Component 5 - the School Improvement Plan and Process Evaluation

COMPONENT 5

The School Improvement Plan

And Process Evaluation

Component 5 - The School Improvement Plan and Process Evaluation

TEMPLATE 5.1: Process Evaluation

The following summary questions are related to Process. They are designed as a culminating activity for you to analyze the process used to develop the school improvement plan.

TEMPLATE 5.1: Process Evaluation

(Rubric Indicator 5.1)

Evidence of Collaborative Process

What are our major strengths and how do we know?

The leadership of Northaven Elementary successfully establishes and communicates a shared purpose and focus for student achievement. All stakeholders, including support staff, teachers, students, parents, and community representatives are involved in the development and evaluation of the TSIPP document. This is evident in committee formations, leadership council members, and meeting minutes.

The mission, vision, school focus, and AYP data is posted throughout the school. The vision statement is included in school publications. All stakeholders are notified of the school AYP status and priority goals. This is evidenced by the Title I annual meeting, principal newsletter, student handbook, school website, district publications, and news media.

Evaluations and surveys are used to continually update stakeholder awareness and promote support for the goals of TSIPP. This opportunity for feedback increases communication with stakeholders and allows insight into the effectiveness of the school focus.

Evidence of Alignment of Beliefs, Shared Vision, and Mission with Goals

What evidence do we have that shows our beliefs, shared vision and mission in Component 2 align with our goals in Component 4?

Evidence of Alignment of Action Steps with Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment and Organization

What evidence do we have that shows our action steps in Component 4 align with our analyses of the areas of curriculum, instruction, assessment and organization in Component 3?

The action steps in Component Four are an outgrowth of the analysis of data from Component One. As shown in Component Four, Northaven Elementary desires to increase Reading/Language Arts, and Math scores. Research-based practices are used with new, effective strategies and tools. Word Wisdom is used in grades 3-5 to enhance student vocabulary, comprehension and fluency. Great Leaps is a strategy implemented in grades 1-5 to increase reading fluency. Word Walls and Larry Bell’s List of Twelve Words enhances vocabulary. DynaMath (upper grades) is used in the classrooms to reinforce mathematical skills. Students utilize the computer labs and laptops to access math tutorial and assessment, diagnostic programs (I-Staion, ThinkLink and Study Island). Teachers are encouraged to utilize classroom manipulatives. Differentiated instruction is used throughout the building by all classrooms to meet the needs of the students.

As shown in Component Three, parental involvement is an area that Northaven Elementary wants to improve. Activities will be planned that will involve more parents in the learning process. Some of the activities planned are Reading Night, Math Night, Family/School/Community Night and Safety Night. A parent/child reading series titled “We Both Read” has been introduced to the families of Northaven Elementary. This program is designed to invite parents and children to share the reading experience together.

Component One identifies the need to increase the fifth grade writing scores on the Tennessee Writing Assessment. Before and after school tutoring is used as a means to provide additional practice to those students who have been identified as Level I (below proficient). Teachers will produce weekly writing outcomes for each grade level focusing on specific skills in their writing process. This will be evident in their published work. In addition, teachers will also instruct every student while reading in a small group setting to address individual student needs. The Four Blocks Instructional Model will be used for grades K-5 daily to emphasize “drafting”, writing/revising/editing, and the publishing process. Professional Development activities and conferences will be made available for teachers to analyze and interpret writing rubrics.

Suggestions for the Process

What suggestions do we have for improving our planning process?

In order to improve the planning process, it was suggested that an informational meeting be held prior to the writing of the document. This meeting would help decrease the amount of times the document has to be revised. Moreover, quarterly meetings should be scheduled to allow for updates and additional information to be shared. In addition, another suggestions for improving our planning process was to be given extra time, such as in-service days, to implement the planning process.

Northaven Elementary School

5157 North Circle Road

Memphis, TN 38127

Phone: 901.353.8580

Fax: 901.353.8586

STUDENT~ PARENT COMPACT

This school-parent compact is in effect during the school year 2011 – 2012.

Teacher Responsibilities

As a teacher I will:

· Provide an academic environment and instructional curriculum that supports students and learning.

· Work appropriately with parents to create high instructional opportunities for students.

· Hold parent-teacher conferences at least annually and at flexible times during which time the compact will be discussed as it relates to achievement.

· Provide parents with frequent student progress reports.

· Schedule and coordinate opportunities for parents to volunteer, participate, and observe activities in their child’s classroom.

· Be accessible to parents at flexible times in addition to scheduled parent conference to discuss student progress.

Administrator Responsibilities

As an administrator I will:

-1. • Make sure children have an academic environment and curriculum that supports

-1. learning.

-1. • Ensure parents are aware of activities and events that take place at school.

-1. • Participate in decisions related to the children’s learning.

-1. • Make sure the academic needs of students are appropriately met.

-1. • Serve as the lead instructional facilitator of learning.

Parent Responsibilities

As a parent I will:

-1. • Make sure my child attends school each day and is on time.

-1. • Ensure that my child does homework and turns it in.

-1. • Monitor the amount of television my child watches and promote positive

-1. use of time outside of school.

-1. • Volunteer in my child’s classroom (at least twice a semester if possible) and

-1. participate in decisions related to my child’s education.

