AMIDEAST will undertake a rigorous system of assessment in order to effectively document and share MSN’s successes and lessons learned.  Stakeholder satisfaction is an important factor contributing to the efficacy of school improvement initiatives supporting student learning. Baseline school satisfaction surveys of principals, teachers, students, and parents will be conducted.  This baseline data will be compared with data at the conclusion of the project in order to measure the effectiveness of school-driven initiatives. 

Similar baseline data gathered from private school student summative assessments occur in English, math, science, and critical thinking.  This annual data will be compared between years providing further evidence of improvement in learning outcomes. Public school students will participate in a formative assessment process using curriculum-embedded assessment of student performance with teams of teachers trained to develop, administer, and analyze common measures.  Schools will be able to track learning outcomes over the course of the MSN Program, and, in conjunction with the School Improvement Planning process, set measurable goals and priorities for further improvement. 

In addition to demonstrating student learning outcomes through baseline testing, the MSN Program will track organizational and institutional outcomes for schools.  The Ramallah-based organization Arab World for Research and Development (AWRAD), and a Palestinian team of academics will implement a mixed methods study of the 40 public schools that will measure basic attitudes and practices in the MSN public schools in terms of teaching practice and school effectiveness.  An initial baseline study will occur in fall 2009, followed by a post-study in the spring of 2012 in order to assess the changes at the end of the project.

MSN seeks to encourage and strengthen partnerships between schools and their communities that lead to an improved learning environment and school climate. This includes providing pupils with greater access to extracurricular programming and encouraging schools and parents to assume greater responsibility for planning and organizing such events. The aim is to promote a holistic approach to school improvement that includes all relevant stakeholders. 

The 2009–2010 academic calendar of the Youth Enrichment Program (YEP) provides a range of interactive learning experiences in a competitive and collaborative environment, as well as creatively engaging students from multiple schools. The calendar includes the following:

• Summer Camps – Discovery Days are summer camps organized in collaboration with Al Muntada Young Scientists Club which combine learning in science, math, and English. The two-week camps are structured to encourage active learning, critical thinking, discussion, and experimentation.

Professional networking is a key element of school improvement and is integrated into the program components. Monthly face-to-face trainings and learning circles provide networking opportunities among participating MSN schools. Meetings among the principals further local networking, while a week-long capstone experience at a US university is designed to expand professional networks internationally. Similarly, English teachers involved in the training program will have the opportunity to apply to attend a regional professional conference. 

An annual Learning Community Conference, the first of which took place in August 2009, involves all MSN participating school teachers and principals, MoEHE staff and select speakers.  A further aspect of professional networking includes Peer Observation Exchanges, which allow participating teachers to observe teaching practice in neighboring schools and reflect on the pedagogy and teaching styles. Finally, the VLE is meant to provide an additional professional network facility for MSN stakeholders by creating a virtual community of practice using Moodle as a platform. This support comes in the form of 1) on-line discussion forums; 2) real-time chatting; 3) on-going email exchange between the teachers and trainers; 4) web-forums introducing new material; 5) assigning and responding to on-line assignments; 6) supplementary materials mapped to current materials; and 7) links to external teaching resources. 

MSN partner schools undertake a comprehensive School Improvement Planning (SIP) process involving training and discussions with a school-led team composed of the school’s principal, two teachers, and a parent representative. The SIP team is responsible for conducting a school self-assessment based upon MoEHE standards with the aim of developing plans that will enhance school capacity. The approach tailors individual school needs and includes school computer and science lab upgrades, as well as the creation of a Teacher Resource Library.  School plans might also include further physical plant needs, such as refurbishing playgrounds and classrooms. 

AMIDEAST has developed five core components to address these objectives:

• Professional Development
• School Physical Capacity Building
• Professional Networking
• School and Community Outreach
• Assessment 

• United States Agency for International Development (USAID):http://www.usaid.gov/wbg/

• Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education:http://www.mohe.gov.ps

• Birzeit University: http://www.birzeit.edu

• Al-Quds University: http://www.alquds.edu

• An-Najah National University: http://www.najah.edu

17 Private Schools participating in MSN

College Des Freres
Greek Catholic Secondary School
Herman Gmeiner SOS School
Shepherds High School
Talitha Kumi Secondary School
The Arab Evangelical Home and school
Al Jame'a Al Shamila
Al Azhar School
Abdullah Ben Masood
St. George School
Bethany Orthodox School
Jericho Benevolent Women's Society School
Al-Awa'el Schools
American School of Palestine
Arab Evangelical Episcopal School
Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope
Friends for Girls

Public Schools (40)

Hebron District

Harbi Abu Al-Dhaba'at Basic
Ibn Khaldoun Basic for Boys
Rushdya Al Muhtaseb Basic School for Girls
Amina Bint Wahab (A) Basic
Al Rayan Basicn School for Girls
Ibrahim Abu Daba'at Secondary School
Barakat Basic School for Girls

Bethlehem District

Banat Al Awda Basic Girls School
Al Istiqlal Basic Girls School
Dar Salah Secondary School
Khulafa Al-Rashideen Girls Basic School
Al Naserah Basic Girls School

Jerusalem Suburbs

Anata Basic Girls
Hizma Basic Girls School
AL Ezarya Secondary School
Yusuf al-Khateeb Basic Boys School
Jaba Basic Girls School

Ramallah & Al-Bireh District

Saffa Secondary Girls School
Al Teereh Secondary Girls School
Saffa Basic School
Beit Ur Al- Tahta Basic School
Kharbata Al Mosbah Secondary Girls School

Jericho District

Zahret Al Mada'en Basic School
Jericho Basic School Girls
Al Ouja Secondary Girls School
Al-Nowaimeh Secondary Mixed School