In light of the new statewide targets shared by the Oregon State Board of Education and the proposed corrective actions if goals are not met, we wanted to discuss four tenets we believe are critical to lasting school improvement. They are:
- Strong leadership,
- Clear and consistent goals,
- Support for teachers,
- And community involvement.
Strong Leadership
While leadership does not directly teach children, research shows that strong leadership is one of the most important drivers of school improvement. A study done by The Wallace Foundation found that, “The effect of district policies and structures on classrooms and students will be largely indirect. But districts can formulate strategies and support practices that enable principals, teachers, and students to thrive. Our research confirms leaders’ potential influence, as well as the limits on their ability, to be the central figure and catalyst for authentic and lasting systemic educational reform.”
The key here is collective leadership. Principals, teachers, and district leaders need to work together to develop strategies and goals. When leadership is a cohesive team with clearcut goals, the camaraderie can trickle down, aligning others in the district.
Clear and Consistent Goals
A 2023 study in School Effectiveness and School Improvement examined schools that successfully sustained improvement over time. Researchers found successful schools shared characteristics like:
- clear long-term goals,
- consistent leadership,
- staff collaboration,
- continuous improvement rather than constant change,
- and organizational stability.
Success is not found through a single initiative. Instead, lasting improvement comes through maintaining clear goals, building staff capacity, fostering collaboration, and sustaining change over time. These findings reinforce an important lesson for school boards: meaningful improvement is built through consistency, not constant reinvention. When districts establish a clear vision, invest in their educators, and remain committed to long-term goals, they create the conditions for sustainable success. While new ideas and innovations have their place, the research suggests that lasting progress depends less on chasing the next initiative and more on strengthening the systems, relationships, and leadership that allow schools to improve year after year.
Support for Teachers
A 2021 research synthesis from The Wallace Foundation examined more than two decades of research on how school leadership affects student achievement. The researchers found that effective school leaders consistently improve outcomes by supporting teachers. They do this by fostering collaboration, investing in professional learning, creating a positive school climate, and ensuring educators have the resources and support they need to be successful.
Supporting teachers can often be thought to look like providing additional resources. While needed, this is a bandaid on a deep problem. Lasting improvement comes through investing in educators, encouraging professional collaboration, strengthening instructional leadership, and creating a school culture where teachers can thrive.
When educators feel supported and equipped to do their jobs well, students benefit. School boards play an important role in fostering these conditions by adopting policies that prioritize teacher success and empower district leaders to build strong, supportive learning environments.
Community Involvement
A 2023 systematic review published in Education Sciences identified parent and community involvement as one of the defining characteristics of effective schools. Across the research, schools that cultivated strong partnerships with families and their communities were better equipped to support student learning, strengthen school culture, and sustain positive outcomes over time.
Strong schools are strengthened by the communities they serve. Parents provide valuable insight into their children’s needs, local organizations contribute resources and expertise, and community members help build trust and support for public education. School boards are uniquely positioned to foster these relationships by encouraging meaningful engagement and ensuring local voices remain an important part of the decision-making process. When schools and communities work together, everyone shares in the responsibility and success of educating the next generation.
Working Together to Improve Our Schools
School improvement is not the result of a single policy, program, or mandate. It is built over time through thoughtful leadership, supported educators, engaged communities, and a shared commitment to student success. While accountability has an important place in education, research consistently shows that meaningful, lasting improvement comes from strengthening the people and systems closest to students.
As school board members, we have the opportunity to create the conditions that allow our schools to thrive. By establishing a clear vision, supporting our educators, and fostering strong partnerships with our communities, we can help ensure every student has access to an excellent education. That is what we do here at CSBO.