How the world’s most improved school systems keep getting better

Posted by on December 05, 2010

How they did it

A new report from McKinsey & Company aims to answer questions prompted by their 2007 report, “How the World’s Best Performing School Systems Come Out on Top.” Their new study analyzes 20 systems from around the world, all with improving but differing levels of performance, and examines how each achieved significant, sustained, and widespread gains in student outcomes. In the U.S., the study looks at Boston, Mass. and Long Beach, Calif., as well as Aspire Charter Schools. The authors found substantial improvement is achievable relatively quickly, regardless of student outcome level, geography, culture, or income. The majority of interventions in their sample were “process” in nature, and systems generally spent more time improving instruction rather than content. It also found a consistent cluster of interventions moves systems from poor performance to fair, a second cluster does the same from fair to good, a third from good to great, and yet another from great to excellent. Though each stage is associated with a common set of interventions, systems varied substantially with regard to their sequence, timing, and roll-out; there was little evidence of a “one-size-fits-all” approach. The research found six interventions common to all performance stages: building instructional skills of teachers and management skills of principals; assessing students; improving data systems; facilitating improvement through the introduction of policy documents and education laws; revising standards and curriculum; and ensuring an appropriate reward and remuneration structure for teachers and principals. It also found that leaders took advantage of changed circumstances to ignite reforms, and that continuity of leadership was essential.

See the report: http://www.mckinsey.com/clientservice/Social_Sector/our_practices/Education/Knowledge_Highlights/How%20School%20Systems%20Get%20Better.aspx