About
District Overview:
Enrollment Stats:
- 31,050 students in 65 schools
- 45% African-American, 21% Hispanic, 20% White, 10% Asian, 4% Multi-Racial
- 17% English Language Learners
- 23% Students with Disabilities
- 83% Economically Disadvantaged
- 65% 4-Year Graduation Rate
RBT and BPS
Research for Better Teaching (RBT) was contracted to work in the Buffalo Public Schools (BPS) beginning in May 2011. This work continued through the 2012-13 school year. Broadly stated, the purposes of the RBT work in Buffalo were to:
- Develop school administrators who were skilled in instructional leadership based on new administrator evaluation rubrics
- Develop teachers who achieved “Effective” or “Highly Effective” ratings under the new teacher evaluation rubrics
- Establish functional data teams in all schools to support effective use of student data for instruction
The ultimate purpose of the RBT work in Buffalo was to improve teaching and learning to improve student academic performance on state assessments.
RBT Services
RBT Courses and Consulting
RBT has worked with Buffalo City Public Schools since 2011. The case study report captures results from RBT's work in the district from 2011- 2013.
Summary of Services 2011-2013:
- OAT course conducted for 158 district and school administrators and supervisors
- SST course conducted for 148 district staff, teachers, and instructional coaches
- Data Driven Inquiry (DDI) course conducted for district staff, staff developers, and staff teams from 49 schools (335 staff overall)
- Coaching & consultation to district leadership team
Assessment of Services
- 100% of Buffalo administrators gave a positive rating to the quality of OAT course
- 91% of administrators were highly engaged with the OAT course
- 97% of Buffalo teachers gave a positive rating to the quality of SST course
- 92% of teachers rated the SST instructors as being highly effective
- Administrators reported that DDI course resulted in changes in professional culture of Buffalo schools and greater use of student data to inform decisions about instruction, re-teaching, and differentiation
What Buffalo Staff Said About RBT
- “The OAT experience is the single most important event in improving teaching and learning in the Buffalo Public Schools since I joined the district in 2001. If implemented effectively, this will transform teaching and learning for every child, parent, teachers, and administrator.”
- “This course has been a valuable resource for me as a new administrator. I have learned so many techniques that I can immediately apply to my work as a central office administrator.”
- “Outstanding course. Learned a lot of wonderful teaching strategies that I am already using in my classroom. Best training I’ve had since coming to the district.”
RBT's Impact
“Outstanding course. Learned a lot of wonderful teaching strategies that I am already using in my classroom. Best training I’ve had since coming to the district.” |
Buffalo Staff |
Impact and Growth
- 97% of Buffalo administrators reported that the OAT course had a positive impact on their knowledge and capacity
- 94% of Buffalo administrators reported that the OAT course had a positive impact on the quality of their feedback to teachers
- 97% of Buffalo teachers reported that the SST course had a positive impact on their instructional practices
- 95% of Buffalo teachers reported that the SST would have a positive impact on student academic performance
- Administrators reported that Buffalo schools where RBT courses had a significant impact on teaching practices demonstrated greater academic gains in state assessments in both ELA and Math compared to other Buffalo schools
- Buffalo schools with highly effective data teams demonstrated greater academic gains in state assessments in both ELA and Math compared to other Buffalo schools
“This course has been a valuable resource for me as a new administrator. I have learned so many techniques that I can immediately apply to my work as a central office administrator.” |
OAT Participant |
Key Information
- RBT's OAT, SST, and Data courses conducted for over 600 Buffalo City School employees over three years
- 97% of Buffalo administrators reported that the OAT course had a positive impact on their knowledge and capacity
- 97% of Buffalo administrators reported that the OAT course had a positive impact on their knowledge and capacity
- Buffalo schools with highly effective data teams demonstrated greater academic gains in state assessments in both ELA and Math compared to other Buffalo schools
