The Effective District Framework 

A clear vision for what districts and schools across the state do to ensure an excellent education for all Texas students.

The Effective District Framework Impact Model

Diagram of the Effective District Framework Impact Model. Three interlocking gears represent the system. The left gear is labeled 'Foundational Elements' with 'Planning and Performance Management' listed as a subcomponent. The center gear is labeled 'Critical Enabling Systems' with 'Talent,' 'Instructional Leadership and Capacity Building,' and 'Finance and Operations' listed as subcomponents. The right gear is labeled 'Student Experience Elements' with 'Integrated Student Support Systems' and 'Academic Experience' listed as subcomponents. Arrows point toward a group of diverse adults and students, representing 'Vision, Values, and Student Outcome Goals.'
The Effective District Framework mirrors the organizing structure of the Effective Schools Framework. A diagram showing the structure of the Effective District Framework. The left side lists five components in descending order: Board of Trustees Commitments, Lever, Essential Action, Key Practice, and Success Criteria. The right side explains each component: Board commitments describe what the governance teams do to ensure that local education agency systems are set up for success; The lever is the largest category that high-performing districts focus on. The EDF is made up of six levers. The components in each level are the actionable elements to improve student outcomes; The Essential Actions describe what the most effective districts do to support powerful teaching and learning under a specific lever; Each Essential Action includes a set of Key Practices that define what the essential action entails when implemented with fidelity. District leaders can utilize Key Practices to define action steps taken to achieve Essential Action Practices; The Success Criteria further defines the Key Practice as "look fors" or evidence. If the Key Practice is being implemented with fidelity, the success criteria can be collected or observed as evidence of success.

Lever 1

Planning and Performance Management

The district creates a clear and compelling vision for student success. It develops a strategic road map with key strategies and emphasizes the importance of implementation planning, project management, and continuous performance assessment. The district aims to instill a culture of ongoing improvement throughout the organization.

  • 1.1 Vision, Mission, Guiding Principles

    Establish and refine a clear vision for student success and an aligned mission and guiding principles

  • 1.2 Strategic Plan

    Develop and refine a multi-year strategic plan with high-leverage strategies the district will implement to achieve its vision and goals

  • 1.3 Implementing Planning and Project Management

    Plan for and project manage implementation of prioritized district initiatives

  • 1.4 Performance Management

    Establish clear expectations for evaluating the effectiveness of district programs and initiatives to drive continuous improvement

  • 1.5 Organizational Foundations for Continuous Improvement

    Establish and sustain a district-wide commitment to continuous improvement in culture and key practices

VIEW LEVER 1

Lever 2

Talent

The district prioritizes effective human resources systems to align and sustain staffing for their desired student experience through intentional recruitment, professional growth, and retention strategies for all staff, for ongoing improvement in meeting student needs.

    • 2.1 Intentional Roles and Staffing

      Align human capital systems to enable sustainable roles intentionally designed to deliver the envisioned student experience

    • 2.2 Recruitment and Selection

      Intentionally recruit and select educators and school leaders well-prepared to provide high quality instruction and services to each student

    • 2.3 Growth and Retention Strategies

      Establish systems for educator professional growth and retention strategies informed by evaluation effectiveness outcomes

VIEW LEVER 2

Lever 3

Integrated Student Support Systems

The district establishes proactive and responsive systems to provide student supports addressing student needs across academic, mental, emotional, social, wellness, and behavioral aspects, focusing on fostering a positive school culture and empowering staff to address student needs.

  • 3.1 Framework for a Comprehensive Multi-tiered System of Supports

    Establish and communicate an integrated multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) framework aligned to evidence-based prevention and intervention practices to support the academic and non-academic needs of all students, providing guidance on routine progress monitoring and data-driven decision making (supportive of Essential Action 4.1)

  • 3.2 School-wide Culture, Behavior, Safety

    Establish strong school culture, behavior, and safety systems (aligned to 3.1)

  • 3.3 Interventions and Supports

    Establish systems, resources, and training to enable staff to identify and respond to needs and provide timely targeted responses to reduce barriers to learning and promote trust, belonging, safety, growth mindset, and self-regulation (aligned to 3.1)

  • 3.4 Early Childhood

    Establish systems, resources, and programming to engage and support the development of young children

VIEW LEVER 3
Lever 4

Academic Experiences

The district establishes a framework for strong instruction, including the use of research-based strategies and high-quality instructional materials to support a rigorous student academic experience while ensuring access and resources to prepare students for college, career, or military pathways.

  • 4.1 Framework for a Rigorous Multi-tiered Academic Experience

    Establish and communicate research-based strategy and approach for strong multi-tiered instruction and supports, inclusive of content and curriculum-aligned intervention, additional and personalized learning time, and special populations strategies (supportive of Essential Action 3.1)

  • 4.2 Management of Curriculum and Instruction

    Establish a materials adoption process, including clear expectations for implementation and aligning key enabling systems

  • 4.3 College, Career, and Military Prep Course Offerings and Graduation Programs of Study

    Provide access to course offerings and graduation pathways that provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for college, career, and military readiness

VIEW LEVER 4
Lever 5

Instructional Leadership and Capacity Building

Systems are established to enable instructional leadership development and capacity building for instructional leaders and
teachers, including planning, internalization, and effective delivery of instruction. The district ensures foundational practices
support data-driven instruction and assessment reflection benefiting all learners.

  • 5.1 Instructional Leadership and Development Enabling Conditions

    Establish expectations and foundational systems for instructional leadership and development

  • 5.2 Instructional Planning and Delivery

    Establish role-aligned job-embedded capacity building supports for instructional leaders and teachers to internalize, prepare for, and deliver instruction in a strong classroom environment

  • 5.3 Data-Driven Instruction, Assessment Reflection, and Targeted Supports

    Establish expectations and foundational systems that support utilizing data to support all learners

VIEW LEVER 5
Lever 6

Finance and Operations

The district strategically aligns resources with their desired student experience, emphasizing safety, security, and operational
efficiency. The district empowers parents to ensure access to all school options while prioritizing student support across all
systems.

  • 6.1 Teacher and Student Time

    Ensure sufficient time in the calendar year and school day for an impactful student experience and staff preparation and development

  • 6.2 Budget and Finance

    Strategically plan for an allocate resources in alignment with envisioned student experience and compliance needs

  • 6.3 Enrollment and Access

    Empower parents by helping them understand, enroll in, and attend their desired school. District leaders establish enrollment policies and practices that provide students access to all the district’s school options

  • 6.4 Technology and Data Systems

    Strategically plan for and allocate resources that are compatible and support both academic and non-academic structures as well as meet all data security and protection requirements

  • 6.5 Site Operations

    Strategically plan for and allocate resources in alignment with envisioned student experience and compliance needs

VIEW LEVER 6