An accountability system should be held accountable.  One way SALT holds itself accountable is by creating a continuous flow of feedback about how well it is working.  This feedback is used to improve the SALT system.

SALT has been gathering and analyzing feedback for its improvement since it began.  But in the 2000-01 school year -- the first year in which sixty schools were visited -- SALT put a standing feedback and evaluation system in place.  The SALT team began by piloting a comprehensive feedback and evaluation process that creates a link to all parties touched by the SALT system.  Because the feedback comes from every point SALT touches, it is a "360 degree" feedback system.  This year the feedback process included:

• Studies of six schools that had hosted SALT visits

• Feedback from the principals, superintendents and field service teams of those schools

• Focus groups with the SALT Fellows and the RIDE SALT team

• Meetings with principals hosted by RIASP

• A meeting with superintendents hosted by RIASA

• A study of SALT visit reports

This feedback focused on how well the SALT activities are working to help schools improve learning and teaching.  It will be used during the summer of 2001 to revise SALT procedures and protocols.

[LINK NEEDED] Click here to view the Phase One Report to RIDE and SALT Leadership (requires Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded here.)

In its mature form, the system will continuously gather feedback from various constituents:

• School improvement teams

• Teachers

• Principals

• Parents

• Superintendents

• Visit team members

• RIDE

• Others 

This information will go to RIDE, the SALT team, the public, and to all those affected by SALT.