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More Rigorous Options

Welcome to More Rigorous Options (MRO)

The Federal School Support and Improvement Unit is creating partnerships with Project Momentum and outside vendors to support schools identified for More Rigorous Options (MRO).​

What will More Rigorous Options look like?

  • Comprehensive Audit to include: Instructional planning, current state of student learning, curriculum resources, learning environments, access to 21st century skills, intervention identification and implementation, focus groups, previous years Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA), Root Cause Analysis (RCA/Fishbones) and Integrated Action Plans (IAP).​
  • Detailed Report of Findings and Recommendations​ to include: Leaderships actions and supports, specific strategies to create culture of learning and achievement, and recommendations on planning for: PLCs, data driven decision-making, evidence based practices, and talent development​.
  • Two- to three-year strategic plan implementation.
  • Monitoring and Evaluating.

Please click on the vendors below for more detailed information. 

 Project Momentum 

Project Momentum Arizona is committed to the belief that a great economy requires great public schools. Learning is essential for communities to thrive. Every school can deliver a world-class education for all students, if they engage in the right work. This effort requires focused training and funding to increase the valuable time of teachers to both develop the needed instructional understandings and frontload the high-yield practices necessary to improve student outcomes. Additionally, ongoing expert guidance from proven practitioners with experience in school transformation is essential to this work at the school and district level. 

Website: 

Contact:

Jeannie Paparella

Email: 

[email protected]

Phone: 

(602) 364-0379

American Institutes for Research (AIR)

The American Institutes for Research® (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. We do this work because when we look to the future, we see opportunities to close gaps that are rooted in injustice. At AIR, we know that equity begins with systems that work for everyone, so we lead with expertise, follow the evidence, and never stop drawing new connections to build a better, more equitable world.

Website:

www.air.org

Contact:

Susan Therriault

Email:

[email protected]

Phone:

(781) 382-5266

 Baiza and Associates 

We partner with K-12 and university leaders to provide professional and leadership development, personalized coaching, and school turnaround support, along with continuous improvement by creating the conditions for change.  Baiza and Associates Consulting is a diverse team of education consultants that partners with school districts and school corporations across the country to provide professional development services that include leadership and executive coaching, curriculum development, program assessments, and training sessions on leadership development in the areas of turnaround, talent management, instructional infrastructure, and support and accountability. 

Website:

www.baizaconsulting.com

Contact:

Melinda Baiza & Lorna Klokkenga

Email

[email protected] &

[email protected]

Phone:

(210) 885-7929

 Catapult Learning 

Catapult Learning is dedicated to providing education solutions that generate demonstrable academic achievement and better life outcomes for students, regardless of the learning obstacles or other challenges they face. Our team of over 5,000 educators works to achieve sustained academic gains and build teacher and leadership capacity through evidence-based programs that include student instruction and family support services, professional development, special education and alternative education programs. Utilizing a suite of proprietary, research-based programs, Catapult Learning works with students and teachers in public and nonpublic schools throughout the country and around the globe.

Website

www.catapultlearning.com

Contact

Teresa Gregory

Email

[email protected]

Phone:

(702) 496-4130

 Cognia Inc

We are a global network of enthusiastic educators here to help you strengthen your schools. Our holistic approach to continuous improvement encompasses accreditation and certification, assessment, professional learning, and customized improvement services. Like you, we want all students to have the opportunities that knowledge brings. Cognia is a forward thinking nonprofit organization laser-focused on improving educational opportunities for all learners.

Website:

www.cognia.org

Contact

Krista Anderson

Email

[email protected]

Phone

(888) 413-3669 ext. 2614

 Compass Edvantage

We have always been fascinated by the complexity of school and district improvement.  As researchers, we are well aware of identified best practices. As practitioners, we are well aware of how difficult it is to implement those best practices. Our approach is different. We partner with each site to co-create a plan based on the needs and leverage points in each individual system.  Our approach focuses on improving systems and building individual capacity to ensure long-term success. As with any coach, our goal is to work our way out of a job by leaving systems with the ability to engage in continuous improvement on their own. We have used our process to produce successful improvement efforts from individual programs to whole school improvement.  This includes successful school turnaround efforts in multiple states, the implementation of new dual immersion programs, changing the disproportionality of ESL students in gifted programing, whole district STEM initiatives, and a myriad of other improvement efforts.  We are passionate about what we do and are always looking to partner with systems who are looking for a different approach to school improvement.

Website

www.compassedvantage.com

Contact

Chad Ransom

Email

[email protected]

Phone:

(307) 203-7447

 HYA Corp

Established in 1987, Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) is one of the oldest and largest search firms having assisted more than 1,600 school boards select exceptionally talented leadership in school systems across the nation, large and small, urban and rural. HYA’s reputation and experience make it one of the preeminent school district search firms in the nation and a standard which others often emulate. HYA Associates are located across the country to conveniently serve clients and are thus uniquely qualified to bring local – as well as national – perspectives, knowledge, experience, and connections to each search.

