Specifications include, but are not limited to: Contracting with Lead Partner(s) to focus on the District’s Instructional Management System (Standard 20) of the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards to build instructional capacity that will result in improved student outcomes. The Lead Partner(s) must focus on the standards, skills and best practices needed to improve the schools’ accountability ratings (as defined by the Mississippi Department of Education’s Performance Accountability System) by at least one letter grade. The Lead Partner(s) must utilize the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP), the Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards, Learning Forward’s Professional Development Standards, the Mississippi Educator Professional Growth System, and the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders to guide the support provided. Services must include an instrument to measure the effectiveness of the services performed, relative to the amount of the investment in the services. Also, the services must require teachers to review and evaluate students’ work samples to improve instruction, i.e. projects, performance tasks, etc. The Lead Partner(s) must provide a data analysis of the tested grades at contracted schools and provide a detailed plan of how it will achieve the desired measurable goals. Although, the Lead Partner(s) may be assigned to support and coach specific teachers, JPSD is requiring that weekly/bi-weekly meetings be held with the entire staff to discuss instructional strengths and weaknesses, areas for improvement, and to demonstrate instructional strategies that will assist teachers in improving students in the area of growth and proficiency. The Lead Partner(s) must be willing to normalize instructional practices during the service period. The Lead Partner(s) must demonstrate sufficient staffing, experience, knowledge, and capability to carry out the work. Additional services that JPSD is seeking from a lead partner is to provide coaching support and leadership development for instructional coaches and principals. Again, the Learning Forward’s Professional Development Standards, the Mississippi Educator Professional Growth System, and the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders will be used to guide the support.