Management and Learning Environment
Education leaders manage the organization to cultivate a safe and productive learning and working environment.
Elements of Standard 3
Elements and example indicators
The element statements and example indicators below reproduce the state framework. Open an Element to review its indicators and follow any indicator link for the corresponding detailed SDLA resource page.
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Element 3A: Operations and Facilities
Leaders provide and oversee a functional, safe, and clean learning environment.
- Systematically review the physical plant and grounds to ensure that they are safe, meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, and comply with conditions that support accessibility for all students.
- Collaborate with the district to monitor and maintain student services (e.g., food, transportation) that contribute to student learning, health and welfare.
- Manage the acquisition, distribution, and maintenance of equipment, materials, and technology needed to meet the academic, linguistic, cultural, social-emotional, and physical requirements of students.
- Work with stakeholders and experts to plan and implement emergency and risk management procedures for individuals and the site.
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Element 3B: Plans and Procedures
Leaders establish structures and employ policies and processes that support students to graduate ready for college and career.
- Develop schedules and assign placements that are student-centered and maximize instructional time and staff collaboration.
- Manage legal and contractual agreements and storage of confidential records (both paper and electronic) to insure student security and confidentiality.
- Set clear working agreements that support sharing problems, practices and results within a safe and supportive environment.
- Engage stakeholders in using problem solving and decision-making processes and distributed leadership to develop, monitor, evaluate and revise plans and programs.
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Element 3C: Climate
Leaders facilitate safe, fair, and respectful environments that meet the intellectual, linguistic, cultural, social-emotional, and physical needs of each learner.
- Strengthen school climate through participation, engagement, connection, and a sense of belonging among all students and staff.
- Implement a positive and equitable student responsibility and behavior system with teaching, intervention and prevention strategies and protocols that are clear, fair, incremental, restorative, culturally responsive, and celebrate student and school achievement.
- Consistently monitor, review and respond to attendance, disciplinary, and other relevant data to improve school climate and student engagement and ensure that management practices are free from bias and equitably applied to all students.
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Element 3D: Fiscal and Human Resources
Leaders align fiscal and human resources and manage policies and contractual agreements that build a productive learning environment.
- Provide clear rationale for decisions and distribute resources equitably to advance shared vision and goals focused on the needs of all students.
- Work with the district and school community to focus on both short and long-term fiscal management.
- Actively direct staff hiring and placement to match staff capacity with student academic and support goals.
- Engage staff in professional learning and formative assessments with specific feedback for continuous growth.
- Conduct personnel evaluations to improve teaching and learning, in keeping with district and state policies.
- Establish and monitor expectations for staff behavior and performance, recognizing positive results and responding to poor performance and/or inappropriate or illegal behavior directly and in a timely and systematic manner.