Quality frameworks provide orientation for school inspections and self-evaluations of schools and
can serve as guidelines for schools for quality development processes and the formulation of school
profiles.
The quality framework of Lower Saxony was inspired by those of other countries, for
example, Austria, Scotland or the Netherlands, as well as the by the evaluation concept of the INISproject
of the Bertelsmann Foundation [4] and the EFQM (European Foundation for Quality
Management) model for quality management. It is based on six quality areas, which are relevant
for the control and improvement of school quality. These areas are (1) processes and outcomes of
instruction; (2) professionalism of teachers; (3) school leadership and management; (4) school and
class atmosphere; (5) contact with non-school partners; and (6) quality management
(Niedersächsisches Kultusministerium, 2003). These quality areas are described by 32
characteristics of quality, which are in turn specified by 90 criteria. By providing examples, these
characteristics and their criteria are illustrated in situations that may occur in schools or classrooms.
Furthermore, indicators are assigned to each of the 32 quality criteria. These indicators can be
observed and evaluated with certain instruments in order to assess whether the quality criteria
have been fulfilled or not. All information is provided in a table that makes the quality framework
easily applicable for self-evaluations (see Table I).