Improvement Academy

The Improvement Academy 2024-2025, open to all schools with targeted support for the lower 20% performance tier (including CSI/TSI-designated schools), offers a robust training series designed to drive sustainable growth and improvement in North Dakota schools. Developed in partnership with the ND Department of Public Instruction and ND Regional Education Associations (REAs), this academy spans three sessions across the academic year, each focused on building foundational skills in essential areas.

Key Focus Areas
Participants will engage in in-depth sessions on member accountability, data mining, instructional frameworks, Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), curriculum review, instructional best practices, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)/Response to Interventions (RTI). With each session, school teams will examine and implement key practices that drive meaningful change, fostering a continuous improvement mindset across their school communities.

Training Activities
Engaging, hands-on activities such as gallery walks, collision groups, moonshot development, and gap analysis for relevance will drive reflection and application, while designated school work time allows for focused planning. REA liaisons will be working closely with school teams to provide individualized guidance on plan development and implementation

Logistics

• Cost: $2500 per district team (up to 5 participants). Additional members (over 5) may be added for $500 each. Teams may include board members, community members, students, or a “flex person” who can rotate participation as needed.
• Location: Bismarck Career Academy, Multipurpose Room
• Schedule:
  Wednesday/Thursday – January 29-30, 2025
  Tuesday/Wednesday – March 25-26, 2025
  Wednesday/Thursday – April 23-24, 2025

A team leader, who must be an administrator, is required to attend all sessions with their team.

Each team member will be equipped with tools and strategies to foster a culture of accountability and improvement, laying the groundwork for continued success in the years ahead.

University of Mary Graduate Credit: 2 credits available

Must attend all 6 (six) days of Improvement Academy to be eligible for 2 credits, Must attend at least 3 days to be eligible for 1 graduate credit. All attendees will be eligible to sign up for graduate credit after the final day of sessions.