KEYS Themes

Teachers who have the opportunity to meet regularly with other teachers to share ideas and solve problems, especially when they focus their collaboration on student performance, are more likely to implement research-based instructional strategies. Collaborative structures and cultures enable teachers to focus inquiry, provide resources, build linkages, reinforce positive change, and enable teachers to move from a focus on obstacles to change to strategies to overcome the barriers. Even the level of disorder in a school is related to collaboration.

Indicators in  Key 2—Open Communication and Collaborative Problem Solving--focus on how the critical curricular, pedagogical and organizational decisions that enhance the quality of teaching and learning in the school are made, and who is involved in making those decisions.

Several indicators that make up Key 2 can be grouped into three related themes:

• Interactions among teachers and administrators related to school-wide policies and practices.

• Professional relationships among teachers.

• Family and Community Engagement.