Alignment: The process of adjusting components of a system so that they are in an appropriate, relative position. For example, the curriculum should be aligned to state standards, and assessments should be aligned to the curriculum.

Collaboration: To work together, especially in an intellectual effort.

Confidentiality: Information entrusted with the confidence of another, what is confided is kept guarded.

Continuous improvement: The ongoing improvement of products, services, or processes through incremental and breakthrough improvements. Often represented by the PDSA cycle.

Data Retreat: An opportunity for educators to collaboratively analyze school data and develop / revise data-based goals and implementation plans. The focus of a data retreat varies based on the schoolˇ¦s needs. Data retreats contribute to systemic change by: using a variety of data sources that relate to school functioning, involving multiple stakeholders, and creating the opportunity for ample, informed, and goal-oriented communication.

Decision support systems: A system that supports the reaching of a conclusion or decision. The term is often used to refer to electronic tools, such as computer software, that efficiently analyze data for users. In other cases, it may reference a network of professionals available for practical or moral support, information, and advice on shared problems.

Electronic databases: A collection of data, or factual information organized for analysis, that is stored electronically.

"First-order" change: Change that is limited or only affects an isolated part of a system, rather than the whole system.

Force: An energy or strength that compels or restrains. In a school system, examples of forces might be: State Department of Education, Federal Department of Education, school administration, school staff, school grounds, attitudes, beliefs, working philosophies, community needs, board members, etc.

Force Field Analysis: An activity that organizes the driving and preventing forces for change within a system so that they are more easily analyzed.

General trend: The general direction in which something tends to move, a general tendency or inclination, an overall pattern.

School improvement teams: Typically a multidisciplinary group of school professionals who represent all staff in key decision-making. For example, a team attending an academic data retreat from a K-8 School might include: Principal, Academic Head, Counselor, Lower Elementary Teacher, Middle Elementary Teacher and Upper Elementary Teacher.

"Second-order" change: A profound and lasting type of change that requires a system to make a cultural shift by going deeper into the how their systems are structured and the ways in which people work together. It touches everyone who participates in the organization by modifying the patterns in which people think, perceive, behave, relate to each other, and collaborate. It affects the whole system, rather than an isolated part of a system.

Stakeholders: Anyone who has a vested interest, something at stake that they can gain or lose in a system. Stakeholders of a school system might include but are not limited to: community members, teachers, teacher assistants, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, janitors, dorm supervisors, students, parents, administrators, government agencies, politicians, business leaders, etc.