A District Leader's Guide to Relationships That Support Systemic Change.

This booklet briefly presents some of the results of a study of the relationship between school districts and "reform support organizations" (RSOs). RSOs include a range of public, quasi-public, private for-profit, and private nonprofit organizations that seek to engage or are engaged by school districts in systemic reform efforts. The study looked at why districts chose to partner with an RSO, the nature of the engagement, expectations and interim results, key factors in the development of a relationship that promotes transformation, and elements of the interaction that lead to sustainable improvement. The full study--"Reforming Relationships: School District, External Organizations, and Systemic Change" (Kronley, R.A., & Handley, C., n.d.a.)--is available at www.schoolcommunities.org/portfolio. This booklet briefly discusses key elements of a successful RSO/district relationship, early signs of success in the RSO/district relationship, and other important issues for RSO/district relationships. It also contains lists of questions to ask about external reform support partnerships before engagement, following implementation to check on progress and outcomes, and for sustaining the reform. Several brief case studies are also included. (WFA)