Foundations of Observations: Considerations for Developing a Classroom Observation System That Helps Districts Achieve Consistent and Accurate Scores

District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) has been widely heralded in recent years as one of the nation’s fastest-improving urban public school districts. Most coverage has focused on the district’s strong and stable leadership and its sustained focus on educator effectiveness.

What makes successful schools tick? We know that great schools need great teachers, and great teachers in turn need skilled school leaders who can create the conditions within a school that enable teachers to help their students learn and achieve.

Navigating the vast landscape of edtech tools can be a daunting and time-consuming task for educators and school systems. Too often, it’s difficult to know which tools are worthwhile—and in which contexts they work best.