Communication Resources for 

School Improvement

Successful school improvement purposefully involves family and communities. Essential to this involvement is communication. School leaders must maintain communication with families and communities to inform decisions and garner commitment for school improvement efforts. The Maryland State Department of Education has partnered with local school systems, the Greater Baltimore Urban League, and The Hatcher Group to develop resources to support effective communication for school improvement. 

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Select any resource below to download, edit, and print for use with families, community, and other stakeholders. 

School Improvement Brochure

"How Can I Help My Child Succeed?" brochure was developed to provide an introduction to school improvement as described in the Maryland Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Consolidated Plan. The brochure may be used by school leaders to begin conversations with families and community members about how to get involved in school improvement efforts. 

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Click on the image to access the resource. 

School Improvement PowerPoint

The School Improvement PowerPoint provides a brief overview of ESSA and focuses on the importance of family and community partnerships for school improvement.  The PowerPoint was created to compliment and expand on the content in the School Improvement brochure. The PowerPoint is available to download and edit to fit the needs of the audience. 

The Maryland State Department of Education is available to support facilitating the presentation. Please contact Tara Corona, Continuous Improvement Specialist, with questions or requests at tara.corona@maryland.gov

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Click on the image to access the resource. 

Answering Challenging Questions Toolkit

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Click on the image to access the resource. 

The Answering Challenging Questions Toolkit was created to support school leaders in addressing questions about school improvement. The Toolkit includes interview tips, advice for answering tough questions, and sample questions and answers.  This work was funded by the Wallace Foundation and developed in partnership with The Hatcher Group.   

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Este documento esta disponible en español. Haga click aqui. 

Social Media Toolkit

The Social Media Toolkit was created to share effective practices for school leaders to engage families and community members in school improvement efforts on social media platforms.  The resource shares strategies on how to respond to and manage social media content. Examples of social media posts, hashtags, and images are included to support productive school improvement engagement.  This work was funded by the Wallace Foundation and developed in partnership with The Hatcher Group.  

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Este documento esta disponible en español. Haga click aqui. 

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Click on the image to access the resource. 

Messaging Document

The Messaging Document was created to support school leaders in delivering consistent messaging about school improvement. Using a Message Box provides a simple way to organize information about school improvement. School leaders can utilize this document to share their vision, solutions, and plan of action to improve school performance. This work was funded by the Wallace Foundation and developed in partnership with The Hatcher Group. 

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Este documento esta disponible en español. Haga click aqui. 

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Click on the image to access the resource. 

School Improvement Elevator Speech

The "elevator speech" is a phrase used to describe a short, succinct summary of information. The School Improvement Elevator Speech is a resource that school leaders may use to briefly summarize ESSA requirements for school improvement to families and community members. 

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This one page document answers high level questions about the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). For more detailed information, guidance, and accountability requirements, read Maryland's ESSA Consolidated State Plan or contact the Office of Leadership Development and School Improvement. 

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Click on the image to access the resource. 

Community Partnership Videos

School Improvement requires strong partnerships with the community. Examples of community partnerships are shared from three schools: Springhill Lake Elementary School (Prince George's County); Deep Creek Magnet Middle School (Baltimore County); and Commodore John Rodgers (Baltimore City). These partnerships are helping to improve student academic success and overall well-being. To view the videos, click on the center of the video with the white arrow inside the red box. 

Springhill Lake Elementary School

Prince George’s County Public Schools

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Springhill Lake Elementary School has partnered with the University of Maryland, College Park to offer a number of academic support programs. These classes are available during the school day and in the evening, and welcome students, parents and others in the community.  Their commitment to ensuring all students learn and succeed has resulted in improved reading stamina, increased parent involvement, and increased test scores.  

Commodore John Rodgers

Baltimore City Public Schools

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Commodore John Rodgers is a Kindergarten through eighth grade school with the slogan “Commodore to College—100% for 100%.” Their goal of moving every student from Commodore to College is no small task, and they make the most of their community to make it happen.  Working with partner Harlem Lacrosse does more than help students play sports.  Whether its finishing homework, visiting colleges, or encouraging appropriate classroom behavior, Harlem Lacrosse ensures Commodore John Rodgers and its students take pride in their school, their grades, and their futures.  

Deep Creek Magnet Middle School

Baltimore County Public Schools

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Deep Creek Magnet Middle School and their community partner- Back River United Methodist Church- have worked together to provide food and other resources for students and families in need. This partnership has increased attendance, improved student involvement with school and after-school activities, fostered new friendships, and inspired students to get involved.