Become embedded in school improvement planning under NCLB.Become embedded in school improvement planning Under NCLB.
Announcement: School Improvement Plan Submission Due November 1, Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (EED)Their Description:
All Title I schools identified at Level 2 or above are required by NCLB and Alaska statute and regulations to create or revise a School Improvement plan that meets federal (NCLB 1116(b)(3)(A)(i-x)) and state requirements (AK Reg 4 AAC 06.845)....
The needs of the school’s students will be addressed through the specific actions the school chooses to implement (instructional strategies, professional development, parent involvement) that are congruent with the district’s goals as stated in the District Improvement Plan as well as with the school’s objectives....
The district is responsible for providing technical assistance to schools in creating an improvement plan. The district is also responsible for creating a peer review process to review and approve each required school improvement plan....
EED will review the School Improvement Plans and budgets submitted for alignment with the federal and state requirements, alignment to the district improvement plan and for alignment between budgets and narratives and their relationship to the improvement plan. If the plans do not meet the requirements, the department will contact the district within 5 working days of receipt of the plan to specify any revisions needed to meet the federal and state requirements....
The School Improvement Plan should be evaluated throughout the year to determine the effectiveness of the actions identified. A collection of data should be analyzed and a summary of the outcomes should be forwarded to the district office for review at the end of the school year. These outcomes should be further discussed at the school site to determine the next steps in the school improvement process – continue with action, alter action to more specifically meet the needs of the students, or implement a new action that will better meet the students’ needs. All actions implemented should be scientifically research based.
Plan requirement(s)...
• Cover a 2-year period (submitted one year at a time)....
• Îdentify specific annual, measurable objectives for continuous and substantial progress by each subgroup for being proficient on the state academic assessments....
• Determine policies and practices that have the greatest likelihood of all subgroups of students meeting the state’s academic standards....
• Utilize scientifically based research strategies to improve core academic subjects; specific to the issues that caused the school to be identified for school improvement....
• Provide an assurance that the school will spend at least 10% of the site allocation on high-quality professional development….
• Describe the professional development, including teacher mentoring activities or programs, and how it will be used to remove the school from school improvement status....
• Describe the responsibilities of the school and district, and the responsibilities agreed to by the department, including technical assistance that will be provided.....
• Provide, as appropriate, extended learning opportunities (before school, after school, summer)....
• Provide a budget and budget narrative for all School Improvement funds (at district or school site level).Our Thoughts: We can’t say what NCLB II will bring, but however low the bar is set, schools below it will have to engage in a formal improvement process. Being written into the plan submitted to the state agency is the best way to be part of our emerging industry.
