What is Alaska STEPP ? Alaska STEPP, which stands for Steps Toward Educational Progress and Partnership, is an online, school improvement planning tool based upon Indistar, a software template. Twenty- four states, including Alaska, currently use the software program to serve school, and district-level, improvement planning.

Alaska STEPP is Research Based indicators The indicators of effective practice are drawn from both national education research and the priorities of the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development.

More About Alaska STEPP Since its development and customization for Alaska five years ago, several Alaska districts have adopted STEPP as a way to incorporate continuous, comprehensive, and team-oriented school improvement planning. With the approval of Alaska’s ESEA Flexibility Waiver and the adoption of the new school accountability system in 2013, Alaska STEPP has become the required method of school improvement planning for 1-, 2-, and 3-star schools, as well as for Priority and Focus schools.

Alaska STEPP’s Framework The tool is built around the six domains of effective schools: Curriculum, Assessment, Instruction, Supportive Learning Environment, Professional Development, and Leadership. Within these six domains are 32 indicators against which school improvement teams can assess their school and focus improvement efforts. This tool is more than a software system that produces a plan for submission; it is designed to encourage a school improvement process that is ongoing and task driven, resulting in continuous engagement and improvement.

Alaska STEPP’s Six Domains... Curriculum Assessment Instruction Supportive Learning Environment Professional Development Leadership INDICATORS Within those domains are 32 assessment INDICATORS.

STEPP Indicators & Rubrics Schools

Where to Find the Rubric On the Dashboard click on the highlighted On the Dashboard click on the highlighted Alaska STEPP – School Indicators link Alaska STEPP – School Indicators link Click on the Assess square in the middle of the page. Click on the Assess square in the middle of the page. OR, For a paper copy Go to the EED homepage, click on the orange Support Tab Click on the orange Alaska STEPP Tab Click on Alaska STEPP Domains and Indicators Rubric for Schools Indicators-Rubric.pdf

 Learn to navigate the tool.  AssessINDICATORS and with a TEAM  Assess the INDICATORS and Create a Plan with a TEAM.  Enter the information in the online STEPP tool.  Assess, PlanContinued Implementation Monitoring  Assess, Plan, Continued Implementation & Monitoring. DO How ‘DO’ educators use STEPP??

Logging into STEPP Power Points Creator of STEPP

Dashboard Looking at the Dashboard Access to Main Menu Page and Navigation Toolbar

Dashboard Looking at the Dashboard Complete Forms Upload Folder Forms to Complete

Dashboard Review: Logging in & Looking at the Dashboard LOGGING IN Go to the EED Homepage  Click on the orange Support Tab  Click on Alaska STEPP  Login to Alaska STEPP  Click on Alaska STEPP  Enter Login and Password DASHBOARD What is on the DASHBOARD ?? Site name is noted in the left hand corner. Four Tabs are across the top: Home, Complete Forms, Submit Forms/Reports, and Docs & Links. Navigation Toolbar Click on Alaska STEPP – School Indicators to enter into online tools and Navigation Toolbar. OR GO TO

Main Menu Page Navigation Toolbar Finding the Main Menu Page and Navigation Toolbar Click on the highlighted Alaska STEPP – School Indicators bar Get to the Main Menu Page & Navigation Toolbar

Navigation Toolbar Finding the Navigation Toolbar MAIN MENU Page Navigation Toolbar

Navigation Toolbar Navigation Toolbar icons MAIN MENU

STEPP Search Login to STEPP using Login – ak & Password – ak. With a partner, complete each item. 1.Find the Demographics of a school. 2.Add a person to the School Team. 3.Delete a person from the School Team. 4.Find the domains of effective practice. 5. Assess an indicator. 6. Create a plan for an assessed indicator. 7. Monitor an indicator that has tasks. 8. Create a Task Report. 9. Create a ‘Where are we Now’? Report. 10. Create a new Meeting Agenda.

USING STEPP WITH A TEAM 1.Document a data analysis using the ‘School Needs Assessment Form’. 2.As a team, use the results from the Needs Assessment to Assess the applicable indicators with the Planning Worksheet and the Indicators Rubric for Schools. 3.Create a plan by writing objectives and adding tasks. 4.Monitor and adjust continuously throughout the year.

