lae.org Instructional Advocacy Highly Qualified

What is a "Quality School"?

We know that our members-the individuals who work with Louisiana's children every day-know best the needs of students and what it takes to ensure a quality education for every child.

In this age of accountability, when governments and agencies are trying to measure the quality of our schools, often in terms of test scores alone, it's time for us to share what we know. It's time for us to define the elements necessary for a "quality school." Once we agree, it'll be time for us to do what it takes to ensure that every school is a great school.

If the Association is to live up to its responsibility to represent our members and to improve the lives of the children, we must be able to validate our definition of "quality" even to the most skeptical. That's why the Association used focus groups of members across the state and reviewed independent research to define quality schools.

The Board of Directors offers the following definition of "quality school" for your consideration:

The Louisiana Association of Educators defines a quality public school as one focused on the academic achievement of individual learners. The Association believes that a quality public school must exhibit all of these elements.

1. A shared understanding and commitment to high goals;
   
2. Open communication and collaborative problem solving among students and all professionals, including support, instructional and administrative, in a climate conducive to learning;
   
3. Community and parental resources supporting teaching and learning;
   
4. An instructional program with curricula based on high standards;
   
5. Continuous assessment for strengthening teaching and learning;
   
6. Certified teachers who continue their personal and professional growth and who teach in their area of certification.
   

The Board of Directors believes that this definition of quality should be the focus for improved student achievement and real school improvement. It can be the nucleus around which we can garner public support for schools and for the profession-the kind of public support that will help us improve teaching and learning.

We believe this is a definition of "Quality School" worth rallying around. We believe this definition represents what we-the collective "we" that is the Association-should present on behalf of the profession and what we should strive for in every Louisiana school.
Parental involvement and community support.