B&D; Consulting Meets Arkansas Criteria for Supporting School Improvement
B&D; Consulting Meets Arkansas Criteria for Supporting School Improvement
WASHINGTON — The Arkansas Department of Education officially announced B&D; Consulting as a qualified external provider of school improvement services in a recent Commissioner's Memo to State Superintendents. The state qualified B&D; Consulting by reviewing its alignment to the Arkansas Standards and Indicators for School Improvement.
Over the last three years, B&D; Consulting led school turnaround efforts in several of the lowest achieving elementary, middle and high schools in several school districts in the Midwestern United States, resulting in substantial gains in student achievement. In a recent case, Indiana schools served by B&D; Consulting posted gains in student achievement at twice the rate of the state's average and six times the rate of similar schools served by other school improvement providers as measured by the state's standardized assessment and accountability system.
"We are honored by the Arkansas Department of Education's designation as an external service provider with services that meet state standards for school improvement. We are eager to partner with struggling schools across Arkansas in building their own capacity for lasting improvements in teaching and learning," said M. René Islas, Senior Vice President for B&D; Consulting.
Raymond Simon, Senior Advisor to B&D; Consulting and former Director of Education for the Arkansas Department of Education, added, "B&D;'s research-based approach to school improvement, led by experienced professionals who have a demonstrated track record of supporting dramatic increases in student achievement, is a good fit for Arkansas schools. Our team knows how to support teachers and principals in becoming effective instructional leaders and will coordinate with community members to build a sense of positive and productive school culture."
B&D; Consulting professionals shepherd low-performing schools through a process called the Pathway to Achievement. This framework acknowledges that organizational change in schools is difficult and that successful improvement efforts follow similar steps. Each phase allows the educators in the school, with facilitated leadership by B&D; Consulting education team members, to progress and build capacity for improved achievement. Organizing the school improvement process in this way also allows all stakeholders involved to clearly observe the progress the school is making throughout the turnaround process.
ABOUT B&D; CONSULTING'S EDUCATION TEAM
B&D; Consulting is a national advisory and advocacy firm based in Washington, D.C. since 1985 and is a division of Baker & Daniels LLP, an international law firm. The B&D; Consulting education team is at the nexus of sound education policy and practice. The team leverages its unparalleled expertise in education policy with its proven skills in facilitating organizational change to significantly raise school performance and student achievement in schools across the United States. For more information about the B&D; Consulting education team and the Pathway to Achievement, please visit www.bakerdconsulting.com/schoolimprovement.