Title: A Case Study on School Improvement through Leadership & Professional Learning Communities in One Urban Connecticut High School

Abbreviated Abstract: Many students require supports to promote academic achievement and eliminate barriers to achievement. Different schools work with organizations to promote success. The RISE Network is a non-profit organization that partners with schools to improve systems and practices to promote student success. Some RISE supports include tools and strategies such as an improvement cycle framework, a data hub application, protocols for distributed leadership and teacher collaboration, professional experiences, and classroom interventions. Currently, RISE works with over 50 schools across four states. The RISE program features numerous programs, including the 9th Grade Success and Postsecondary Success programs. These programs are implemented through collaboration with school administration, teachers, and counselors at partner schools. The purpose of this study is to examine the RISE program at one urban Connecticut High School to gain insights on how school leaders and educators implement and collaborate in the program, its successes and challenges, and how this will impact educators’ perceptions of student learning and achievement. This information will be organized and viewed through frameworks of Social Constructivism, Leadership, Collaboration, and the Kotter 8-Step Change Model with the intention of understanding how external educational programs operate within organizational, interpersonal, and educational contexts.