skip the i-GuideIllinois State UniversityAdmissions at ISUAcademics at ISUEvents at ISUMap of ISUISU A to Z ListingISU AccessibilityISU 150th Anniversary
Center for the Study of Education Policy

NCEA/ACCTE Gauging Classroom Impact of Clinical Experiences in PDS Schools:

NCEA/AACTE Pilot Project

Project Overview

This pilot is being undertaken as part of a national partnership project sponsored by the National Center for Educational Accountability at the University of Texas and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.  Illinois State University and its partner districts are being selected as the first national pilot site.  The overall goals of the project are:

  1. To provide data training and analytical tools to PDS teachers, administrators and teacher candidates in three school/district configurations, using actual student performance data;
  2. To develop methods to measure clinical experience impact in the classroom using actual student data; and
  3. To develop models for training and practice in data analysis/school improvement planning in a job-embedded model.

Pilot Districts

Pilot districts house Professional Development Schools, where Illinois State University teacher candidates spend an entire year with mentor teachers in their classrooms.  The Professional Development School (PDS) program is a partnership between Illinois State University and a number of school districts (or specific schools) throughout the state of Illinois. The program allows Illinois State University teacher candidates to observe the workings of the school for an entire academic year.

The teacher candidate completes his or her professional coursework and clinical experiences at the PDS site. Courses are taught by a team of Illinois State University and school faculty. Clinical experience assignments, associated with the coursework, are also completed within the school or district PDS site. During the second semester of the program, the Illinois state student assumes responsibility for planning and instruction as a student teacher. Mentor teachers participate in professional development opportunities in partnership with university faculty. 

The three PDS partners serves as pilot districts for this study.

Training

The pilot project involves training to use school and student-level data using web-based tools available through the National Center for Educational Accountability/Just for the Kids and School Data 4 All, along with links to the Interactive Illinois Report Card.  Participating schools and districts will upload several years of actual student performance data that can be analyzed using the various data tools.  Teachers, teacher candidates and administrators will then use their analysis to create grade-level and classroom-level analyses.

Measuring Clinical Experience Classroom Impact

Each PDS district will offer a unique configuration of classrooms, schools and assessment instruments, mirroring the overall variation among public schools and districts in the state.  Given the available data for each district, Illinois State University researchers will work with district administrators and teachers to create meaningful grade-level and classroom-level reports that can provide feedback to teacher mentors and their student teachers regarding student performance.

Job-Embedded School Improvement Planning

The year-long internship/student teaching assignments at PDS schools allows teacher candidates to become immersed in a full year of data analysis, school improvement planning, and progress monitoring.  Illinois State University will provide training in how to use the data and analysis tools to create and monitor effective school improvement plans, with appropriate follow-up to provide support and document progress throughout the school year.

Timelines and Progress Benchmarks

Goal 1:  Data Training & Analytical Tools

 

Timeframe

Progress benchmarks

Objective(s)

  1. Provide initial training in web-based tools, using actual student data

September-October 2006
    1. Data uploaded to SchoolData4All
    2. Initial training for district participants, including teacher candidates

 

Goal 2:  Measuring Clinical Experience Classroom Impact

 

Timeframe

Progress benchmarks

Objective(s)

  1. Analyze data for meaningful reporting utility
  2. Create sample grade-level and classroom-level reports

November 2006-March 2007
    1. Rationale for data use within reports, including variable analysis and disclaimers
    2. Sample reports

 

Goal 3:  Job-Embedded School Improvement Planning

 

Timeframe

Progress benchmarks

Objective(s)

  1. Provide training on school improvement cycles and progress monitoring
  2. Provide support and feedback

November 2006–June 2007
  1. School improvement training
  2. Documented support and feedback sessions

 

Illinois State University researchers will conduct an overall evaluation of the pilot’s progress in the Spring of 2007 and again in the Spring of 2008.

Copy of Program's synopsis and goals (.doc)

Copy of Program's synopsis and goals (.pdf)

 

Back to Current Projects