Leading indicators help in predicting an outcome, which allows schools to make adjustments where necessary. These indicators provide early signals of progress towards growth and achievement. It is important for the school management to identify successful turnaround and examine the factors that contribute to success. Eventually, determine when a turnaround is going off track as early as possible for a quick and effective response.
Leading indicators provide clear and measurable information that the school is on the right track to achieve improvement in the academic area. Further analysis is needed to identify the targets and reach achievement goals. The leading indicators for school improvement include the following;
1. Improved instructional quality in school
This includes the quality of the instructions from the teacher to the student. Examples include;
- Effectiveness of the teacher;
- Leader effectiveness;
- Distribution of highly trained and quality teachers;
- The total number of students taught by effective and efficient teachers;
- Number of advanced placement;
- Setting of objectives and providing feedback;
- Encouraging the students to engage in group discussions;
- Calling for self- grading and self-assessment for students;
- Establishing learning groups among students and supporting reciprocal teaching to teachers.
2. Increased participation in school
- The attendance of the teachers;
- The turnover rate of teachers in the school and ensure that you prevent ineffective teachers from transferring to other schools;
- Provide a job-embedded professional development to support the teachers and students during the evaluation process;
- The attendance rate of the students;
- Truancy rate of the students in the school;
- Student’s turnover rate;
- Dropout rate of students in the school;
- School participation on state assessment programs.
- Create a transparent teacher evaluation process to provide opportunities for observation and collaboration.
3. Improved school culture
School culture and climate help in establishing a safe and positive environment that is conducive for students to learn. The school management should foster a school culture that supports the social, physical, emotional, and cognitive development of a student.
- Discipline incidents of students in the school;
- Student’s waiting list;
- Satisfaction of student, teacher, and parent.
4. Overall targets
Targets are set after reviewing how researchers define the schools in need of turnaround interventions. Each target represents a specific milestone. If a school meets its target, the school is no longer considered as the lowest performing school anymore. If a school meets its minimum target, it is considered to have made significant achievements and gains which show a good track for reaching high levels of performance.