Mount Vernon City School District Comprehensive Team Planning for Improved Student Achievement Presentation by Maureen Gonzalez Deputy Superintendent

Purpose of the Presentation Identify the Board Retreat Timeline Identify core components of our comprehensive team planning efforts Alignment of our comprehensive team planning components to the Board Retreat Timeline

Identification of the Board Retreat Timeline

Board Retreat The Board Trustees and the Superintendent participated in a retreat during August 2008 A timeline was developed to outline planning activities District wide At the September meeting a vote was held adopting the Board retreat timeline

The Board Retreat Timeline MonthActivity October School Based Team meetings: identification of issues November District Wide Congress - identification of issues common to all schools December School Based identification of goals and objectives pertaining to school issues January District wide identification of goals and objectives pertaining to district wide issues February School based identification of strategies and tactics March District wide identifications of strategies and tactics April-June Work in progress

Purpose of the Board Retreat Timeline To outline a timeframe for planning District wide To outline core activities in comprehensive planning To support comprehensive planning to improve student achievement District wide

Identification of core components of our comprehensive team efforts

What is comprehensive planning? It is a process, it is ongoing! First: Pre-planning is important. In other words, “a plan to plan” Second: Develop a plan Third: Implement a plan Fourth: Evaluate a plan Outcome: a coherent, comprehensive, sustained approach to improve the quality of education

What are the core components of comprehensive team planning? Superintendent’s Strategic Plan District Plan for Shared decision Making and School Based planning School Educational Plan

Component #1 of Comprehensive Team Planning Superintendent’s Strategic Plan

Superintendent’s Strategic Plan Our Mission The mission of the Mount Vernon City School District is to educate the children of Mount Vernon so that each child is able to realize his or her full potential Children: Our Center and Our Focus Parent Guardians Student Support Services Safe Learning Environment Engaging Learning Activities Delivery Of Instruction Rigorous Curriculum Professional Development Budget Resources Student and Staff Attendance

Our District Goals stated in the Superintendent’s Strategic Plan Goal #1- Academic achievement in all core subject areas will be raised to state average levels for all students by 2011 Goal #2- All Mount Vernon students will attend high performing schools Goal #3- Highly improved communication and understanding between the School District and the Mount Vernon Community

Superintendent’s Strategic Plan States the goals of the Board, the Superintendent and the District Identifies priorities and strategies Identifies evidence to measure success Outlines effective strategies to support improved student achievement A document that is a catalyst for the school educational plan

Component #2 of Comprehensive Team Planning District Plan for school based planning and shared decision making

What is shared decision making and school based management? The involvement and meaningful participation of administrators, teachers and parents in decision making in educational areas that are subject to cooperative planning Children- Our Center And Our Focus School Based Support Staff District Based Support Staff School LeadersSuperintendent Board of Education Parent Guardians CommunityTeaching Staff

What is the District Plan? The District Plan for school based planning and shared decision making is based on regulation and law involving teams of parents, teachers and administrators Commissioner’s Regulation Education Law 2: District Planning Committee DPC School Based Team SBT

Education Law 2:117-2:127 and the District Plan Defines how a district’s shared decision plan is to be developed Is aligned to the Regulation of the Commissioner Outlines what must be included in a district plan for shared decision making Clarifies the composition and purpose of the District Planning Committee

The District Plan must address: The educational issues that are subject to cooperative planning The parameters for involvement of all constituents The guidelines for evaluating the improvement in student achievement The standards for accountability of all constituents

The Regulation of the Commissioner and the District Plan Defines the terms shared decision making and school based management These two terms are a model for decision making that highlight the involvement of administrators, teachers and parents in the process It is a model for decision making that emphasizes the meaningful participation of administrators, teachers and parents in the process Defines the role of the District Planning Committee and the School Based Teams

The District Planning Committee and the District Plan Member composition from parent, administrator and teacher constituent groups with Superintendent/designee Biennial review of the District Plan by the Board and the District Planning Committee Submit to Commissioner Feb 1 st of each year the biennial review takes place Current status: formed

School Based Team Parameters are defined in the District Plan 50:50 ratio of staff and parents Annual selection from constituent groups Public calendar Monthly meetings Develop the School Educational Plan or the Comprehensive Education Plan Consensus driven decisions Current status: formed and active in each school

Component #3 of Comprehensive Team Planning School Educational Plans

School Educational Plans The secondary schools develop the State Education Department (SED) Comprehensive Education Plan ( CEP) The elementary schools develop the MVCSD School Educational Plan that is adapted from the SED CEP Each school is engaged in developing a plan for improved student achievement for

School Educational Plans Assess the effectiveness of the current instructional programs Discuss proposed modifications Develop goals and objectives Create action plans Outcome: The school educational plans should be a product of the dynamic process to engage all stakeholders in collaborative decision making

How are our efforts in comprehensive team planning aligned to the Board Retreat Timeline? MonthActivityStatus in the MVCSD October School Based Team meetings: identification of issues Each school has a School Based Team; communication of Superintendent’s Strategic Plan November District Wide Congress - identification of issues common to all schools District Wide Congress scheduled for 11/24 at MVHS December School Based identification of goals and objectives pertaining to school issues Work in progress with School Educational Plans January District wide identification of goals and objectives pertaining to district wide issues Outreach to the community February School based identification of strategies and tactics School Educational Plans : Elementary schools as per MVCSD timeline and Secondary schools as per State timeline March District wide identifications of strategies and tactics Outreach to the community April-June Work in progress Outreach to the community

Conclusion A community focused on children Team planning A focus on improving student achievement “Children: Our Center and Our Focus” Strategic Plan District Plan- SharedDecision Making School E Educational Plan