SRI International Issues Report Evaluating California Efforts to Improve Student Achievement by Focusing on School District Assistance
Menlo Park, Calif. —March 31, 2010—SRI International, an independent nonprofit research and development institute, announced the results of a two-year implementation and effectiveness study of California's District Assistance and Intervention Team (DAIT) pilot program. DAIT was designed to improve student outcomes through a structured process that focuses on building instructional, programmatic, and policy coherence within a school district.
Soon after the pilot program began in 2007, the California State Board of Education voted to make DAIT the state's technical assistance program for school districts entering corrective action, an official designation for districts that do not make adequate yearly progress for four consecutive years. SRI's evaluation examined efforts to build the capacity of schools, districts and county offices of education toward the ultimate goal of improved student achievement. Although significant changes in student outcomes generally lag implementation of interventions by three to five years, researchers were able to identify positive results and remaining challenges to address as the DAIT program develops.
"The ultimate success of DAIT depends on a comprehensive needs assessment process and meaningful conversations between districts and school staff about changes needed to improve student achievement," said Christine Padilla, senior policy analyst, Center for Education Policy at SRI International and principal investigator for the study. "A collaborative environment that includes strong lines of communication with governing boards, district administrators, principals, teachers, and collective bargaining units will be important factors for further success."
The study found that school districts that required more support in specific areas, such as curriculum and staff capacity building (e.g., developing training programs or supports for teachers to improve their instruction) had lower than expected student outcomes. Researchers also found that county offices of education have limited capacity to offer additional district-level support, even when there is a need. The lack of highly trained people with enough time to dedicate to this work is a major barrier toward efforts to expand DAIT support.
SRI's study was conducted for the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) and the California Department of Education (CDE).
