From SEF to SIP March 24, 2010

Content Objectives Participants will 1. Understand SIP law 2. Explore the CNA 3. Explore the Plan-Do-Check-Act Model for improvement planning 4. Understand root causes of an area of weakness 5. Develop a plan for addressing an area of weakness 6. Understand the SIP template

Language Objectives Participants will 1. Read and discuss portions of the CNA 2. Discuss a priority area 3. Write causes for area of weakness 4. Discuss and write a plan of action 5. Read and discuss the SIP template

The Taxonomy Table The Knowledge Dimension 1. Remember 2. Understand 3. Apply 4. Analyze 5. Evaluate 6. Create A. Factual Knowledge B. Conceptual Knowledge C. Procedural Knowledge D. Meta- Cognitive Knowledge The Cognitive Process Dimension CO4 CO1 CO4 LO2,3 CO2 CO5 LO4 CO6 LO1

Habits of Mind Persisting Listening with Understanding and Empathy Thinking Flexibly Questioning and Posing Problems Remaining Open to Continuous Learning Thinking Interdependently

21 st Century Learning Thinking Skills Describing Finding Similarities and Differences Sequencing Classifying Forming Analogies Learning and Innovation Skills Creativity and Innovation Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Communication and Collaboration

Engagement For every 10 minutes of new information, a learner needs 2 minutes of processing time. The person doing the talking is the person doing the learning.

Table Discussions Answer: 1. From what teacher did you learn the most? 2. What did that teacher do that caused you to learn? 3. How did you know you were learning? 4. Does the list describe you as an educator?

School Improvement Planning Effective School Improvement contributes to overall school performance by: 1. Knowing the current state of the school 2. Reaching consensus on highest priorities 3. Identifying goals, strategies, targets, indicators, milestones to address priority Guide p. 4

School Improvement Law Guide pp Each school shall develop a SIP that considers 1. SBE goals 2. Student performance in reading, math, communication skills (elem, middle), graduation requirements (high)

School Improvement Law 1. Each school shall establish SIT which consist of 1. Principal 2. Representatives of APs, certified, classified, parents 2. Representatives of school personnel must be elected by secret ballot by their respective groups

School Improvement Law Parent representatives shall 1. be elected by parents of children enrolled in school conducted by a parent organization 2. reflect the racial and socioeconomic composition of students enrolled 3. Not be members of the building level staff SIP meetings shall be held at a time that is convenient to parents on the team. Guide p 7

School Improvement Law Principal shall present the proposed SIP to entire staff for review and vote. The vote shall be by secret ballot. The SIP must pass by a majority vote.

School Improvement Law The SIP shall 1. be data driven 2. include a plan for staff development funds 3. include a plan for preparing students to read at grade level by start of 2 nd grade (K,1 schools) 4. include a plan to address school safety 5. include a plan that specifies effective practices and methods for at risk students 6. include a plan to provide a duty free lunch period every day or otherwise approved by the SIT 7. include a plan to provide duty free instructional planning (goal 5 hours per week)

School Improvement Law The SIP may 1. include budget flexibility 2. include a plan for staff development funds for mentoring 3. may include waivers

School Improvement Law Process: Review at district level recommended Local Board accepts and may not amend May be amended by SIT as often as necessary Remains in effect for no more than two years (only change in the law)

School Improvement Law 10:2 Activity Discuss at your table 1. Any part of the law that may pose a problem. 2. Brainstorm suggestions for the problem 3. If no problems, discuss process for parent representative

PDCA The NCDPI-recommended school improvement planning process is a 4-phase Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) model.