-1. • Read all notices from the school or the school district.

Student Responsibilities

As a student I will:

· Attend school every day and arrive on time.

· Behave positively and do my very best work.

· Show respect for others and myself.

· Spend time each day reading, studying and completing homework.

· Give all notices, information and paperwork to my parents or guardians.

· Believe that I can and will learn.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I have received, understood, and agreed to the contents of this compact.

______

Student Name (Printed) Grade Level

______

Student Signature Date

______

Parent or Guardian Signature Date

______

Teacher Signature Date

______

Administrator Signature Date

Parent Involvement Policy

School: Northaven Elementary School Principal: Louis Padgett, III

Title-I Facilitator: Elaine Raby Assigned Federal Specialist: Gina Bennett

Goal: Ensure that contents of policy are aligned with each state parent standard.

Standard 1: Welcoming All Families
Families are active participants in the life of the school, and feel welcomed, valued, and connected to each other, to school staff, and to what students are learning and doing in class and school.
Parents play an important role in a child’s education. At Northaven Elementary School, we strive to incorporate family and community into everyday school life. The involvement of the family is crucial to the success of the student. We encourage parents to become an active part in their child’s education. One way of doing this is through the Parent Involvement Policy and the School-Parent Compact. The Parent Involvement Policy encourages active participation by all parent-school stakeholders. The School-Parent Compact shows how parents, students, and staff share the responsibility for improved student achievement and how we can help our students meet the standards required by the district and the state.
· Provide an annual Curriculum Night where parents will attend as a welcome to the new school year. During this Curriculum Night parents will receive information about expectations for the upcoming year.
· Provide an annual Title 1 Meeting to present information to parents about being a Title 1 School and what that means. We will also review the parent involvement plan, policy, and compact.
· During the school year parents will participate in the School Improvement Planning meetings to solicit parent opinions regarding the school’s mission, vision, and goals.
Standard 2: Communicating
Families and school staff engage in regular, meaningful communication about student learning.
· A mobile marquee that can be located in front of the school informs parents and the general community of school functions.
· Monthly calendars and newsletters are used to relay current and upcoming events and provide tips for helping children with the curriculum.
· Reports are sent home every nine weeks.
· Parents are encouraged to schedule time to volunteer in classrooms.
· Parent surveys are used to solicit suggestions on improving the school.
· Parents are contacted by phone regarding the positive and/or negative actions of their children.
· Parents are contacted by phone to relay school closings and other important notices.
· The school works with community based organizations and businesses that want to be involved in parent activities.
· Various forms of communication will be sent home daily (k-2 conduct and progress reports), weekly (3-5) Tuesday Folders and at various other times during the year (Report Cards, newsletters, and websites). Newsletters and updates will be sent home in the parent’s native language.
· During the school year parents will participate in School Improvement Planning Meetings. There will be an annual school improvement planning meeting open to parents to solicit their opinions regarding the school’s mission and vision.
· The Shelby County Schools automatic phone response system will be used to inform parents of emergencies and announcements of upcoming events.
· Parents will receive a Shelby County Schools handbook to keep them informed of their rights and of the school system policies.
· Teachers will call parents frequently with positive as well as negative information regarding student progress. Teachers will keep logs of phone calls and make calls at regular intervals during the year.
· Teachers will ensure parents have information on how to use the Parent Portal to access grades and have access to other instructional websites utilized by the school.
· Teachers will use student Agenda Books as a primary means of communication. Lower School students will communicate regularly in their folders.
· Teachers will send Notes Home to communicate negative as well as positive behavioral information.
Standard 3: Supporting Student Success
Families and school staff continuously work together to support students’ learning and healthy development both at home and at school, and have regular opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills to do so effectively.
· Conduct an annual Title 1 meeting with parents at the beginning of each year to inform parents about Title 1 and their rights under the No Child Left Behind Act.
· Conduct an annual meeting for the purpose of discussing the school’s participation in Title 1 programs such as the Free and Reduced Lunch program, Homeless Education, English as a Second Language, and the rights of parents to be involved in those programs.
· Provide multiple opportunities for parents to provide input for developing and revising policies relating to parent involvement, including the use of school and district level Parent Involvement funds and on policies at the school level.
· Conduct with the involvement of parents, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the school parent involvement policy and the district parent involvement policy, including identification of barriers to greater participation by parents of diverse backgrounds. Such findings will be used to design more effective strategies for parent involvement.
· Provide technical assistance and coordination with schools to support the schools in establishing effective parental involvement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance.
· Monthly a selected grade level will participate in a Lunch and Learn or an Evening Academic experience for parents. During these sessions parents will receive handouts of grade appropriate learning skills and the Title 1 Facilitator will make a presentation with light refreshments provided.
· There will be a mathematics, computer, and reading night on two different nights. During this time parents and children will play math and reading games to increase student parent interactions, parental involvement and to increase parent and student academic knowledge.
· Student friendly speakers will be invited for programs and activities that students might be interested in. These speakers will present activities, assemblies, and enrichment for students.
· Students and parents will have access to Discovery Education Learning, so they can support student practice. Teachers will send passwords homes.
· Parents will be invited to the school to participate in individual tutoring sessions. These sessions will be one-on-one to expose parents to skills students are practicing and need to understand and master.