The Breaking Ranks II™ (BRII) and Breaking Ranks in the Middle™ (BRIM) Processes employ comprehensive, research based strategies that emphasize coaching and on-going professional development to improve teaching and learning in individual schools and classrooms. They incorporate a series of services that address the school's comprehensive level of readiness to implement Breaking Ranks II and Breaking Ranks in the Middle.

Both Breaking Ranks processes focus on a three-tiered approach to carrying out school reform. Activities, programs, and processes fall under the three core areas of Breaking Ranks:

·   Collaborative Leadership and Professional  
Learning Communities

·   Personalizing the School Environment

·   Making Learning Personal through Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

Collaborative Leadership and Professional Learning Communities

A Design Team made up of administrators, faculty/ staff, students, parents and community members is created in each school. The BRII or BRIM Coach works collaboratively with the principal and design team in overseeing the change process and guides the work assisting with:

• Support for Design Teams
• Data Team Training and Support
• Team Leader Support
• Providing Scheduling Options
• Conducting Collegial Circles

Personalizing the School Environment

Research indicates that students who are known well and who feel cared about are more academically successful and tend to graduate from school in higher numbers, with increased  capability of entering postsecondary education or the world of work. Schools need to be places where no students fall through the cracks, and each student is known well by at least one adult in the building. The BRII and BRIM Processes help schools create structures for personalizing the school environment, such as:

• Creating Grade Teams and Smaller Learning Communities
• Student Advisories
• Personalized Plans for Progress/ Student-Led Conferences
• Student Leadership Teams and Activities

Making Learning Personal through Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

At the core of any positive change in schools is an engaging curriculum for students that is meaningful, is delivered with regard to students' multiple learning styles and cultures, and includes a variety of assessment opportunities for students to demonstrate proficiency.  The Breaking Ranks Process provides schools with professional development and support to institute structures that allow for such innovation, including:

• Developing Cross-Content Projects
• Employing Multiple Instructional Strategies to Address Cultural and Learning Style Differences

Breaking Ranks Process Activities

CSSR provides a number of services as part of the Breaking Ranks II™
and Breaking Ranks in the Middle™ processes. All or some of the activities can be part of the uniquely designed technical assistance plan for each individual school.

Available activities

School Change Coaching
Data Team Coaching
Values and Strategy Alignment
Student Shadowing and Focus Groups
Building Professional Communities Through Teaming
Personalizing Teaching for Student Learning
Successful Freshman Transition Teams
Support for Freshman Academy Teams
Changing Roles and Responsibility Workshop Series
Summer Training for Teacher Teams
Assistance with Scheduling
Critical Friends Training
Summer Retreat
Planning for Future Grant Funding