A Focus on Results systems audit helps a school district know whether its programs, staffing, policies, and procedures are ready to support a district-wide focus on improving student performance, and to support principals spending more time as instructional leaders.
The systems audit is designed to address these three questions:
The findings of this audit can help guide the improvement efforts by the superintendent, central office staff, and the school principals. Focus on Results works with districts after an audit is completed to help develop recommendations; provide professional development to central office staff, principals, and their leadership teams; and to provide a system of follow-up and on-site executive coaching.
The methodology for conducting the systems audit involves data collection, data analysis/synthesis, and report writing. We organize our specific findings around the three areas that guide our perspective on assessing central office capacity and support for improving student performance in schools:
For each of the key elements in the three areas, we have identified a set of indicators that we would expect to see in place in a district that has fully implemented these elements. We indicate for each element whether we think the indicators are present, partially present, or absent, and what the evidence is that supports our assessments.
We summarize our conclusions for each element or set of elements, and for the first and second areas, suggest opportunities for the district to consider — some short-term and long-term considerations for dialogue and discussion.