b. How does your school accomplish this goal?
2. What differences, if any, are there between students from the con- sortium’s attendance area and those who come from without this area?
a. What impact are these differences making?
b. Are students integrating?
3. What are the significant changes you have seen from your middle school experience before the MSMC?
a. How is the schedule different?
b. What is different for students?
c. In what ways do you feel the school is organized for learn- ing?
4. How important is the information technology theme in the way the curriculum is presented?
a. How important is curriculum integration?
b. Do you believe curriculum integration is occurring in all sub- jects?
c. Are the elective classes reflecting information technology supporting the core curriculum?
5. Tell me some things that have happened at this school in the last year and a half of which you are particularly proud.
6. In what ways does your school connect with the larger community?
a. How are parents involved in the school?
b. How do the business, professional, and cultural communi- ties get involved with your school?
7. Who is on your school leadership team?
a. How were these members selected?
b. How does the leadership team communicate with the staff?
8. When issues or problems occur, what process is used to resolve them?
a. Do teachers have the opportunity to participate in the decision-making? How?
b. Are students involved in decision-making? How?
9. How does the district support Argyle Middle School?
10. How much autonomy is given to Argyle Middle School?
a. How much autonomy does the leadership team have to make personnel decisions?
b. How much control does the school have over the budget?
c. How much flexibility does the school have with curriculum?
d. How does the district hold school leadership account- able for achieving established standards and benchmarks?
Lessons Learned – I’m now going to ask a few questions about the first year and a half of the program’s implementation.
1. What were some of the surprises you found in the first year of im- plementation?
a. Were there some parts of the program that went better than you expected?
b. Were there some parts of the program that needed more support than you expected?
2. What are your impressions about the success of the program dur- ing the first year?
3. In reviewing the first year and a half of the MSMC, what has been learned that can be applied to reform in other district middle schools?
Closing – As we finish up, I want to thank you, again, for your help, and ask if there is anything we’ve missed.
1. Is there anything I should have asked you about the MSMC that I haven’t?
2. Do you have any other information you think I would be interested in?
Teachers
Study Introduction: Thank you for agreeing to talk with me about the Middle School Magnet Consortium. We are interviewing school leaders, like yourself, about your perceptions of the impact of this process on students and learning in Montgomery County middle schools. The pur- pose of the study is to find out how the MSMC is addressing the needs of middle school students. We also are interested in documenting lessons learned during the first year of implementation and the transition to the second year. This study is not an evaluation of your school or the pro- gram. Rather, it is a case study that may be used to help other schools implement the lessons you have learned effectively. In this interview, we hope you will share with us your perceptions of your school’s program
and the impact it has had on your school’s students, teachers, and fami- lies.
We will not identify you, personally, in any of the reports we make follow- ing this study. You are free to end your participation at any time. Do you have any questions?
Strategic Plan – I first want to ask you some questions about the district strategic plan, Our Call to Action.
1. Which parts of the MCPS strategic plan does the MSMC address?
2. How does your school’s program support the overall goals of MCPS?
a. Are there specific ways the program addresses district goals?
b. Do you believe most teachers and students are aware of the primary goals of the district and the MSMC? How are these communicated?
MSMC and Middle School Reform – Now I would like to ask you about your school.
1. What is the district’s primary goal in creating magnet schools?
a.How is this reflected?
b. How does your school accomplish this goal?
2. What differences, if any, are there between students from the con- sortium’s attendance area and those who come from without this area?
a. What impact are these differences making?
b. Are students integrating?
3. What are the significant changes you have seen from your middle school experience before the MSMC?
a. How is the schedule different?
b. What is different for students?
c. In what ways do you feel the school is organized for learn- ing?
4. How important is the information technology theme in the way the curriculum is presented?
a. How important is curriculum integration?
b. Do you believe curriculum integration is occurring in all sub- jects?
c. Are the elective classes reflecting information technology supporting the core curriculum?
5. Tell me some things that have happened at this school in the last year and a half of which you are particularly proud.
6. In what ways does your school connect with the larger community?
a. How are parents involved in the school?
b. How do the business, professional, and cultural communi- ties get involved with your school?
7. Who is on your school leadership team?
a. How were these members selected?
b. How does the leadership team communicate with the staff?
8. When issues or problems occur, what process is used to resolve them?
a. Do teachers have the opportunity to participate in the decision-making? How?
b. Are students involved in decision-making? How?
9. What are some of the elements of your school improvement plan?
a. What is your school’s vision?
b. What are priorities for the school?
10. What is the principal’s role at Argyle Middle School?
a. In what ways does the principal impact student learning?
b. What would you most like to tell your principal?
Lessons Learned – I’m now going to ask a few questions about the first year and a half of the program’s implementation.
1. What were some of the surprises you found in the first year of im- plementation?
a. Were there some parts of the program that went better than you expected?
b. Were there some parts of the program that needed more support than you expected?
2. What are your impressions about the success of the program dur- ing the first year?
3. In reviewing the first year and a half of the MSMC, what has been learned that can be applied to reform in other district middle schools?
Closing – As we finish up, I want to thank you, again, for your help, and ask if there is anything we’ve missed.
1. Is there anything I should have asked you about the MSMC that I haven’t?
2. Do you have any other information you think I would be interested in?