Instructional Coaching Project

Need for the Project

OESCA commissioned a survey to assess whether educational service centers (ESCs) provide Instructional Coaching services to their member districts. Out of 40 participating ESCs, 35 confirmed offering coaching services, while five do not currently provide them. Among the ESCs without coaching services, four expressed interest in offering them in the future. Overall, the survey findings highlight the provision and potential growth of Instructional Coaching services among ESCs, diverse training approaches, and resources, collaborative partnerships, utilization of ODE-developed resources, involvement of external coaching experts, primary focus areas, and additional resources. The findings indicated that instructional coaching is a significant part of ESC services and training; however, responses from the ESCs revealed:

• Definitions of instructional coaching vary widely 
• Different language, models, structures, services, and support to define, design, develop, and deploy coaches
• Lack of shared criteria for effective practice 
• Lack of resources to implement, monitor, and measure impact

Learn more about the survey and results [Executive Summary]

Instructional Coaching across Ohio’s regional system of support varies widely. 

ESCs use different instructional coaching models, structures, services, and support, and even use different language to define, design, develop, and deploy coaches. 

Consequently, there is a lack of shared recognition of common criteria for effective instructional coaching as well as a lack of resources to implement and monitor instructional coaches and measure their impact on teaching and learning.

Project Goal

Establish common criteria for effective instructional coaching and build capacity of ESCs to develop and deploy instructional coaches and monitor and measure their impact. 

The ESC Network Program Cabinet strives to establish common criteria for effective instructional coaching and build capacity of ESCs to develop and deploy instructional coaches, and monitor and measure their impact. 

Project Scope

The Instructional Coaching project will have two parts – co-design and training and implementation.

Co-Design Team

1. Research and review instructional coaching models.
2. Define common criteria for effective instructional coaching.
3. Design implementation and monitoring tools.
4. Design key performance indicators and tools and resources to monitor implementation.

Training and Implementation Team

1. Provide feedback to common criteria, plans for implementation and monitoring tools. 
2. Provide regional training to ESCs and/or member districts.
3. Lead communities of practice for ongoing support. 
4. Monitor implementation. 

We are seeking 10 Co-Design Team members from Ohio's ESC network to research/review models for common criteria of effective Instructional Coaching and develop training for Foundations of Effective Instructional Coaching (20 days).

We are also seeking 10 facilitators (may be co-design team members) to deliver regional face to face training sessions and co-facilitate four (4) Networked Learning Community meetings for Instructional Coaches  throughout the year (8 days).

Desired Project Outcomes

The project will provide common instructional coaching guidelines, resources, tools and metrics that can be used by ESCs and schools statewide.

• ESCs will be trained to work with districts on instructional coaching.
• Districts will have access to trainers and resources.
• A networked learning community of practice will bring together trainers, ESCs and school districts for ongoing learning around Instructional Coaching.
• Measurement and monitoring of Instructional Coaching statewide will provide data for decision-making.
• The State and Ohio Department of Education will have a consistent statewide network of Instructional Coaches available to assist with State initiatives.