Iowa School District Charts the Path for Continuous Improvement Journey

Case Study - May 2007

Abstract:In 2006 the Cedar Rapids Community School District began a long-range initiative to engage every student through empowerment, ownership, and accountability by creating a student-centered environment via a continuous improvement classroom. The district is working to align all improvement activities and resources to its strategic plan. In turn, each school coordinates improvement plans with the district’s plan, and classroom teachers align their work to the school’s improvement plans—all to create a unified, systemic, and systematic approach to continuous improvement. Continuous improvement initiatives focus on student achievement, but quality tools are also extended to support services such as food and nutrition, community relations, and accounting, which play an integral role in creating a positive learning environment. Although it’s early in the quality journey, the district has already garnered statewide recognition, earning a bronze award in the Iowa Recognition for Performance Excellence (IRPE) awards program.

Keywords: Case study; Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award; Education; Student empowerment; Accountability; Alignment; Strategic planning; Iowa Recognition for Performance Excellence award