About Us
Our Story
- The NCSD Collaboration Project began in August of 2015. The first year was the design year in which 30 educators created action plans around the four Blueprint Areas: Compensation, Teacher Leadership, Educator Evaluation and Professional Learning.
This year 2017-2018, we have a $1.6 million dollar grant and are in our 2nd year.
In June of 2016, we received a $1.4 million dollar grant from Oregon Department of Education to begin the work this year. The Collaboration Grant is renewable for up to 3 years, with this year (2016-2017) being our first year.
Our Work
- The NCSD Collaboration Project is divided into four Blueprint Committees. They are:
Our Process
As part of the grant, we are using a process called Improvement Science. Improvement Science is a methodology for using disciplined inquiry to solve a specific problem of practice. Each Blueprint area went through this process to get to their problem of practice. Below are the steps of this process.
- Step 1 - Start with a question: What is the problem we are trying to solve?
- Step 2 - Complete a root cause analysis to determine: Why does this problem exist?
- Step 3 - Write a goal, or Aim Statement: What are we trying to accomplish?
- Step 4 - Look at Research: What do we already know?
- Step 5 - Create an Action Plan: What are we going to do?
- Step 6 - Decide how you are going to measure your work: How will we know we are doing it?
For more information on Improvement Science, visit the Carnegie Foundation.
Plan - Do - Study - Act Cycles
As part of Improvement Science, we will also be completing Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) Cycles. A PDSA is similar to a mini-experiment. You begin by stating the change you are going to make and predicting what will happen (plan). Then you attempt to change (do) and compare the results to your predictions (study). Finally, you decide on what to do next (act), by either adopting, adapting or abandoning your original plan. This year, we will be using PDSA cycles to learn while we implement change.