Website: 

hyasearch.com

Contact:

Christina Mellen

Email:

[email protected]

Phone: 

847.250.7261

 Insight Education 

We know the work is not easy because we have done it. We are a diverse team of experienced practitioners who have served at all levels as state, district, school and classroom leaders. With over 250,000 educators impacted, Insight is your partner for bringing large-scale change and greater success to your classrooms. We accelerate change by reflecting and applying lessons learned alongside our partners to shape educational systems that are truly equitable for all learners.

Website

www.insighteducationgroup.com

Contact

Jason Stricker & Jason Culbertson

Email:

[email protected]

[email protected]

Phone

 Instructional Empowerment 

We partner with school and district leaders to build your school’s capacity and instructional systems. Our goal is for schools to achieve rapid, measurable, long-term outcomes for their students by focusing on rigorous classroom instruction and school advancement. If you want to build a collaborative, engaging learning culture in all classrooms that closes achievement gaps for all students, we promise to work shoulder-to-shoulder with you. Our partnership is an investment in school leadership and systems improvement. We learn your needs and co-develop a tailored plan based on your goals and our evidence-proven methodologies. Our experienced coaches are with you every step of the way to implement a bold vision for instruction and school advancement.

Website

www.instructionalempowerment.com

Contact

Michelle Fitzgerald, Ed.D.

Email:

[email protected]

Phone:

(813) 355-0827

 MGT of America

MGT embraces the most complex challenges with deep commitment, agility, and local expertise to make a measurable and profound social impact. We are nationally respected leaders in management consulting and technology services who help professionals enhance, transform, and sustain a higher quality of life for citizens in our community. Simply stated, our promise is: We improve lives by advancing and lifting up your community. This purpose reflects the company’s strong social conscience and service ethic that forms the core of the MGT “Why.” MGT models this philosophy by systematically seeking out the highest-impact projects and relationships, encouraging community involvement and investing in a collaborative and rewarding world-class work environment for employees. Our team helps clients find solutions in areas like finances and forecasting, human capital, cyber and network security, diversity and inclusion, and education improvement. With an award-winning track record and history of repeat engagements, our creative solutions are tailored to meet each client’s specific needs. We approach each project from our client’s perspective, because we understand every engagement demands a commitment to professional, accurate, and skilled advice. We are trusted advisors offering innovative solutions in an ever-changing world.

Website:

www.mgtconsulting.com

Contact

Carrie Miller & Allison Miller

Email

cmiller@eddirection.org &

[email protected]

Phone:

(720) 239-3069

 RTI International

RTI International (RTI) is a global, non-profit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition by turning research into practice. Our education research and technical assistance focuses on tackling many of today’s most pressing educational challenges, including student achievement gaps, graduation and dropout rates, and the use of data to improve schools.  At RTI, we empower educators to design, plan, and implement action steps to better address these challenges.  We partner with educators to promote thriving learning environments that facilitate success for all students. From the classroom to the board room, our work focuses on five areas that we believe are levers for change in education: strengthening instruction, developing leaders, improving organizational operations, facilitating collaborative networks, and creating technology solutions for great efficiency. 

Website

https://www.rti.org/centers/education-services

Contact:

Stacy Costello

Email

[email protected]

Phone:

(919) 604-3288

 Solution Tree

Since 1998, Solution Tree has worked to transform education worldwide by empowering educators to raise student achievement.  With more than 48,962 educators attending professional learning events and more than 5,500 professional development days in schools each year, Solution Tree helps teachers and administrators confront essential challenges. Solution Tree has a catalog of more than 500 titles, hundreds of videos and online courses and is the creator of Global PD, an online tool that facilitates the work of professional learning communities for more than 20,000 educators. No other professional learning company provides our unique blend of research-based, results-driven services that improve learning outcomes for students.

Website:

www.solutiontree.com

Contact:

Alesha Henderson

Email

[email protected]

Phone:

(623) 850-2658

 WestEd

As a national leader in research, development, and service, WestEd is reimagining solutions to a more equitable society by taking on the most demanding and enduring challenges in education and human development. Our staff work collaboratively systemwide to provide a broad range of services — research and evaluation, professional learning, technical assistance, and policy guidance — that are tailored to the needs of our clients. A nonpartisan partner, we generate knowledge and apply evidence and expertise to improve policies, systems, and practices. A steadfast commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion is central to our work to advance equitable opportunities, increase well-being, and promote positive outcomes for all children, youth, and adults.

Website:

www.wested.org

Contact

Lauren Wrotniak & Sofia Aburto

Email

[email protected] & [email protected]

Phone