10 Strategies for Doubling Student Performance
Based on the author's research in numerous schools around the United States—most with large numbers of students of poverty—the book details the ten key strategies leading to radically increased student achievement, with powerful examples of schools that have successfully used these practices to achieve impressive gains.
The strategies include:
- Setting ambitious goals
- Changing the curriculum
- Using data and assessments
- Providing continuous and intensive professional development
- Adjusting school day and instructional time
- Promoting collaboration and best practices
- Developing the necessary human capital or talent to successfully produce large improvements in student achievement.
"In this highly readable book, Allan Odden vividly illustrates many of the most important practices for creating strong professional communities that can leverage high-quality instruction for the students who need it most. From the organization of time to the recruitment of teachers and leaders to the development of productive curriculum and teaching, school leaders will learn how to create a framework for school reform grounded in research and the wisdom of practice."
"Odden offers a sound program of 10 steps school leaders can implement to significantly improve student academic achievement in their districts. The author's focus on research-based strategies and effective use of educational resources resonates with district leaders, as do the real-world case studies of schools that have succeeded using this model."
"Allan Odden has once again created a succinct and compelling framework to dramatically improve the performance of our nation’s students, district by district. Odden not only thinks big, he provides specific examples from real school districts to support his 10-step program. Unlike others' suggestions, he provides a comprehensive, doable framework that should be a standard reference book in any superintendent's office. His systemic analysis of school district improvement and specific examples to fill in that framework create a road map for the nation. Let's get to work."
"This book provides a confluence of successful programs, instructional strategies, and ideas for the alignment of resources to guide principals and site and district office staffs. This compendium of programs and strategies for struggling schools will save educators time as they plan their work."
"As a career educator, I am always looking for ways to improve instruction and increase student learning. This manuscript is thought provoking and provides a variety of specific ways to reach the goal of real, sustainable school improvement."