core Beliefs
Identify Essential Do
Student Learnings
59
Transaction Change Chain
Tranactions
Change Chain
Convert
Inputs Dollars
Outputs
to
Time
Increased
Student
Learning
Talent
Changes Increased
Student Changes Student
Learning Experiences Performance
Dollars Environment
Things of
in Student
Some Increased
Student
Structure Way Motivation
Culture
Other
Specify
60
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

21. NOTES
Linking
Change Strategies
to
Student Achievement
61
Suppose someone
gave you an increase in
Change Structure
funds.
Change Time
What would
Change Talent
you buy
to increase
Change Materials
student
Change Culture achievement?
62
How will that
Change Structure
translate to:
Placing Students at
Appropriate Level of Difficulty
Change Time
Increasing Instructional
Time for Learning
Change Talent Increasing
Student Engagement
Assuring
Change Materials Instructional Alignment
Adding Guided Practice with
Immediate Feedback
Change Culture
63
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

22. NOTES
How will
that then
Change Structure translate to:
Placing Students at
Appropriate Level
of Difficulty
Change Time
Increased
Increasing Instructional Motivation
Time for Learning +
Increased
Change Talent Increasing Learning
Student Engagement
to equal
Assuring
Instructional Alignment
Change Materials Increased Student
Adding Guided Practice Performance
With Immediate
Feedback
Change Culture
64
Literacy
Teacher Student
Coach
Increased Motivation + Increased Learning
=
Increased Student Performance 65
No Plan Survives
Contact with the
Enemy
Commander’s Intent?
66
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041

23. NOTES
No School Improvement
Plan Survives Contact
with the Stakeholders
Leader’s Intent?
67
Critical Issues in
Sustainable School Improvement
Training & Technical
Assistance
Models of Success
Networks of Support
68
Use the Plan
Share the Story
Prepare to Adjust
69
Dr. Larry Lezotte • Effective Schools • www.effectiveschools.com • 1-800-827-8041