Student Outcomes Focused Governance

As part of the core competencies of Student Outcomes Focused Governance, The Rochester Board of Education and District Administration have established a cadence for monitoring the progress of the Superintendent's interim goals and guardrails at monthly Board business meetings from May 2026 through March 2030. For completeness, the progress schedule includes live links to each goal and guardrail.

View the  2026-2030 Progress Monitoring Schedule
Approved on April 23, 2026

Purpose

This model helps school boards focus their time, energy, and decisions on what matters most—improving student success. It is based on the idea that student outcomes don’t change until adult behaviors change, and that what happens in the boardroom shapes what happens in the classroom.

The Six Core Competencies

Vision & Goals: Set clear, measurable goals for student outcomes (3–5 years). Goals are SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, results-focused, and timebound. Developed with community, student, and staff input.

Values & Guardrails: Define what the district will not do while pursuing goals, based on community values. Ensure that what matters most to families is protected.

Monitoring & Accountability: Regularly review progress toward goals using data. Spend at least half of board meeting time on monitoring progress. Hold the superintendent accountable for student outcomes.

Communication & Collaboration: Lead transparently and involve the community in goal setting and monitoring. Keep meetings focused, purposeful, and accessible.

Unity & Trust: Operate as one team with the superintendent. Follow agreed-upon ethical and procedural guidelines.

Continuous Improvement: Regularly evaluate board performance. Invest in training, reflection, and improvement of governance practices.

How It Works

Why It Matters

For more information about the Student Outcomes Focused Governance framework, please see the Council of Great City Schools (CGCS) Student Outcomes Focused Governance Manual. 

• Set the Direction: The board, with the superintendent, creates one to five long-term student outcome goals that represent the vision for what students know and are able to do, and one to five guardrails protecting community values.
• Track Progress: Use a monitoring calendar to check progress at regular intervals.
• Stay Focused: Allocate meeting time toward student outcomes, not day-to-day operations.
• Engage the Community: Involve students, parents, and staff in meaningful ways. 
• Evaluate & Adjust: Quarterly self-evaluations ensure the board is improving its own effectiveness.
• Aligns the district’s work with the community’s hopes for students.
• Keeps leadership accountable for results.
• Builds trust between the board, superintendent, and community.
• Improves the likelihood that all students succeed—no matter their background.