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Framework For Improving Student Outcomes (FISO) : Fact Sheet

The Framework for Improving Student Outcomes (FISO) provides Victorian schools with a unified improvement framework focused on improving student outcomes. It consists of an improvement cycle used by schools to self-evaluate, plan, and report on improvement activities. The framework also includes six improvement initiatives schools can focus on, such as building teacher expertise, developing leadership teams, and strengthening community partnerships. These initiatives are backed by theories of change that link specific improvement actions to expected outcomes for students.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)

157 views

Framework For Improving Student Outcomes (FISO) : Fact Sheet

Uploaded by

babyetchel

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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FACT SHEET:

FISO

Framework for Improving Student Outcomes (FISO)

OVERVIEW • the Improvement Model, including six high-impact
Improvement Initiatives, and

The Framework for Improving Student Outcomes (FISO) is • the Improvement Measures.
the unifying framework for improvement in Victorian schools. FISO IMPROVEMENT CYCLE
The FISO uses contemporary school improvement and The Improvement Cycle uses an evidence-based model that
school effectiveness research to help schools focus their helps schools to implement a more effective continuous
efforts on key areas that are known to have the greatest Improvement Cycle. Schools use the Improvement Cycle to:
impact on improved student outcomes. self-evaluate, review and diagnose areas that require

The FISO is made up of three elements. Together, these attention, plan for improvement and report to their

complement and reinforce the capacity of schools to deliver

the Education State reforms and improve outcomes for all
students:
• the Improvement Cycle

Last updated: 8 July 2019

FACT SHEET:
FISO

communities on their activities, outcomes and plan for individual student needs to accelerate student progress and
improvement. ensure all students can reach their potential.

FISO IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES

Each of the six Improvement Initiatives, including their

respective theories of change, are outlined in detail in the Theory of change – Curriculum, Planning and
following pages. The six Improvement Initiatives are: Assessment

• Building practice excellence If we establish and embed continuous curriculum and

assessment planning, research and documentation,
• Curriculum planning and assessment
then we will ensure that what students learn is relevant,
• Building leadership teams
contemporary and targeted to their needs,
• Empowering students and building school pride
so that we maximise student engagement and help
• Setting expectations and promoting inclusion students to evaluate, understand and take increasing
responsibility for their progress.
• Building communities.

1. Building Practice Excellence

3. Building leadership teams
Under this initiative, teachers, principals and education
support staff work together across schools to build Under this initiative, schools will: develop the capabilities of
knowledge and expertise; develop, test and strengthen their leadership teams in using evidence and proven
teaching and assessment approaches; master the use of coaching and feedback methods, build a culture that is
learning interventions; and enhance feedback to students focused on improved performance, strengthen their
and staff. succession planning and strengthen the induction of new

Theory of change – Building Practice Excellence Theory of change – Building Leadership Teams

If we privilege extended opportunities for collaborative If we strengthen the capabilities of school leadership

learning with a focus on developing new pedagogical teams to create a performance and development

strategies and evaluative skills, culture,

then we will support the development and uptake of then we will enhance the capacity of Victoria’s schools

high-impact pedagogical strategies, encourage a to continually challenge, support and improve practice,

culture of ongoing professional learning, and so that we make a greater positive difference to student
incorporate targeted feedback and continuous outcomes and ensure Victoria’s schools are
improvement in everyday teaching practice, challenging, empowering and professionally rewarding

so that we improve the precision of teaching practice places to work, develop and lead.

and our collective capacity to meet every student’s teachers into the professional learning culture of their
learning needs. school.

2. Curriculum planning and assessment 4. Empowering students and building school

pride
Under this initiative, schools embed a culture of curriculum
planning and assessment of the impact of learning Under this initiative, the whole school community engages
programs, adjusting task, content and practice to suit with students so they have a voice in the learning process,
fully and proudly participate in school life and have a greater

Last updated: 8 July 2019

FACT SHEET:
FISO

say in the decisions that affect their learning and their lives Under this initiative, schools build relationships within their
at school. broader communities by partnering with organisations in the
community sector. Such partnerships enable fuller use of
Theory of change – Empowering Students and existing community resources and capabilities, and increase
Building School Pride the efficacy of services delivered ‘inside the school gate’.
If we develop a culture where teachers and students
work together, and where student voices are heard, Theory of change – Building Communities
respected and acted on, If we strengthen and focus collaborative partnerships
then we will build students’ confidence and a sense of between schools, families and the broader community,
self-worth, mastery and self-efficacy, then we will create a more comprehensive network of
so that students feel proud of and connected to their support for students and promote proven ‘protective’
school, and develop responsibility for their learning and factors,
development. so that we harness the full capacity of the community
to support student learning and enhance student
outcomes in all facets of their lives.
5. Setting expectations and promoting inclusion

Under this initiative, schools work across their communities THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
to implement a shared approach to supporting the health,
Strengthened alignment of school planning
wellbeing, inclusion and engagement of all students. This
includes building teachers’ understandings of positive • School Strategic Plan – developed by the principal
behaviour support and engagement practices, and ensuring and school council. Endorsed by the Regional
students have the tools and skills to develop positive and Director on behalf of the Secretary and refreshed
self-regulating behaviours. annually (if required).

