Our Services
Performance Reviews
Performance Reviews help school systems improve effectiveness, efficiency, and compliance with federal and state requirements. These reviews focus on recognizing existing best practices while also identifying and addressing problems that inhibit performance. Gibson takes a data-driven approach, gathering insights through interviews, document reviews, observations, surveys, and process mapping to develop evidence-based recommendations. Our findings are designed to enhance district operations, strengthen accountability, and ensure regulatory compliance. Each recommendation is supported by implementation strategies to help districts achieve the intended benefits of recommendations.
We conduct this work across virtually every area of a school system’s programmatic and operational reach. Performance Reviews can examine governance structures, planning processes, financial management, and instructional programs. Some of our clients have committed to a long-term program of continuous improvement with Gibson – some for more than 10 years.
Academic Program Management Reviews
Academic Program Management Reviews address the “system” of providing education, including how the general education program is funded and staffed, how teachers are recruited, trained, and supported, the quality and use of instructional materials and technology, and whether the curriculum is implemented with fidelity across the district. This work also addresses instructional “efficiency” through the assessment of master schedule optimization, as well as the district approach to student assessment beyond state testing.
Administrative Management Reviews
Administrative Management Reviews typically assess key areas such as human resources, technology, senior district leadership structures, and accountability systems, with focus on communications and strategic planning as needed. These reviews also include an evaluation of state reporting processes for student, staffing, and expenditure data, ensuring that district and school data collection and reporting are both accurate and efficient. By improving administrative processes and data management, we help districts operate more effectively and maximize available resources.
Special Education Program Reviews
One of Gibson’s most popular service lines, our Special Education Program Reviews, have helped districts improve the quality of academic programs and student support services, and better manage program growth. Our work covers the full spectrum of special education including student identification and referral, qualification and placement, program service delivery in a least restrictive environment, and parent engagement. Special education program reviews also include the analysis of Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), as well as the analysis of student Individual Education Program (IEP) files to identify potential compliance risks and evidence of best practices.
Efficiency Reviews
During times of financial stress, our clients often seek assistance in helping them make more informed, strategic decisions with respect to cost reduction. Many districts follow an ill-advised approach of applying a fixed percentage of across-the-board “cuts,” without any consideration as to whether an operating unit or program is efficiently operating. An Efficiency Review examines staffing data, financial data, service delivery models, and cost drivers to identify areas where savings can be achieved while maintaining or enhancing student services. Recommendations focus on streamlining operations and optimizing staffing to maximize impact. Gibson has identified annually recurring General Fund savings of up to $100 million through this work.
Financial Management Reviews
Financial Management Reviews include a wide range of areas in a school system, including financial accounting and reporting, budgeting, purchasing, payroll, accounts payable, fixed asset management, risk management, and indirect cost recovery. These areas can be addressed individually over time or through a single project. Financial management services also address how well a school system tracks, and acts on, its own financial performance and efficiency through the development and analysis of key performance indicators (KPIs).
Information Management Reviews
Information Management Reviews assist school districts in organizing, securing, and optimizing data systems to ensure efficient access to critical information. We implement tailored solutions that enhance data-driven decision-making, streamline operations, and support compliance with regulatory requirements.
Operations Management Reviews
School systems manage large operations that indirectly support student learning, such as facilities maintenance and operations, transportation services, and student nutrition services. After teachers, auxiliary staffing in these three areas represents the second largest employee group in a district, highlighting the importance of operational efficiency. As part of this service line, Gibson also conducts pre-emptive construction management audits to evaluate a school system’s readiness for a major bond program, as well as targeted audits during the life of the program.
Department
Reviews
Department Reviews help school districts assess the effectiveness and efficiency of individual departments by analyzing workflows, resource allocation, and performance outcomes. These reviews examine staffing, operations, policies, and resource allocation to determine strengths and areas for improvement. Using a combination of data analysis, interviews, document reviews, and observations, the review identifies challenges and recommends strategies to enhance department performance. Findings help leadership make informed decisions that improve processes, optimize resources, and better support students and staff.
Assessments
Audits
Assessments Audits provide school districts with a detailed evaluation of their assessment systems, examining the effectiveness, alignment, and utilization of assessments to support student learning. By analyzing assessment practices and data use, Gibson helps districts refine their approach to measuring student progress and improving instructional impact.
Family and Community Engagement Reviews
Family and Community Engagement Reviews offer school districts an in-depth evaluation of their strategies for fostering meaningful partnerships with families and communities. By assessing current engagement practices, Gibson helps districts enhance collaboration with stakeholders to support student success and strengthen community relationships.
Alternative School Reviews
Alternative School Reviews provide school districts with a focused review of alternative education programs, including alternative discipline education and alternative high schools. By examining program effectiveness, student outcomes, and resource allocation, we help districts optimize specialized programs to better meet the needs of diverse student populations.
Other Academic Program Reviews and Related Services
Gibson can review and assess any other major academic program, including Emergent Bilingual/ESL Education, Career and Technical Education, and Gifted and Talented Education, as well as Student Services. These reviews address program performance, program implementation fidelity, program efficiency, and program compliance. Our team can also evaluate any targeted program, such as after-school tutoring, specific reading programs, and teacher training and support programs. These projects can evaluate the impact of specific programs on desired student (or other) outcomes and identify factors that may be limiting program effectiveness.
Featured Case Study
Fort Bend Independent School District
Fort Bend ISD, one of Texas’ largest and most diverse school districts, recognized the need to conduct a thorough review of its special education programs to ensure students with disabilities were receiving high-quality, legally compliant services.