Educational Improvement and Assistance
SIP Tips
Introduction
The School Improvement Plan (SIP) must address eight specific areas of school improvement as required by the No Child Left Behind Act:
* Comprehensive Needs Assessment
* Goals
* Objectives
* Scientifically-Based Research Strategies
* Action Plans
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* Professional Development
* Family Involvement
* Coordination of Resources
* Evaluation of Implementation
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Here are some tips to keep in mind when developing the School Improvement Plan.
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Comprehensive Needs Assessment
Base the needs assessment on data collected from:
* administrators
* teachers
* students
* parents
Include four types of data in the data porfolio:
* cognitive
* attitudinal
* behavioral
* archival
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Goals
Link the goals to student learning.
Link the goals to the school's weaknesses in academic achievement.
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Objectives
Make all of the objectives measurable (verifiable).
Make all of the objectives time-bound (1 or 2 years).
Example: "To increase 9th grade NRT Math Index Scores from 48.1 to 54.1 by Spring 2009."
Link each objective to a specific goal.
Make the objectives reflect high expectations for all students.
Make the objectives realistically achievable in the time frame.
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Scientifically Based Research Strategies
Make all of the scientifically based research strategies directly address contributing factors relating to the school's strengths and weaknesses.
Present sound and current research to support the proposed strategies.
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Professional Development
Identify how professional development activities will take place and who will be involved.
Ensure that professional development is job-embedded and occurs frequently (weekly or bi-weekly). Job-embedded professional development provides teachers with time to:
* consult together about common instructional problems
* engage in joint curriculum planning
* share knowledge
* observe skills
* conduct action research
* coach one another
* obtain new ideas and approaches from colleagues during the course of the work day
Include scheduled follow-up or support for all activities.
Ensure that professional development is designed to reach all personnel (teachers, administrators, counselors, paraprofessionals and other staff).
Be specific in identifying the target group(s). The use of "instructional staff" or "faculty" is too vague.
Design professional development activities to improve student achievement.
Link professional development activities to the strategies listed in the action plan.
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Coordination of Resources
Indicate the source(s) of funding, e.g., Title I, Title II, Title V, etc.
Clearly target monetary resources to meeting the objectives.
If equipment will be purchased, target these funds to meeting the objectives.
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Evaluation of Implementation
Provide procedures for assessing the level of implementation of activities.
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Related Links
School Improvement Training: Best Practices
Download (92 MB):
Best Practices
PDF
The School Improvement: Tools for Success handbook (Spring 2006). This document also includes the School Improvement Plan Evaluation Rubric.
Dowload (1.85 MB):
School Improvement: Tools for Success
PDF
The School Improvement Plan Template (updated 9/07) is to be used with all School Improvement Plans submitted to the Louisiana Department of Education.
Download (1.67 MB):
School Improvement Plan Template (9/07)
Word
The charts and tables in the School Data Analysis Template are designed to assist in organizing test data and to facilitate interpretation.
Download (2.75 MB):
Data Analysis Template
Word
The Trend Data Calculator with 2-Year Objectives is designed to calculate estimated Indexes and Proficiency Percentages using LEAP/GEE and iLEAP Assessment reports. These estimated Indexes and Proficiency Percentages are intended to be used by schools for planning purposes. The estimated Indexes and Proficiency Percentages produced by this calculator are not and should not be considered as the official Indexes and Proficiency Percentages supplied for schools by the LDE.
Download (140 KB):
Trend Data Calculator
Excel
LANA (Louisiana Needs Analysis) is a Web-based tool designed to help school personnel evaluate school performance and academic performance. It was developed by the Louisiana Department of Education using research on school effectiveness and productivity. Using LANA, school personnel can select strategies for school improvement and get information on implementing school improvement strategies.
LANA (Louisiana Needs Analysis)
DIG (Degree of Implementation Guide) helps schools monitor the implementation of their School Improvement Plan (SIP).
DIG (Degree of Implementation Guide)
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