District Review Information

Before 2008, the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (EQA), an independent sister agency of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), had lead responsibility for performing district reviews. By legislation effective August 14, 2008, the Massachusetts Legislature created an office of school and district accountability (see Mass. Gen. Laws. c. 15, § 55A). The Office of District Reviews and Monitoring (ODRM) now serves the function of reviewing school districts.

Research on effective school and district leadership has highlighted the importance of a concerted districtwide focus on aligning all the district's systems in service of improving student achievement. This focus is demonstrated by clear standards for performance and goals for improvement, coupled with an ongoing cyclical process for measuring progress.

Using DESE's District Standards and Indicators as a framework, ODRM provides a district review that is designed to identify the systems, policies, and practices that drive the day-to-day work of the school district, as well as those factors that may help or hinder staff performance and, ultimately, student outcomes. Analysis of these systems, policies, and practices includes a focus on the ways in which the district works to improve and promote equity for underserved groups of students.

Resources

Last Updated: October 3, 2024