1. School Improvement Planning Process: Requirements-Resources-Collaboration
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Lisa Troutman, School Transformation Coach, Ed.S
Lakisha Rice, School Transformation Coach, Ed.D
District and School Transformation Division

2. Session Goals
We will utilize the DPI and district templates for school improvement planning.
We will discuss the legal process and requirements of school improvement planning.
We will review and analyze data sets to support the school improvement planning process.
Lisa will complete an overview of the goals of our session as we discuss school improvement planning and next steps for the upcoming school year.
(Quick in and out slide)

3. School Improvement Plan
Round Table
Participants will take part in a Round Table Engagement Process
Each member will record words and pass paper clockwise to your teammates
Teams will examine words generated by their members and come to a consensus on three priority words for school improvement planning
Teams will Report Out
Lisa
Give one note card to each table and have them brainstorm and record on a note card words that are synonymous with school improvement planning. The note cards will be passed to all members of the table.
The team will then come to a consensus on three priority words for SIP at their tables and report out.

4. Presentation Overview
State Requirements
Introduction of SIP Template and State Board of Education Resources (SIP Guide)
School Improvement Plan Content
Sample School Improvement Plans
Tips for Creating Successful Plans
Fidelity Process
Lisa,
Quickly review our presentation goals with principals
1 minute

5. State Requirements
In 1996, the North Carolina General Assembly established the School-Based Management and Accountability Program with the overall purpose of improving student performance (G.S. §115C ). All school districts in North Carolina are required to participate in the program (G.S. § 115C (a)).
Lisa,
Quick overview of state stature and why every school must have a School Improvement Plan
1 minute

6. State Requirements Annual Performance Goals
Annual Performance Goals shall:
A. Focus on student performance on the basics of
reading, mathematics, and communications
skills in elementary and middle schools.
B. Focus on student performance in courses required
for graduation and on other measures required by
the State Board of Education in high schools.
Lisa,
Remind audience that the state requires annual performance goals to be centered around student achievement in reading, math, communications skills for all students
Specifically, at the high school, career and college ready is the focus – core courses must be satisfied successful (ACT, English II, Biology, Math)

7. Legal Requirements
G.S. §115C-47 (38) mandates the duty of local boards to ensure each principal establishes a school improvement team and that the composition of the team complies with G.S. §115C (a).
G.S. §115C (a) also directs schools to establish a School Improvement Team (SIT) to develop a plan to improve student performance.
Lisa,
This general statute requires local boards of education to ensure principals have established a SIT so that all stakeholders are a part of the composition of the plan and it is clear that the goal s are aligned to improve student achievement. ‘
2 minutes

8. School Improvement Teams
Principal of the school
Representatives of the assistant principals
Representatives of instructional personnel
Representatives of teacher assistants assigned to the
building
Representatives of parents of children enrolled in the
school.
Monthly meetings for monitoring (Plan, Do, Check)
*Stakeholders must review and vote to approve the plan
Lakisha
Who makes up the team? What processes does your school have in identifying its members.
5 minutes

9. School Improvement Planning Template
Structure and Content (6 Sections )
How to use this template – provides general introduction and section- by-section details
Reference tabs – provides information to aid the planning process
School improvement plan tabs – the school improvement plan consist of these tabs
Safe schools plan – supplies the required safe schools reporting
Title I plan – offers planning documents for school wide, targeted assistance, and school improvement
ABCs waiver request – provides the standard form for school improvement waivers
School Improvement Template
Lakisha,
Lets take a look at the template and the various sections of the plan; after I go through quickly, the participants will work with a partner to review the template independently.
Give them the website at DPI

10. School Improvement Planning Template “Examine and Discuss”
Select a partner at your table to review and discuss the School Improvement Planning template.
As you discuss the template, take a moment to review the next slide of questions.
Lakisha
Give directions and allow time to click on tabs and discuss
Sandra
may take them to district web page to view what Robeson County has that is different (play by ear)

11. School Improvement Planning Template “Examine and Discuss”
What are some data sources the planning template suggest that you use?
Identify where you would place your district and school goals.
Identify the location of the title one plan in the template.
Locate the PLAN, DO, ACT sections of the template.
What are your overall feelings regarding the SIP template?
SHARE
Lakisha
This slide stays on screen to support them in the examination of the template and what to look for.
Lakisha and maybe Sandra will guide this discussion

