ACADEMIC REVIEW: GOAL IS TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC SUPPORT THAT CAN BE PROVIDED TO HELP THE SCHOOL IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Purpose of this Session ◦ What does the division need to have ready for the day(s) of the review? ◦ How long will this take? ◦ What will happen? ◦ How does the lead contractor facilitate the division team’s discussion of the data reviewed? ◦ What does the report look like? ◦ Who writes the essential actions? ◦ Who reviews the essential actions? ◦ What is the follow-up and technical assistance about? ◦ Who provides the follow-up? ◦ What if the division and school don’t want follow-up? ◦ How do the division and school include essential actions in the school improvement plan? ◦ How do the division and school monitor essential actions in the school improvement plan?

What does the division need to have ready for the day(s) of the review? ◦ By November 20, the OSI contractor will contact you regarding what the review will look like. ◦ You will determine as a team (OSI contractor is part of the team) what the division will need to have ready the day of the review. ◦ This will depend on the tools you have decided to use. Artifacts that will be examined are based on those tools. ◦ If you are reviewing lesson plans, the team will decide how many and from what teachers, what schools, etc. If observations, likewise, etc.

How long will this take? ◦ This depends on the number of schools and the number of tools that will be used as part of the review.

Example: Division A ◦ Two elementary schools - first time warned ◦ One middle school - warned two years ◦ Two high schools - first time warned ◦ No focus, no priority schools

OSI Hours and Contractors Assigned to Division A ◦ 75 hours paid by OSI ◦ Two contractors – Jim and Bob Jim is the Lead Contractor

What days and How Many Hours and Who? November 13-14November Team Two Elementary and Middle Schools Bob, Division Team A Secondary SchoolsJim, Division Team A November 13-14Team ATeam B Two Elementary and Middle Schools Bob, Division Team B Secondary SchoolsJim, Division Team A

Equates to: Bob x 8 hours x 2 = 16 or 32 hours Jim x 8 hours x 2 = 16 The assigned hours were subtract 32 = 43 Follow-up in May =4 hours 43-4=39 hours 39 hours left for follow-up at the schools by Jim and Bob. Jim decides with division staff team lead how those hours will be used and by whom.

Division B ◦ One Focus School - 2 nd year ◦ One Priority School - 2 nd year

OSI Hours and Contractors Assigned to Division A ◦ 24 hours paid by OSI ◦ One contractor for the review- Jim ◦ In addition, Jim has been assigned 36 hours for the focus school as part of a separate contract using division set- aside. ◦ Bob has been assigned 36 hours for the priority school as part of a separate contract using division set-aside and grant funding. ◦ This is in “addition to” funding and can be used for the follow-up.

What days and How Many Hours and Who? November 13-14Number of HoursTeam Both Schools16 hours (2 days x 8 hours)Jim, Division Team

Equates to: Jim = 8 hours x 2 days = 16 hours The division was allocated 24 hours for the review 24 subtract 16 = 8 Follow-up in May = 4 hours 8-4=4 hours 4 hours left for follow-up Keep in mind that both Bob and Jim have 36 hours each to support the schools through another set of funds. The division staff team lead and Jim decide the focus of those hours based on the review and the flexibility waiver.

What will happen during the review? ◦ The team including the contractor will use the tools agreed upon to examine artifacts. ◦ The lead contractor will facilitate the division team’s discussion of the data reviewed. ◦ These artifacts will lead to findings. ◦ How does the lead contractor facilitate the division team’s discussion of the data reviewed? ◦ By asking the right questions. ◦ If more data is needed, asking for that data. ◦ The role of the contractor is to keep people focused and support the team in coming to consensus about the essential actions between the time of the review and the May.

◦ What does the report look like? ◦ Who writes the essential actions? ◦ Who reviews the essential actions? ◦ Why two sets of essential actions?

The Team writes the report and the essential actions. The Team should review the essential actions before sending to OSI.

What is the follow-up and technical assistance about? Who provides the follow-up? What if the division and school don’t want follow-up? (Not an option)

Remember the Division A follow-up hours? ◦ Two elementary schools first time warned ◦ One middle school warned two years ◦ Two high schools first time warned ◦ No focus, no priority school ◦ Began with 75. Subtract 32 = 43 ◦ Follow-up in May =4 hours 43-4=39 hours ◦ 39 hours left for follow-up

What to do with the remaining hours? ◦ Elementary School 1 has 16 new teachers, while School 2 has 2 new teachers. ◦ The middle and high school need much support as well, the middle school more than the high schools. ◦ It is decided that Jim will spend 20 hours with Elementary School 1 supporting lesson plan development. Four hours weekly for five weeks. Then the division will provide support four hours weekly through May. ◦ Bob will spend four hours only with the two new teachers in School 2. The principal will meet with the 2 new teachers weekly after this time through May. ◦ Bob will spend the remaining hours 2 hours per week for 9 weeks at the middle school working on classroom instructional strategies and planning with three teachers in mathematics. The principal will provide follow up once 19 hours are completed. ◦ The division will take on the two high schools and will work with the math teachers on unit tests that include the new standards.

So 39 hours left for support ◦ ◦

Remember the Division A follow-up hours? ◦ One focus school ◦ One priority school ◦ 4 hours remaining that OSI is paying? ◦ 36 hours remaining for Jim for focus school out of additional division contract. Jim will meet alternately with school and division team 4 hours per month for nine months ◦ 36 hours remaining for Bob for priority school out of additional division contract. Bob will meet with transformation team at 18 four hour meetings.

What to do with the remaining 4 hours? The division would like to use the division leadership tool. The contractor will spend four hours with the division staff facilitating the use of the division leadership tool.

So 4 hours left for support ◦ 1111

How do the division and school include essential actions in the school improvement plan? How do the division and school monitor essential actions in the school improvement plan?

Indistar is a good system for this.

Focus on what matters most… lengthy plans are a waste of time. ◦ Unit tests need to contain sufficient items to assess student mastery of state standards’ Curriculum Framework Essential Knowledge and Skills and Big Ideas for the unit or lessons taught. ◦ Action steps? How and when monitored? ◦ Principal and school teams at each grade level should review unit tests prior to the beginning of each unit throughout the remainder of the school year. ◦ All unit tests are submitted prior to the beginning of the unit with a cross walk to the standard and to the blue print. Principal reviews. ◦ Principal submits to director of instruction. DI reviews and sends back to principal. Principal meets with team and changes are made to test and lesson plans. Unit begins. ◦ Differentiated professional development needs to be provided to teachers on how to write a unit test aligned to the new standards. ◦ Action Steps?..... ◦ How and when monitored?.....

This is keeping the main thing, the main thing….. Essential actions should be clear, measurable and simple. Period. Questions?