Filling out the Needs Assessment

Needs Assessment Needs Assessment form is located on the dashboard. Analyze state assessment data and MAP/AIMSWeb/Diebels/Attendance/Graduat ion Rate/Behavior/Perception data. School wide goals for areas of need in reading, writing, and math are provided. Analyze subgroup data. Write specific goals if necessary. Write a narrative summary of site’s strengths and weaknesses.

Where to find the School Needs Assessment Form Go to the Dashboard of your site’s STEPP account. Go to the Dashboard of your site’s STEPP account. Find the Complete Forms Find the Complete Forms The Needs Assessment Form link will be visible. The Needs Assessment Form link will be visible. Fill the Report out, Save, Upload into the Document Upload Folder, and submit under the Submit Forms/Reports Tab. Fill the Report out, Save, Upload into the Document Upload Folder, and submit under the Submit Forms/Reports Tab. Here

The intention of the Department of EED is that schools will fill out the School Needs Assessment form after a data analysis session so they can get an accurate look at the areas of need in their schools. This drives the continuous school improvement process.

Assess Indicators How to Assess Indicators Navigation Toolbar to find the worksheet icon In your site’s STEPP account, use the Navigation Toolbar to find the worksheet icon; print several copies of the Assess (blank) worksheet. With your STEPP Team, With your STEPP Team, using the Rubric & Worksheet, document what practices are currently being implemented at your site. Each school might assess different indicators depending on their designation or on the results of the ‘Needs Assessment’ Or, enter assessment information right into Alaska STEPP, the online tool Or, enter assessment information right into Alaska STEPP, the online tool

Navigation Toolbar Use the Navigation Toolbar Worksheets Assess

Assessing Indicators Worksheet

Assessing Indicators Online Click Here Choose an Indicator Enter the score and describe why that number was chosen.

Create a Plan Write Objectives Add Tasks How to Create a Plan: Write Objectives and Add Tasks Navigation Toolbar to find the worksheet icon In your site’s STEPP account, use the Navigation Toolbar to find the worksheet icon; print several copies of the Plan (blank) worksheet. With your STEPP Team, With your STEPP Team, using the Rubric & Worksheet, write objectives and add tasks. AssessPlan Monitoring Enter the data from the Assess & Plan Worksheets into STEPP and begin Monitoring your site’s progress.

Create a Plan by Writing Objectives and Adding Tasks using the Planning Worksheet

Click Here Add a task Write and Objective Creating a Plan: Writing Objectives and Adding Tasks Online

Monitor Tasks Online Click Here Choose a Task Make comments and track progress.

Comprehensive Plan Report

Alaska STEPP is an online, continuous continuous improvement planning tool that puts the emphasis on the process and takes it off of the paperwork.

Continuous Improvement Model Alaska STEPP is based on the Continuous Improvement ModelPlan Implement Monitor Monitor (assess) Revise (plan) Implement Assess

Alaska STEPP is a Framework It provides school and district teams with an organizational tool for planning & documenting their work.

Alaska STEPP is a Process Teams Teams monitor the implementation of their plan over the course of the year. continuouslyassess The plan is never finished and teams continuously assess, planmonitor plan, and monitor.

Alaska STEPP is Adaptable It is designed to be flexible in order to meet the individual needs of Alaska’s diverse schools and districts.

team Alaska STEPP is a team driven process for school improvement.

Alaska STEPP is: Continuous Comprehensive Team-oriented However…. STEPP is not a Magic Bullet!!!

REVIEW Dashboard Navigation Tool  Can you find your site’s Dashboard & Navigation Tool in STEPP?  Do you know the difference between the ‘Needs Assessment’ & Assessing Indicators? using printable worksheets, or using the online tool  Do you know how to Assess Indicators and Create a Plan using printable worksheets, or using the online tool? Assess, Create/Plan Monitor  Can you describe how the continuous cycle of Assess, Create/Plan & Monitor is different than the previous paper school improvement process?

First Steps School STEPP teams are formed and have regular meetings scheduled. Complete a Data Analysis & Needs Assessment. Make sure the chosen indicators meet the requirements of school designation and star rating and are based on areas of greatest need. Make sure the objectives and tasks created get your school from where you are, to where you want to go. Are the tasks realistic? Is the timeline for completion realistic? Schedule at least one meetings per month for the entire school year.

Form Team Create Plan Implement Monitor Assess Yearly Flow of Work for Schools

For additional information about Alaska STEPP Contact: Patricia Farren Ph# Sheila Box Ph# Brad Billings Ph#