Organizational Audit

The Operations Audit is an examination of the district organization and infrastructure and the extent to which it supports continuous improvement. Although customized to the district needs, this audit typically looks at:

• organizational structures
• staffing
• schedules
• support systems
• leadership teams
• job descriptions
• professional development programs
• enrollment management and student services
• district and school climate and culture
• communication systems
• the procurement and use of resources
• monitoring and appraisal practices
• relevant Board Policies and Procedures

The Curriculum Audit is an examination of what is taught in classrooms at each grade level; although customized to district needs, this audit typically looks at:

• the extent to which the adopted curriculum is actually the enacted curriculum
• the alignment between the adopted curriculum and state content standards—including a provision for 21st century skills
• valid content and the accurate level of cognitive demand, including higher-order thinking
• learning outcomes that require students to construct meaning for themselves, and apply their learning to real-world contexts
• interdisciplinary connections
• the inclusion of art, media, and technology

The Instructional Audit (an Audit of Classroom Practices) is an examination of classroom instruction to determine how it is delivered and assessed; although customized to district needs, this audit typically looks at:

• the planning, delivery, and assessment of classroom instruction
• the consistent use of “best practices,” including congruence among the learning outcome, teaching strategy, and assessments
• planning for differentiation from the outset, rather than after-the-fact
• the inclusion of RTI—provision for Tiers I and II intervention
• the level of student engagement
• the students’ construction of meaning
• the use of real-world contexts rather than learning in isolation
• the use of projects, problem-solving, and other performance tasks to demonstrate mastery

The Literacy Audit is an examination of Literacy practices in grades 6-12, Science, Social Studies, ELA, and Math; although customized to district needs, this audit typically looks at:

• the extent to which the Literacy skills have been adopted into the Science, Social Studies, and Math courses at grades 6-12, and are actually being included in classroom instruction
• the coordination of the Literacy skills in these content subjects with the English/Language Arts department in each respective course and grade level—particularly in:

              -the requirements for Informative and Argumentative Research writing

              -the strategic choice of informational texts

• how the Literacy program is being monitored for effectiveness

The Assessment Audit is an examination of the district’s testing program—including what tests are given, to whom, when, and how the results are used; although customized to district needs, this audit typically looks at:

• the reasonableness of the testing schedule—is there too much testing?
• the use of high-stakes test results to make decisions about curriculum and instruction
• the use of district-level benchmark assessments to continuously monitor student performance
• the validity and appropriateness of classroom tests—including the use of paper-pencil tests that parallel the state’s high-stakes assessments
• the use of valid authentic and performance assessments