The Eight-Step Process

The Continuous Improvement Model: 8-Step Process provides a comprehensive building-wide approach to increasing academic performance by all students. The process enables a school building’s professional staff to raise and to enrich the achievement of their students.

The eight steps are as follows:
1. disaggregate student data
2. establish an instructional calendar
3. deliver the instruction
4. administer frequent assessments
5. provide tutorials
6. offer enrichment opportunities
7. provide ongoing maintenance
8. monitor the instructional progress of all students

 
 

The 8-Step Process requires teachers to closely examine student work and use data to guide decisions about staff learning and student instruction. The power of the process is that it promotes a collaborative culture of excellence where teachers can teach and students will learn. It removes subjectivity and specifically identifies individual students according to data. The process ensures that all state standards are taught. The Continuous Improvement model is applicable and adaptable to any curriculum, subject-area, grade level, or student group.

The Continuous Improvement Model: 8-Step Process has been integrated with the ideas and philosophies of both Total Quality Management (TQM) and Effective Schools research and is connected to our Strategic Plan.SMS Eight Step Team

By emphasizing the individual needs of each student, the 8-Step Process provides teachers with a systematic method for delivering instruction and assessing progress so that all students achieve to their highest potential.

Benefits of the 8-Step Process include:

  • Giving flexibility to teachers in how to teach by focusing on what to teach
  • Aligning planning, instruction, assessment, and support for student success
  • Replacing subjectivity with an emphasis on results
  • Focusing on student learning rather than teaching
  • Establishing a climate of collaboration, achievement and success
    (Ms Pat Davenport (2nd from left, first row) working with Stonewall Middle School's Eight-Step Leadership Team.)
  Eight Step Process Additional Information

Today, 23 schools in Prince William County are implementing the PDCA Instructional cycle. It is an integral part of our culture of excellence, combining the Effective Schools Correlates, Total Quality Management, and the Plan-Do-Check-Act Instructional Cycle.

The Educational Consultant for the Eight Step Process in PWCS since 2003 is Pat Davenport. She is the author of two books: "Closing the Acheivement Gap" and "Are We There Yet?" Visit her website at: http://www.equityineducation.com