Progettare il miglioramento: dalla scelta delle priorità alla realizzazione delle azioni

The contribution presents the theoretical and methodological design of the research regarding the Vales project implemented by the Department of Education (Di.Sfor.) of the University of Genoa with INDIRE. The research aimed at deepening the themes of accountability and evaluation in education sector and the resulting impacts on roles, relationships and practices within schools. The object was to provide support to a sample of schools in the planning and evaluation of the school improvement, basing on data deriving by the internal and external evaluation processes. The essay presents the different steps of the implemented action-research, which has involved different actors (teachers, headmasters, INDIRE’s advisors) in the definition of school improvement objectives and needed actions to achieve them, as well as in the construction of indicators to evaluate processes and results. Finally, the earliest evidence emerged from the qualitative research phase are outlined.