12. Review State Board Goals
Goal 1 – North Carolina public schools will produce globally competitive students.
Goal 2 – North Carolina public schools will be led
by 21st Century professionals.
Goal 3 – North Carolina Public School students will
be healthy and responsible.
Goal 4 – Leadership will guide innovation in North
Carolina public schools.
 Goal 5 – North Carolina public schools will be
governed and supported by 21st Century systems.
Lakisha
Quick review of 5 state board goals
Their alignment to district goals and to your school improvement goals
State Board Goals

13. State Board Goals Planning for Alignment
What does each goal mean to our stakeholders?
What is the current reality at my school for each goal?
Do we have a common language at our school to achieve the desired outcomes? How do we know?
Goal Planning Sheet (at table)
Sample Goal Planning – Lumberton Junior High School
Lakisha
Have participants look at the goal planning sheet and what Lumberton Junior did to complete their consensus place may on what each goal means and their current reality at their school. Discuss how to prioritize.
Audience has template on their tables to keep.
Erica can speak to the process if she is at the training.

14. District Goals
Insert Public Schools of Robeson County District Goals by each State Board of Education (Be sure the goals are aligned)
Example
A. District Goal – XYZ School District will be led by 21st century professionals by ensuring quality personnel in all positions.
A. State Goal – North Carolina Public Schools will be led by twenty-first century professionals.
Lisa and Sandra can discuss district goals and their alignment to state goals
Sandra can reference back to PSRB template
District/State Alignment

15. Data Sources for Analysis by SIT Members
Data Resources
Data Resources
EOG/EOC Data
Attendance Data
Subgroup Data
Discipline Data
Teacher Working Conditions Survey Data
Drop-out Data
School-wide survey data
Parent Surveys
Title One Data
CNA Data
EVASS
Lakisha
Discuss the importance of having various data sets and show Lumberton Junior data notebook
Data Sources

16. School Vision and Mission
Insert your schools vision and mission information in this section.
Example
Vision - “Educating All Students by Building a Foundation for Life-Long Learning”
Mission Statement: “Teaching for Learning for All”
Lisa
Great opportunity to change the vision and mission as needed. You will insert the mission and vision on the template
School Vision/Mission

17. School Improvement Team Membership Data – Cover Sheet
List all members of the School Improvement Team
Ensure representation is accurate per state guidelines and the goal is to develop a plan to improve student achievement
School Improvement Team members will be asked to provide a complete signature once the plan has been approved
Lisa
All members are apart of the process and will be required to sign
Step 1 – Cover Sheet

18. Focus: School Improvement Plan (SIP)
SIP includes Four Components I:
Data and Analysis
III.
Plan Development,
Review, and
Implementation
Lisa
Discuss the importance of each of the components of school improvement planning using the visual puzzle piece.
II.
Action Plan
IV.
Board Action

19. Data Summary & Analysis
Strengths of School
Opportunities for Improvement
Conclusions:
What is the current state of your school based on the data?
What did your school do well?
What were the challenges?
Prioritize your needs and decide what should be addressed based on the data?
Lakisha
Point out that data analysis and summary are critical parts of the process. It is a time of reflection and data review. Show and discuss how Lumberton Junior High used its data to prioritize.
Step 2 – Data Summary

20. Needs Assessment
A needs assessment provides real time data on the current state of your school. (Sample Needs Assessment; State Needs Assessment)
A school must examine various types of data for trends. (Data Notebook)
A school must prioritize what's important and what will impact student achievement in a robust manner. (Triangulate)
Lakisha
Discuss the importance of completing some type of needs assessment and engaging in honest dialogue.
Let the participants know where to find this information.

21. Goal Setting
Identify the area of improvement based on supporting data and site specific data points used to support the creation of a goal
Collaborate with the SIT to create goals that are the most pressing to increase student achievement
Make sure you align your school and district goals
Set – Targets; Indicators; Milestone Dates – (This will help the team monitor progress and speed bumps)
***Limited focus (3-5 goals, 1-3 strategies)
Lisa or Lakisha
Walk the participants through the goal setting process
Point out the importance of a Focus Area of Improvement – site data
Include SIT in a thorough review of data
Align goals, strategies, and action sets
*Make sure you let participants know that 3 goals are enough, with 1-3 strategies. Not too much
Step 3 – Goal Setting

22. Sample Goal Setting
Target - 80% proficiency in 3-5 math and reading on End of Grade tests and K-2 Assessments
Indicators - Quarterly Benchmark assessments, K-2 Literacy and Math Assessments, administration of common assessments; three-week small goal assessments for 3-5 students in math and reading
Milestone Date - Quarterly benchmark assessments; Each nine week grading period
Lakisha
Discuss targets,
Indicators, and milestone and how they support teams in monitoring their progress (positive or negative)
Lead a discussion on relying on quantitative and qualitative data when goal setting.

