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

Feedback Sought on Updates to the District Standards and Indicators

The Department is seeking feedback on revisions to its District Standards and Indicators, which identify the district-level policies, systems, and practices that, if implemented well, promote improved student performance, opportunities, and outcomes. The District Standards and Indicators represent the Department's definition of effective district policy and practice and serve as the framework for the district reviews conducted by the Office of District Reviews and Monitoring. Over the last few months, Department staff have been revising the indicators and "look-fors" that support each of the six standards. Revisions include better alignment with core DESE guidance, including the Educational Vision and the Coherence Guidebook , and a greater emphasis on equity and racial equity within each standard.

A document that summarizes the proposed revisions is available below, along with the full draft of the revised District Standards and Indicators.

We welcome your feedback on these proposed revisions. Feedback should be shared via this survey, which will be open through Tuesday, April 30^th.

Last Updated: April 1, 2024