Comprehensive Resource Library for Leading PreK-12 Education Systems Change - Glossary

Glossary

The library showcases resources to support the work of state, district, and school decision makers as they transform K-12 school systems to better meet the needs of students, families, and communities. The glossary below supports users’ understanding of concepts by providing definitions of terms used within the library to better navigate the resources.

Categories

The Guiding Principles for PreK12 Education System Change with which each resource most closely aligns.

1. Systemic Improvement: A coordinated, multi-level approach to creating meaningful, lasting change across an entire education system by aligning strategies, policies, and practices from classrooms to state agencies.
2. Partnership engagement: A collaboration among all partners—administrators, educators, families, students, and community members—built on trust, open communication, and shared decision making to drive lasting, meaningful change.
3. Growth mindsets: The belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, persistence, and learning from challenges, thereby fostering resilience, collaboration, and continuous improvement across an education system.
4. Capacity building: The process of developing the skills, knowledge, tools, and supportive conditions needed across all levels of an education system to drive continuous improvement, sustain evidence-based practices, and ensure collaborative leadership for lasting change.
5. Data and feedback: Continuously collecting, analyzing, and acting on information across all levels of an education system to guide decision making, promote transparency, and ensure continuous improvement through partner collaboration.
6. Goal alignment: Ensuring clarity, trust, and long-term success in systemic change requires aligning internal goals with community expectations through coordinated efforts, transparent communication, and shared ownership across all partners.

Audiences

The intended user(s) of a resource. The audience can be a group or individual who could benefit or gain knowledge from the resources shared.

1. State leaders: State-level government organization leaders (e.g., state education agency, state department of education). They develop policies, oversee districts and schools, manage certification of teachers, and determine requirements.
2. District leaders: District-level organization leaders (e.g., school districts, county offices of education). They implement policies and curricula and manage overall operations of schools across the district.
3. School leaders: School-level leaders (e.g., principals, instructional leaders and coaches, teacher leaders [e.g., elementary grade-level leads, secondary department chairs]). They lead within their schools, focusing on instruction, teacher and student well-being, and student achievement.
4. Educators: Includes teachers and other staff in schools who work with students and lead or support school improvement efforts.
5. Partner organizations: Education-focused organizations that support district and school leaders (e.g., strategic planning), teachers (e.g., instructional support) or students (e.g., after-school programs).

Types

The resource categories offered through the library.

1. Guides (e.g., how-tos, practice guides, resource guides): These products provide comprehensive instructions with the ultimate purpose of guiding the reader. Product contents and depth of products may vary.
2. Briefs (e.g., research briefs, blogs): These products offer key information, insights, or an overview of a specific topic, often summarizing data and research findings and informing the reader on critical points.
3. Instruments: These products may include templates, checklists, or frameworks that have practical applications for the audience. More than other products, instruments are often interactive, allowing the reader to use the products (e.g., print them out, write in templates).
4. Toolkits: These products are collections of context, instruments, resources, and examples. Readers may interact with the whole toolkit or parts relevant to their work.
5. Information sheets (e.g., data sheets, tipsheets): These products are concise resources to inform the reader about a specific topic.
6. Multimedia (e.g., webinars, podcasts, infographics): Products that have audio and visual formats to engage the audience and deliver information or discussions.

Topics

The focal areas of this resource library.

1. Early childhood: Focuses on students’ pre-K through 3rd grade educational experiences. These early learning experiences set the foundation for students’ learning experiences as they progress into later elementary, middle, and high school and ultimately feed into their post-secondary success.
2. Leadership development: Focuses on equipping school and district leaders with the skills, knowledge, and strategies needed to drive positive change and improve student outcomes. Effective leadership fosters collaboration, empowers educators, and supports continuous improvement across the education system.
3. Educator wellness: Emphasizes the importance of supporting the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of teachers and staff. Prioritizing wellness ensures that educators can perform at their best, reducing burnout and fostering a positive school culture that benefits both educators and students.
4. Student achievement: The academic progress and success of students, measured by their ability to meet or exceed learning standards. Improving student achievement involves implementing effective instructional practices, supporting different learning needs, and creating an environment in which all students can thrive.
5. Student health and well-being: Focuses on supporting the emotional, physical, psychological, and social health of students. Ensuring that students can access health resources and a supportive environment is essential for their overall success, both academically and personally.
6. School climate: The overall atmosphere and environment within a school, including the quality of relationships among students, staff, and the broader school community. A positive school climate fosters safety, respect, and a sense of belonging, all of which are key to creating an effective learning environment.
7. Artificial intelligence: The use of advanced technologies to enhance learning, personalize instruction, and improve decision-making processes. AI can help educators identify student needs, provide data-driven insights, and create more efficient educational practices.