The Internal Coherence Framework: Creating the Conditions for Continuous Improvement in Schools

by Michelle L Forman, Elizabeth Leisy Stosich, Candice Bocala

The Internal Coherence Framework presents a system of research-based practices for assessing and developing the conditions that support adult and student learning in schools.

Internal coherence is defined as the ability of educators in a school or system to connect and align resources to carry out an improvement strategy, engage in collective learning, and use that learning to provide students with richer educational opportunities. The internal coherence framework featured in the book brings together three important domains of leadership for learning, organizational improvement, and instructional efficacy.
 
School or system leaders who progress through this book with colleagues will develop a shared vision for ambitious teaching and learning anchored in the instructional core; organize the work of the leadership and teacher teams to advance this vision; and build psychologically safe team, school, and system cultures to support the risk taking and constructive challenges necessary to move schools or systems to the next level of performance.

At the heart of the book is a survey and rubric that can help schools better understand their strengths and weaknesses and the kinds of resources they need to support student learning. The book blends theory and practice to bring tested wisdom to bear on critical issues of education leadership and professional learning.
 

Genres: Education

272 pages, Paperback

Published April 4, 2017

Reviews

[David Doty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I have read on school improvement, and should be compulsory reading for every school board, superintendent, principal, teacher, and coach. Chock full of impeccable research and outstanding tools and resources, the book provides not only a terrific structure for thinking about school improvement, but also specific strategies for making improved performance a reality. Focusing on the instructional core (the interaction between teachers, students, and content with respect to instructional tasks), the authors approach school improvement from a robust systems perspective to address both teacher efficacy and organizational capacity--i.e., "the collective ability of the faculty to connect and align resources to improve instruction and student learning throughout the organization."

This book is a major contribution to the school improvement literature that should have broad appeal to both scholars and practitioners alike.

[Sarah Tazghini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for schools to develop internal coherence within their school systems. With an emphasis on administrators as instructional leaders and the importance of efficacy and developing an enrichment of teaching and learning, this book outlines methods that can be used to achieve this. Insights on case studies and various protocols are helpful resources.