Center for Reform of School Systems

CRSS - Center for Reform of School SystemsEducation in the United States must improve to meet our needs in a rapidly changing global economy.  While our country is rightfully focused on reforming education in our schools, the missing link in this strategy is school boards.

The Center for Reform of School Systems creates effective school board-superintendent teams to transform education for hundreds of thousands of low-income children.

Boards control the important power in school districts.  They hire and fire the superintendent.  They control the money.  And, they control the policies that direct or impede reform.

School districts are the most effective places to direct the reform of education at scale.  At CRSS, we train well-intentioned but woefully unprepared citizens to serve as school board member leaders of education reform, improving the lives of countless children.

In our ten years training school districts across the country, we have worked with more than half of the winners of the Broad Prize for Excellence in Urban Education.  In these districts, the lives of 700,000 students have been improved.

Testimonials

In my 15 years as a superintendent, the RGA Institute has been my most enlightening and rewarding professional development experience. It has verified the need for school boards and superintendents to work as a team to carry out the essential purpose of the public schools and effectuate their beliefs and commitments to students. It has also shown me that when school districts are governed and managed correctly, schools do make a positive difference for all students.
J. Alvin Wilbanks—Superintendent, Gwinnett County Public Schools, Georgia
As a new school board member, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew I wanted to help make a difference in our school system, but I was stepping into unknown waters. RGA has been a tremendous help to me. The case studies have been the best learning experience and have helped me gain the confidence I needed! I have also learned the importance of being a team member and not just a board member. Thank God for RGA!
Olga M. Hernandez—Board Member, San Antonio ISD, Texas
Extremely valuable experience. Not only are we presented with a wealth of information and professional resources, but the fact that we’re utilizing actual district data and dynamics makes the training very powerful. We are thrilled to be participants!
Pam Richmond—Board Member, Hartford Public Schools, Connecticut
The opening presentation was well crafted and efficient in moving the board into the place to do the work. It was the perfect complement to my internal message to them about the seriousness of our task. We covered more ground in getting policies ready for a vote than any board member thought possible – your facilitation was critical to that movement! I am very thankful!
Mike Hanson—Superintendent, Fresno Unified School District, California

Innovative Training for School Boards

  • Unique and comprehensive curriculum
  • In-depth training that gets results
  • Case studies modeled after those developed by the Harvard Business School
  • Policy development designed to improve student achievement and eliminate achievement gaps

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