Technical Assistance

Technical Assistance Visit (TAV)

The purpose of a technical assistance visit is to help school leaders and teachers identify changes needed to improve student achievement in the middle grades by implementing a comprehensive improvement framework. The technical assistance team helps a site by working with teachers, counselors and administrators to develop action steps that:

• focus on a rigorous, challenging academic core curriculum;
• examine how the school and its adults relate to students;
• raise expectations for student achievement and help students meet higher standards;
• improve how teachers relate to one another;
• improve how the school relates to parents;
• collect and use data for decision-making;
• use technology to support comprehensive improvement;
• examine how teachers are recruited and assigned; and
• develop effective leadership structures.

Technical Assistance Guide for Site Coordinators (PDF Format)

Technical Assistance Guide for Team Members (PDF Format)

Technical Review Visit (TRV)

While the technical assistance visit and report provide schools with baseline data for planning next steps, the technical review visit provides an opportunity for Making Middle Grades Work schools and SREB staff to assess a school's progress in implementing the MMGW comprehensive improvement framework. The technical review visit is similar in format to the technical assistance visit but is scheduled for only one day. The visiting team usually consists of the state coordinator, a district office representative and an SREB staff member.

To prepare for a technical review visit, a site should:

• review pertinent data (including results from the Middle Grades Assessment and findings and recommendations from the technical assistance visit) and determine progress made and next steps planned in implementing the comprehensive improvement framework;
• organize group interviews and a classroom visitation schedule; and
• arrange for meeting room space and appropriate materials

For more information, e-mail Toni Eubank at toni.eubank@sreb.org.