School Quality Measures
Through a strand of work led by professor Jack Schneider at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and a team of researchers, MCIEA is reimagining how we measure the quality of our schools and the learning experiences of our students. To achieve this goal, MCIEA sought input from stakeholders in each consortium district to build a school quality framework that reflects what the public wants to know about their schools. The framework has been built around multiple measures, which include academic, social-emotional, and school culture indicators, in order to piece together a fairer and more comprehensive picture of school performance.
MCIEA School Quality Framework
MCIEA's school quality measures framework aims to describe the full measure of what makes a good school, using five major categories – the first three being essential inputs and the last two being key outcomes:
Essential Inputs
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Key Outcomes
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Teachers And Leadership
This category measures the relevant abilities of a school’s teachers and leaders, and the degree to which they are receiving the support they need to grow as professionals. It considers factors like teacher professional qualifications, effective classroom practices, and school-wide support for teaching development and growth. School Culture This category measures the degree to which the school environment is safe, caring, and academically-oriented. It considers factors like bullying, student/teacher relationships, and regular attendance. Resources This category measures the adequacy of a school’s facility, personnel, and curriculum, as well as the degree to which it is supported by the community. It considers factors like physical spaces and materials, curriculum variety, and family/school relationships. |
Academic Learning
This category measures how much students are learning core academic content, developing their own academic identities, and progressing along positive trajectories. It considers factors like test score growth, performance assessments, engagement in school, problem solving, and college-going rates. Community And Wellbeing This category measures the development of traits relevant for students leading full and rewarding lives—in society, the workplace, and their private lives. It considers factors like perseverance and determination, participation in arts and literature, and social and emotional health. |
For more information about each category and its indicators, check out a detailed SQM Framework Overview and outline of SQM student and teacher survey items.
Strengthening teacher practice.
MCIEA’s school quality framework provides educators with a wider array of information about school quality. It generates meaningful data about student progress that can be used to reliably inform teaching and learning in the classroom.
MCIEA’s school quality framework provides educators with a wider array of information about school quality. It generates meaningful data about student progress that can be used to reliably inform teaching and learning in the classroom.
Restoring the broader purpose of education.
By measuring school quality in a fair and comprehensive way, MCIEA seeks to reaffirm the full mission of public education. MCIEA believes it is possible to track school quality without relying on a narrow set of indicators and in a way that reflects the unique character of each school community.
By measuring school quality in a fair and comprehensive way, MCIEA seeks to reaffirm the full mission of public education. MCIEA believes it is possible to track school quality without relying on a narrow set of indicators and in a way that reflects the unique character of each school community.
Engaging the community in defining quality in our schools.
Students, families, educators, and community members identify what is most important to know about their students and schools. This feedback informs the MCIEA school quality measures framework and public dashboard—a visual tool to clearly communicate data on a set of multiple indicators.
Students, families, educators, and community members identify what is most important to know about their students and schools. This feedback informs the MCIEA school quality measures framework and public dashboard—a visual tool to clearly communicate data on a set of multiple indicators.
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