ESP

Effective Schools Project

Initiated in 1988, Tarleton State University's Effective Schools Project (ESP) has evolved into one of the nation's largest and longest-running school-improvement ventures. With the Effective Schools research as its foundation, ESP us a school improvement network linking the Tarleton faculty with campus leadership teams from over fifty Texas schools in an ongoing effort to enhance school effectiveness. Since its inception, ESP has partnered with 216 different public schools campuses and Education Service Centers to provide comprehensive professional development opportunities for educators.

The ESP Journal

The ESP Journal is the official publication of the Effective Schools Project. The state-wide journal is dedicated to the dissemination of information, ideas and research among the participates in ESP, as well as other interested educators. Published annually, each issue of the journal focuses on a particular theme, but consideration is given to non-thematic articles.

Requirements for ESP Members

Participation in ESP is voluntary. In order to participate in the project, each campus agrees to the following:

Development of campus improvement plan,
Development of campus leadership team which is integrated with and representative of other existing campus instructional committees and/or planning groups,
Regular attendance at ESP meetings and seminars,
Regular meetings of the campus leadership team in order to discuss the campus plan and assess the progress of goal attainment, and
Principal attendance at an orientation meeting for schools new to ESP

Campus Planning Workshop

In March, ESP leadership teams are invited to attend a two-day planning workshop. This spring retreat has become one of the most anticipated and valued events of the project year. During the workshop, school leadership teams are able to evaluate their school year-to-date, to reflect on the research and other information received at ESP conferences, to refine their campus improvement plan or other school operations, and to exchange ideas, goals, and triumphs with other campus teams.

Conferences and Seminars

Professional development conferences and seminars are at the heart of ESP. These events provide members with current educational research, theories, and policies while emphasizing campus implementation and classroom instruction. Seminars draw upon the expertise of state and national consultants. An Advisory Committee of teachers, principals, and superintendents recommends topics and speakers, helping ESP respond to campus and district needs and concerns. The professional development series is organized around school improvement themes broadly associated with one or more of the correlates of effective schools. This year's theme is Teaching to the Hearts and Minds of Learners.

News and Events

September 15, 2009-Spencer Henry

October 8, 2009-Robyn Jackson

February 3, 2010-Gretchen Goodman

March 10, 2010-Alan Blankstein

March 25-26, 2010-ESP Planning Retreat