The International Center’s analysis of education research has shown that 10 key components are fundamental to school improvement.  The best practices encouraged and promoted throughout the Successful Practices Network are based on these components.




1. Create a culture that embraces the belief that all students need a rigorous and relevant curriculum and all children can learn.
   
   
2. Use data to provide clear, unwavering focus to curriculum priorities that are both rigorous and relevant by identifying what is essential, nice to know, and not necessary.
   
   
3. Set high expectations that are monitored; then hold both students and adults accountable for students’ continuous improvement in the priorities identified in #2 above.
   
   
4. Create a framework to organize curriculum that drives instruction toward both rigor and relevance and leads to a continuum of instruction between grades and across disciplines.
   
   
5. Provide students with real-world applications of the skills and knowledge taught in the academic curriculum.
   
   
6. Create multiple pathways to rigor and relevance based upon a student’s interests, learning style, aptitude, and needs.
   
   
7. Provide sustained professional development focused on the improvement of instruction.
   
   
8. Obtain and leverage parent and community involvement successfully in schools.
   
   
9. Establish and maintain a safe and orderly school.
   
   
10. Offer effective leadership development for administrators, teachers, parents, and community.

The Successful Practices Network is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization, a status that enables it to receive grants
from foundations and other organizations
to benefit the Network as a whole.