Theory of change – Improvement cycle

Theory of change – Setting Expectations and If we use data to accurately diagnose the areas of our
Promoting Inclusion practice requiring the greatest improvement,
If we embed students’ individual and collective then we can prioritise and set goals in a few key areas
wellbeing in curriculum design and in the daily activities to focus our attention, efforts and resources intensively.
and experiences of each school,
If we develop strategies and staged actions to
then we will create a positive and inclusive learning implement our priorities and goals, and identify
environment that enables a stronger focus on learning, measures of success for these actions,
so that all students are supported to reach their full we can then intentionally and rigorously monitor our
potential regardless of background or individual need. progress towards improving student outcomes.

If we make routine the way we monitor and evaluate the

6. Building communities impact of our actions,
Research shows that parent and community involvement in then we understand what has contributed to our
school life and operations is one of the factors most closely successes, and diagnose issues and where further effort
associated with improved student learning outcomes. is required.

Last updated: 8 July 2019

FACT SHEET:
FISO

• Annual Implementation Plan: for improving student is on track and comparable to that of other leading
outcomes – how the school will implement jurisdictions at this point in time in their reform journeys. It
improvement strategies and monitor actions to also finds:
understand progress towards annual targets. The
• the FISO Model is well-established, as evidenced
plan is endorsed by school council and region.
by the alignment of schools’ key improvement
• Performance and Development Plan – Aligned with strategies against FISO priority areas and
School Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation initiatives
Plan: For Improving Student Outcomes. Principal
• schools are increasingly aware of and comfortable
Performance and Development Plan endorsed by
with the FISO Improvement Cycle, however further
Senior Education Improvement Leader. Teacher
targeted efforts are required to help schools use it
Performance and Development Plan endorsed by
with greater sophistication
principal.
• FISO should remain a mechanism for driving
School-level structures and practices
continuous improvement in schools
• Documented curriculum plan, assessment and
• the FISO Model and Improvement Cycle should
shared pedagogical approaches.
remain relatively stable for the life of the Education
• School-based professional learning program State agenda.
developed and implemented that supports the
school’s identified improvement strategies.
KEY LINKS
• School Improvement Team formed to develop,
Watch a video about FISO see:
oversee and evaluate the effectiveness and impact
of the Annual Implementation Plan. Frameworks for improving student outcomes.

• Student voice, leadership and agency in own FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

learning activated so students have positive school What’s the big idea behind FISO?
experiences and can act as partners in school
The big idea behind FISO is that our system is more likely
improvement.
to deliver success for students if we approach our work
• Whole school approach to health, wellbeing, using a common language, a common cycle of improvement
inclusion and engagement. and a common set of success criteria to define our
improvement, all based on the best available evidence.
• Moderation of common student assessment tasks.
From the classroom, to networks, to the system as a whole,
• Data collection, analysis and evaluation of student the FISO supports us to improve as a system.
learning growth over time.
How does FISO interact with the other Education
• Explicit use of evidence based school improvement State priority projects?
strategies and teacher professional practice
FISO provides the evidence base, advice, guidelines, tools
activities. and resources to support schools as they implement the
HOW IS FISO IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESSING? Education State initiatives to improve outcomes for all
children and young people.
The evaluation of FISO has concluded with some very
• Leadership projects support school leaders to drive
pleasing findings about the uptake and implementation of
improvement through the Professional leadership
FISO by Victorian schools.
priority of the Improvement Model.
Overall, the evaluation found that FISO is an effective
• Professional Learning Communities provide a way of
continuous improvement framework and its implementation
working that uses inquiry for schools to focus on the

Last updated: 8 July 2019

FACT SHEET:
FISO

Excellence in teaching and learning priority of the • agreed goals and targets
Improvement Model, as they also implement the • high expectations of students, teachers and
Victorian Curriculum. parents in relation to each student’s outcomes,
and
• In order to build system capability, networks apply a
• strategic and coordinated use of these
Communities of Practice approach to problem-solve,
additional resources.
share best practice and work collaboratively on
implementing the high-impact Improvement Initiatives • A prime focus on individual students – to ensure
of the Improvement Model. that teachers know where each student is up to in
their learning and can regularly monitor each
• The Positive climate for learning and Community
student’s progress as a basis for planning the next
engagement in learning priorities of the Improvement
learning steps for this student.
Model support schools, Navigator services and
LOOKOUT Education Support Centres to work closely • Ongoing evaluation and monitoring of student
together to meet the needs of disengaged learners and progress through systematic use of:
the children and young people in out-of-home care. • data (e.g. literacy and numeracy outcomes
data; student satisfaction and attendance
Does equity funding play a role in implementing
data) to identify students at risk, and
FISO?
• diagnostic and developmental assessment
A key Education State objective is to reduce the disparities tools to identify student learning needs and to
in student achievement – or close the gaps that are evident ensure that the programs being implemented
between regions, between schools and between classes are resulting in improved outcomes for
within schools. The successful use of equity funds is seen in individual students.
the leverage they provide for better use of core funds and in
• Professional learning to strengthen teacher
their direct application to the school’s Improvement
capacity to develop individual learning plans for
Initiatives.
students requiring the most intensive assistance;
Equity funding should be used by schools to improve the supporting teachers to monitor student progress
learning outcomes of all students. This funding should be and adjust learning plans and teaching strategies
used to support: accordingly.
• A whole-school approach to supporting students • Development of programs that create and maintain
from low socio-economic backgrounds and/or positive and productive partnerships with families
requiring individual targeted assistance, and community organisations.
characterised by:
• high-quality leadership
• a clear vision