Overview of 2005-2006 School Improvement Plan Process

The intent of the School Improvement process for 2005-2006 is to encourage a data-driven decision-making process for schools and to focus the efforts of school improvement plans on no more than 3 carefully identified goals with aligned strategies and actions. It is the intent of the department to provide as much technical support as possible to assist districts in reviewing the plans, and that department review would primarily focus on alignment of expenditures. Each school district will receive an allocation of School Improvement funds that must be spent on Title I schools in Level 2 or above. A school district may submit one budget and narrative for the district or may submit one budget and narrative per school site.

The following companion documents are available on the Department of Education website under Forms & Grants, School Improvement (www.eed.state.ak.us/forms/forms2.html#SchImp).

∑ The 2004-2005 School Improvement Plan Resource Guide (optional) includes instructions for each of the four steps, a ≥Tools and Resources≤ section for each step, a sample ≥Data Analysis Summary, a sample ≥School Improvement Plan – Changes to Current Practice≤, and guiding questions for a district review of school improvement plans.

∑ The Data Analysis Tools Packet (optional) provides templates for reviewing and analyzing student achievement data.

∑ The Budget and Budget Narrative packet is required for requesting School Improvement funds.

Schools may use any valid school improvement planning process, but Title I schools in Level 2 or above are required to submit the items in this packet to the district for review and approval. The district will submit this packet to EED after its review and approval. The process and plan presented are not intended to replace other more comprehensive school reform or improvement efforts, but rather to complement those processes and focus on the specific areas that are causing the school to miss adequate yearly progress targets. The process is outlined briefly in the following four steps:

Step 1. Focus on the Data – Analysis and Goals

Select members of school improvement team – representatives should include teachers, staff, parents, and community members.
Analyze benchmark data at school level, subgroup level, and by performance standards.
Identify up to 3 critical areas of need and translate them into specific, measurable goals.

Step 2. Focus on Instruction – Changing current practice

Research materials and instructional strategies to find those that have been proven through research to address areas of need identified in Step 1. Include extended learning opportunities (before school, after school, summer) as appropriate.
Determine which current materials and strategies to keep and which to change.
Identify professional development for teachers and principals to address the academic needs related to not making AYP and strategies to promote effective parent involvement.
Identify funds that are needed to implement the new materials and strategies.
Identify person(s) responsible for each activity and a 2-year timeline with specific milestones for implementing instructional strategies and activities to support changed instructional strategies.

Step 3. Focus on Change – Measuring Change

Select assessments to be used to measure student growth that match and reasonably measure materials and strategies being implemented (Assessments may be created by teachers or obtained from publishers.)
Determine the timeline for implementing the assessments (frequently during the school year) and what indicators of student growth are expected.
Determine the timeline and persons responsible for analyzing local student assessment data (at least quarterly) and making recommendations for change, if necessary.
Determine timeline and persons responsible for monitoring the implementation of the materials and strategies chosen during the year.
Complete the School Improvement Plan – Changes to Current Practice pages, with the exception of the ≥Final Outcome/Revision≤ column. Complete one page for each of the 3 goals and expand the sections as needed. (See the Sample ≥School Improvement Plan 2004-2006 - Changes to Current Practice≤ on pages 45-47 of the School Improvement Plan Resource Guide.)
Submit the plan to the district for review and approval by September 15, 2005.
The district must submit the plan to EED by October 1, 2005.
Complete and submit a budget and narrative for the School Improvement funds.

Step 4. Focus on Evaluation – Results / Revision

Review the local assessment data and state assessment data.
Review the implementation of the plan. Was it fully implemented?
Determine if there was student progress and if the strategies/materials worked.
Determine what changes, if any, need to be made for the coming school year.

∑ Complete the Final Outcome/Revision column of the School Improvement Plan – Changes to Current Practice pages. Submit to EED by May 15, 2006.

The School Improvement Plan Changes to Current Practice form may be expanded to include all necessary information within the table. A 12-point font is recommended. Please do not send additional materials, lesson plans, student work, or test scores. One Assurances packet, and one Budget/Narrative may be sent for each district; all other documents must be completed for each Title I, Level 2 or above school improvement site.

2005-2006 School Improvement Plan Submission Checklist

Required Form	OK
1. School Improvement Plan Cover Sheet
2. School Improvement Planning Team
3. School Improvement Changes to Current Practice pages Goals 1, 2 & 3
4. School Improvement Budget and Narrative (one for each school)
5. Level 4 Sites Only: District Corrective Action Summary
6. District Assurances Packet – Original to be mailed to the Department if electronic signature is unavailable – One per district

School Improvement Plan

School Year 2005-2006

Cover Sheet