23. Write a Goal
The attendance rate at Anywhere Elementary School was 93% ( ) and 92% (2011/2012)
Grade Span – K-5
The total school population is 554 students
90% of the students receive Free and Reduced Lunch
Tardies over the last two years have increased in grades 4 & 5 by 2o-25%
On testing day they have only 94% present
Directions
*Work with a partner at your table to create a school wide
goal. Identify area of improvement, goal, target, indicators,
and milestones.
*What additional information would you gather?
Lakisha
Discuss the data points provided
Have principals work with a partner to identify area, goal, target, indicators and milestone.
Allow a team to read their goal to the group

24. Sample School 1 & 2 Let’s Review
Look at Sample School 1 and 2 and answer the following questions and record on your answer sheet:
What does this school do well?
What does the analysis tell you about each school’s opportunities for improvement?
What data is missing from each school and how will the information be collected to use later?
What priorities emerge as a result of the data analysis summary?
What data was used to develop the school’s priorities?
Lakisha
Have participants look at the sample plans
**The goal is to get them use to the template and where things are . Also, the goal is to allow them to see how the plans are written.

25. Identifying Strategies for School Goals (Plan/DO)
• “Best practices” approach based upon strategic planning and research • Goals, strategies, calendar, budget, and professional development alignment • Limited focus to 1-3 strategies per goal
Lisa
Discuss the importance of using research based practices but, having a limited number of strategies

26. School Improvement Strategies
Strategy - is the approach or technique for achieving the learning objective(s)
Action Steps – systematic order of steps taken by the team to ensure the strategy is maximized; it is what the team will commit to do
Lisa,
Discuss the importance of a collaborative effort in the process. Actions steps involve all stakeholders, not just the principal,

27. Sample School 1 and 2 Let’s Review Look at Sample School 1 and 2
Discuss at your tables the strategies for each goal.
Does the action steps support the strategy? How do you know?
Lisa,
Have principals look at the strategies and actions steps of the sample plans at the table.
Lead a quick discussion on the alignment of strategy to goal.

28. Funding Identify the funding source to support your strategies.
How much funding will be needed?
Check with your Finance Officer as needed to ensure monies are appropriated for the various line items.
Lisa
Note the area of the template regarding the funding needed for each goal.
Discuss how the budget process should be open and aligned to school needs

29. Stakeholder Monitoring
Plan/Do
Who will be responsible for reviewing the strategies to ensure growth
How often will the strategies be monitored (implementation team)
Check
What data will be used to determine whether the strategies are deployed with fidelity?
How will you determine if the strategy led to the progress of the goal?
What does the data show as a result of the implemented strategies ?
Lisa
Review the Plan, Do, Check Model and its importance
Focus on how you monitor, when, and why
Ask principals how visual displays can support the monitoring and improvement process

30. Fidelity to Goals and Strategies
How will you determine whether the strategies led to progress toward the goal? (Include formative, benchmark, and summative data as appropriate.)
What does data show regarding the results of the implemented strategies?
Based upon identified results, should/how should strategies be changed?
**How often will your School Improvement Team progress monitor your goals and strategies? How will you communicate to all stakeholders of needed changes?
Lakisha
Point out how plans should not be shelf documents.
Each meeting, progress should be noted
The group should meet weekly or bi-weekly with a focus on results/data

31. School Improvement Plan Samples
Take a moment to review the entire School Improvement Plans at your table?
Discuss with your table members what questions you may have regarding the new template.
Lakisha
Allow tables time to review plans and ask any follow up questions regarding process or template
Give teams time to discuss

32. Video

33. Reflection
Begin to create an individualized outline/plan for your school. Think about the following questions:
What data sets will be needed for analysis?
What data is missing?
How will you determine your current state as you prepare for school improvement planning?
Have you created a school budget for the year?
How will your team come to consensus on the top 3-5 priority needs?
How will you monitor your plan?
Lakisha
Allow principals time to reflect on the information received and begin to create an outline of next steps for them.

34. Guiding Principles for School Improvement Planning
• Structured needs assessment/self-evaluation
• Data-driven decision-making
• Distributed leadership
• Effective measurement and accountability
• Fidelity to goals and strategies
• District-level participation
Lisa
End the session on these guiding principles