Title of Effective Practice: - California Postsecondary Education ...

Direct Connection to Policy Area 2 of The Illinois Commitment
Chancellor’s Academy
U of I - Urbana/Champaign
What issue or need is addressed by the effective practice?
Schools are vital to the well-being of the community and working to address pressing needs is an essential
responsibility of the University as it continually strives to apply research capabilities to the needs of the
community, state, nation and world. Established by Chancellor Richard Herman in 2005, the Academy is an
ongoing partnership between the College of Education and the local schools in Champaign and Urbana to
develop methods and strategies to enhance student experiences. The inaugural Academy brought together 40
local teachers, College faculty and nearly a dozen nationally-known experts for two weeks to explore new ways
of promoting literacy learning in the Champaign and Urbana public schools.
Description of the effective practice:
The 2006 Academy will build on the success of the 2005 series. While the theme will again be around literacy,
the 2006 Academy will concentrate on supporting school efforts in enhancing literacy learning in the areas of
science and math. Broad goals for the 2006 Academy include:
• Promoting teaching inquiry as a model for professional development
• Enhancing the awareness of cultural and linguistic diversity on learning
• Supporting school efforts to enhance children’s literacy learning, particularly in science and math
• Continuing to strengthen the collaborative partnership between the local schools and the University
• Evaluate changes in teachers’ practices as a result of Academy participation
The overall plan for professional development will be flexible, new content area challenges will be met as they
arise. In future years, a school district may choose to participate in more than one content-focused professional
development initiative, or in a systemic professional development initiative on a grant-funded or cost-recovery
basis.
How does this practice achieve sustainability?
The Chancellor’s Academy is the first large step forward in a new and permanent partnership between the local
community and the University. Both the Chancellor and the College have declared the Academy to be an
ongoing priority and a major commitment in their respective five-year strategic plans published this year.
What are the results/measurable outcomes?
An evaluation component will be a central part of each professional development initiative. Evaluation efforts
will be ongoing, so that modifications can be made in plans during the course of the initiative, and so that the
school and the professional development team can incorporate what has been learned into future professional
development initiatives. Evaluation data will be made available to participating schools.
Specific to the 2005 Academy and based on the convergence of the evidence, the CA was a rewarding
experience. Many of the participants left the CA with new appreciations for the University as well as with
strategies that will help improve their pedagogical practice in the classroom. Furthermore, the CA initiated
conversations that opened the door for future collaborations between the school district, state, and the
University. Instrumental to the success of the academy was the planning committee’s treatment of the
participants and the resources allocated by the Chancellor’s office. Thus, the evidence indicates that the
academy is achieving of its goal of providing support to schools to enhance children’s literacy learning and
forging a partnership between the University and local school districts.
Contact Information
Name: Brenda Clevenger
Email: bmclvngr@ad.uiuc.edu
Phone: (217) 333-2800
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