Effective District Framework
The Effective District Framework (EDF) describes the highest leverage district practices that can be implemented to enhance the student experience and improve student outcomes.
Structure of the EDF
Created in partnership with the Texas Education Agency and superintendents from across the state, the EDF codifies best practices into a framework consisting of six levers that come together to ensure district’s align systems and resources, resulting in rigorous and supportive student experiences.
| Board of Trustees Commitments | Board commitments describe what the governance teams do to ensure that local education agency systems are set up for success. |
|---|---|
| Lever | The lever is the largest category that high-performing districts focus on. The EDF is made up of six levers. The components in each lever are the actionable elements to improve students' outcomes. |
| Essential Action | The Essential Actions describe what the most effective districts do to support powerful teaching and learning under a specific lever. |
| Key Practice | Each Essential Action includes a set of Key Practices that define what the essential action entails when implemented with fidelity. District leaders can utilize Key Practices to define action steps taken to achieve Essential Action Practices. |
| Success Criteria | The Success Criteria further defines the Key Practice as "look fors" or evidence. If the Key Practice is being implemented with fidelity, the success criteria can be collected or observed as evidence of success. |
A brief description of each lever can be found below:
The district creates a clear and compelling vision for student success. It develops a strategic roadmap with key strategies and emphasizes the importance of implementation planning, project management, and continuous performance assessment. The district aims to instill a culture of ongoing improvement throughout the organization.
The district prioritizes effective human resources systems to align and sustain staffing for their desired student experience through intentional recruitment, professional growth, and retention strategies for all staff, for ongoing improvement in meeting student needs.
The district establishes proactive and responsive systems to provide student supports addressing student needs across academic, mental, emotional, social, wellness, and behavioral aspects, focusing on fostering a positive school culture and empowering staff to address student needs.
The district establishes a framework for strong instruction, including the use of research-based strategies and high-quality instructional materials to support a rigorous student academic experience while ensuring equitable access and resources to prepare students for college, career, or military pathways.
The district systems are established to enable instructional leadership development and capacity building for instructional leaders and teachers, including planning, internalization, and effective delivery of instruction. The district ensures foundational practices support data-driven instruction and assessment reflection benefiting all learners.
The district strategically aligns resources with their desired student experience, emphasizing safety, security, and operational efficiency. The district empowers parents to ensure access to all school options while prioritizing student support across all systems.
Effective District Framework Resources
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