School Improvement Planning
Spring 2012 VPSA Supplemental School Education Technology Notes Series XII Application (Word) is now available. Eligible schools are listed at the end of the application form. See Superintendent’s Memo #133-12 and School Finance Educational Technology Notes for additional information and the Series XII application form.
Schools Accredited with Warning or Provisionally Accredited-Graduation Rate
Schools that are Accredited with Warning or Provisionally Accredited-Graduation Rate are required by the Standards of Accreditation, 8VAC 20-131-310.G, to develop a three-year School Improvement Plan.
School Improvement Planning Requirements
Per the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia, 8VAC 20-131-310.G, schools that are Accredited with Warning or Conditionally Accredited-Graduation Rate are required to develop a three-year school improvement plan which includes the following components:
- A description of how the school will meet the provisional accreditation benchmarks, or the requirements to be Fully Accredited, for each of the years covered by the plan;
- Specific measures for achieving and documenting student academic improvement;
- The amount of time in the school day devoted to instruction in the core academic areas;
- Instructional practices designed to remediate students who have not been successful on SOL tests;
- Intervention strategies designed to prevent further declines in student performance;
- Staff development needed;
- Strategies to involve and assist parents in raising their child’s academic performance;
- The need for flexibility or waivers to state or local regulations to meet the objectives of the plan; and
- A description of the manner in which local, state, and federal funds are used to support the implementation of the components of this plan.
Please contact Dr. Lynn Sodat at 804-786-7018 or Lynn.sodat@doe.virginia.gov regarding questions about the Conditional Accreditation process.
Schools Not Meeting Annual Measurable Objectives
Virginia, under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) flexibility waiver granted on June 29, 2012, has established annual measurable objectives (AMOs) designed to reduce proficiency gaps between high- and low-performing schools within six years.
Per the provisions of the ESEA flexibility waiver, schools that do not meet the AMOs for subgroups must develop and implement improvement plans. The plans should focus specifically on the interventions for those students at risk of not passing a Standards of Learning (SOL) assessment including English language learners (ELL) and students with disabilities.
The flexibility waiver provisions specify different requirements for Title I and non-Title I schools with subgroups not meeting AMOs.
- Superintendents Memo #207-12, Aug. 17, 2012 – Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) Flexibility Waivers – Certain Requirements for Schools Not Meeting Annual Measurable Objectives
- Superintendents Memo #286-12, Oct. 19, 2012 – Requirements and Technical Assistance Provided for Schools that are Required to Create a School Improvement Plan for the 2012-2013 School Year
Title I Schools Not Meeting Annual Measurable Objectives
Title I schools with subgroups not meeting AMOs must create a school improvement plan using Indistar.
Indistar is a web-based tool for assessing, planning, implementing, and monitoring progress toward achieving rapid improvement school indicators. It was developed by the Center on Innovation and Improvement with funding by the U.S. Department of Education.
- Checklist for Title I schools (fully accredited, neither focus nor priority) Required to Create a School Improvement Plan (PDF) – Revised January 17, 2013
Required Rubric
The division-level staff person assigned to the school leadership team is responsible for completing and submitting a rubric to monitor the school improvement plan. Results of the rubric should be discussed with both school and division leadership. The rubric must be submitted on the following dates:
- January 22, 2013
- April 30, 2013
The rubric should be sent via e-mail to OSITA@doe.virginia.gov.
- School Improvement Planning Rubric (Word) – Revised January 17, 2013
Webinars
Using the Indistar Web-based Planning Tool to Support School Improvement
VDOE’s Office of School Improvement (OSI) offers a series of recorded webinars to assist schools required to use Indistar to create a school improvement plan.
Video | Presentation (PPT) – Session 1 Recorded Webinar: Using Indistar to register schools, provide school information, and form school team.
Non-Title I Schools Not Meeting Annual Measurable Objectives
Non-Title I schools and non-Title I high schools not meeting the AMOs or federal graduation indicator (FGI) are required to create a school improvement plan that includes the following required components:
- identifies research-based interventions for students at risk (including ELL and students with disabilities) in the subject areas for which the school did not meet the AMOs;
- describes how the school will monitor those interventions to ensure they are implemented with fidelity and are resulting in improvement for students;
- records agendas and minutes of school leadership team meetings.
Non-Title I schools and non-Title I high schools not meeting the AMOs or federal graduation indicator (FGI) are not required to create school improvement plans using Indistar or use the Virginia Early Warning System (VEWS) tool. However, school leaders may elect to create the required school improvement plans in Indistar.
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