Essential Elements of High Quality Public Education

By Steve Lilly

District-Level Imperatives

• Support for teaching and learning at the school sites
• Support for teachers as the primary determiners of student learning
• Support for principals as leaders of learning at our schools
• Wise use of resources to support student learning
• Effective personnel practices to hire and support excellent staff
• Building and maintaining strong community support for excellence in education
• Effective teamwork within the Board and central administration, constantly keeping the primary focus on student learning

• Effective leadership for learning by school principals
• Directed teaching focusing on the California student learning standards in core subject areas
• Student involvement and development through extra-curricular activities
• Comprehensive parent involvement, support and education
• Decision-making based on student learning needs
• Engagement of all school staff in the teaching-learning process
• Involvement of community members in the educational process

• Support for excellent teaching and learning for all students
• Active involvement at the school site level
• Support for district and school-based initiatives to increase student learning and close the achievement gap
• Investing the time it takes to make all of our schools work for all the students