Engaging Districts for School Progress: A Baseline Evaluation of the District Continuous Improvement Framework in Missouri

The Region 12 Comprehensive Center (R12CC), funded under a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education, conducted this evaluation to determine the differences in the processes and outcomes for Missouri school districts using the state’s District Continuous Improvement (DCI) Framework and those using internally-developed approaches.

The goal of DCI is to integrate effective academic and behavioral practices into a framework for achieving exceptional student outcomes. It is undergirded by collaboration between districts, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and the Regional Professional Development Centers. Districts using the DCI Framework receive guidance, professional development, and networking opportunities that focus on building district capacity to select, implement, and evaluate evidence-based teaching practices; improve school-based coaching; and engage in data-driven decision-making.