Develop plans based on data analysis (PLAN) Guiding principles Goal alignment Structured needs assessment Limited focus Data-driven decision making

PLAN Purpose To understand the school’s strengths and weaknesses Establish priorities for improvement To develop a plan based on research-based strategies and programs

PLAN Actions of SIT Understand the school Establish high priority areas to address Identify root causes Set goals and identify strategies

Implement Solutions (DO) Guiding principles Data-driven decision making Effective measurement Distributed leadership Professional development alignment Calendar alignment

DO Purpose Implement strategies for each goal

DO Actions of SIT Ensure appropriate data collection Ensure defined ownership Understand funding needs and sources Execute appropriate professional development

Understand the results and/or impact on student learning (CHECK) Guiding principles Data-driven decision making District-level participation

CHECK Purpose To determine to what degree selected strategies are helping to accomplish goals

CHECK Actions of SIT Gather supporting data and measure progress Identify potential changes

Make adjustments (ACT) Guiding principles (same as DO, but with changes) Data-driven decision making Effective measurement Distributed leadership Professional development alignment Calendar alignment

ACT Purpose To refresh the continuous improvement process by integrating new ideas with proven actions

ACT Actions of SIT Ensure appropriate data collection Ensure defined ownership Understand funding needs and sources Execute appropriate professional development

PDCA Model 10:2 Activity Think-How does this model support continuous improvement? Write, Pair, Share

Plan Phase Purpose To understand the school’s strengths and weaknesses Comprehensive Needs Assessment Student performance data Other data sources – see template Use guiding questions in template “Focus on student learning and success first, and how teaching does or does not support this.” Guide, p.20

Plan Phase Questions How good can we be? How do we get there? What are we doing well – How do we know? What do we need to do better? – How do we know? Where do we need to focus our efforts to maximize our success?

Comprehensive Needs Assessment Dimensions Sub-dimensions Guiding Questions Rubric  Leading  Developing  Emerging  Lacking

Comprehensive Needs Assessment Activity In school groups, choose one sub-dimension Individually, use guiding questions and rubric to rate the school Discuss ratings as a group and come to consensus Discuss what other data supports the rating Be able to answer, “How do we know?”

Plan Phase Purpose: To establish priorities for improvement Prioritize areas for improvement Limited focus – 3 to 5 goals – the most important problems to be addressed Focus attention on a manageable number of activities Guide p.20

Plan Phase Action of SIT: Determine root causes Five Whys 1. State the challenge identified on the left side of the paper. 2. Complete the diagram by moving from left to right. Move by asking “why?” 3. Record the responses. 4. Ask “why?” for each response. 5. Try to go 5 levels of “whys.”

Plan Phase Actions of SIT: Set goals and identify strategies Brown Paper Planning Tool 1. Choose Priority 2. Establish major groups of people who will accomplish goal 3. Set a timeline Key:Question Decision Action Milestone

Plan Phase Actions of SIT: Set goals and identify strategies Write the goals, strategies, action steps of the SIP

The SIP Template Goal Statement Conceptual statement of priority area: Examples: 1. Raise attendance to create greater learning opportunities for students 2. Increase student achievement in all subject areas by raising the level of academic expectations and rigor in students tasks, questions, and assessments

The SIP Template Target Measurable statement or objective Examples: 1. Increase student attendance by 10% 2. Increase student performance by meeting high growth

The SIP Template Indicator The data that will be studied to assess progress toward goal Examples: 1. Student attendance rate 2. Benchmark and ABC performance data

The SIP Template Milestone date When will the check phase take place Examples: 1. December 19, January 25, 2010

The SIP Template Strategy What will be done Action Steps How it will be done

The SIP Template 10:2 activity Look at your priority goal and develop a goal, target, indicator, and milestone date.

SIP Template

Input from all stakeholders Organizing the stakeholders Use SIT to gather input from groups they represent SIT meeting: Plan discussed SIT members discuss with representative groups SIT meeting: Input discussed, decisions made

Next Steps 1. SITs work on the Plan phase of their plan 2. What networking do you want Meet as levels, as feeder systems? Summer work sessions? 3. Add Title I and Safe Schools plans

Evaluation Write 3 ways that the information shared today will assist you in School Improvement Planning Write 2 ways that the District can assist you further in School Improvement Planning Write 1 question you have about SIP that was not answered today OR Write 1 overall reflection of today’s work