Supporting Improvement in Networks: Key Takeaways for Districts, County Offices, and External Support Providers

Abstract

During the 2020-2021 school year, the Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) examined two hubs leading continuous improvement networks focused on increasing the rate at which students are on track to graduate high school positioned for postsecondary success. Both hubs offered: (1) coaching, with expectation of monthly meetings; (2) professional development from hub staff and external content experts; (3) frameworks, tools, and common data to promote reform efforts; and (4) access to a network of sites doing similar work. This is a companion document to the report "Generating Traction with Continuous Improvement: Lessons from Two Learning Networks" (ED624973). It summarizes the main findings about the ways hubs of learning networks--external support providers, county offices of education, or districts working with their schools--can help an improvement project gain traction toward improving student outcomes at scale.