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The Successful Practices Network is an activity of the International Center for Leadership in Education.

Founded in 1991 by Willard R. Daggett, Ed.D., the International Center for Leadership in Education has a wealth of experience in assisting schools and districts in implementing organizational changes that translate into world-class curriculum, instruction, and assessment systems. International Center staff, Senior Consultants, Master Teachers and trainers share their expertise in the management of change, achieving high standards, curriculum development and customized solutions for our clients.

The International Center’s work is based on the premise that students are living in a world that is changing dramatically and the education system needs to adapt to those changes in order to prepare students for the world in which they will live and work. Helping to nurture the shared vision and other crucial elements of school improvement is one portion of the International Center’s work. Showcasing the results is an equally important part of what we do.

The International Center has developed an extraordinary reservoir of resources and relationships to advance school improvement. The resources were developed to help districts and schools identify specific learning goals and focus on priority standards. Each one can be used to make data-driven decisions regarding curriculum, assessment and learning. These resources provide greater standardization of language and accountability but do not limit innovation in determining how to create higher levels of student achievement.

Research and Resources

Some examples of International Center research and resources are listed below.

Curriculum Matrix

The Curriculum Matrix crosswalks each state’s standards in English, math, and science to mandated tests and to our Curriculum Survey of Essential Skills – a survey of more than 21,000 educators and non-educators who ranked the importance of various curriculum topics for high school graduates to know. The Curriculum Matrix provides the data that districts and teachers need to determine academic priorities that will help raise test scores and, equally as important, to focus instruction on the skills and knowledge students need for success in life.

Reading Research

The International Center has compiled research, using the Lexile Framework for Reading developed by MetaMetrics, to assist states and school districts in establishing realistic benchmarks in reading proficiency. These benchmarks need to be based on the actual reading demands of higher education, the workplace and citizenship. Too often, schools limit their focus to preparing students for the next grade or next level of education. Schools must focus on teaching reading in the content areas in grades 7-12 to give students the proficiency they need to succeed in adult life.

Rigor/Relevance Framework

Educators are in agreement about the importance of rigor and relevance for raising achievement of all students. The Rigor/Relevance Framework provides a systematic way to implement them in every classroom. The Rigor/Relevance Framework is a tool for analyzing curriculum, instruction and assessment across all subjects. It is based on traditional elements of education yet encourages movement to application of knowledge instead of maintaining an exclusive focus on acquisition of knowledge. The Framework offers a common language with which to express the notion of a more rigorous and relevant curriculum. It can be used in the development of instruction and assessment. Teachers can also use it to measure their progress in adding rigor and relevance to instruction and to select appropriate instructional strategies to meet learner needs and higher achievement goals.

Professional Development and Consulting Services

The International Center’s Education Consulting Group is a team of the nation’s top educators and administrators, led by Dr. Daggett, who are available to provide consulting services and professional development in a wide range of subjects and areas, including strategic planning, needs assessment, and leadership training. Many schools and districts partner with the Education Consulting Group for a customized and sustained program of work. In addition, the Senior Consultants are dynamic speakers who are experienced in addressing all audiences and are available to share their expertise by working closely with education organizations to align resources and goals. The Master Teachers and Trainers offer professional development for instructional staff in a variety of settings.

Resource Kits and Handbooks

The International Center produces resources for conducting professional development workshops for administrators and teachers. These kits combine print and electronic materials and cover such topics as rigorous and relevant curricula, instructional strategies, reading in grades 7-12, small learning communities and character education. Gold Seal Lessons based on state standards and matched to high priority topics tested on state assessments are available in mathematics, science, and English language arts for grades K-12.

Other Activities of the International Center

Model Schools Conference

Every June, the International Center brings together highly successful educators from across the United States to share their stories of school and district achievements. As representatives of a cross-section of education programs, they present a wide array of approaches to delivering the essential skills for a world-class education. Participants leave each conference ready to implement changes in their own schools and classrooms and inspired to take the next steps in systematic reform.

Special Education Institute

The Special Education Institute brings national experts and best practices to districts and state departments of education to help them create realistic policies and effective practices for special education students. These successful practices, grounded in appropriate policies, can yield a dramatic improvement in the preparation of students not only for the state tests, but also for the world beyond school. Larry Gloeckler is Executive Director of the Special Education Institute. Larry is a national leader in the fields of special education and vocational rehabilitation, having served as Deputy Commissioner of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) at the New York State Education Department.

Successful Practices Network

This national membership organization provides schools with access to best practices and networking opportunities with model schools and the International Center. The Network

• shares research-based methods, activities and assessments
• helps schools help themselves and each other to achieve higher standards
• is supported by the leadership and experience of Dr. Willard Daggett, Raymond McNulty and Lawrence Gloeckler.
• shares the nation’s best practices, professional knowledge and expertise among members through activities and resources of the International Center.