School Improvement DiscussionWSU Presentation

September 25, 2014

Kathy Ehman, Chief Special Services Officer, Puyallup School District

How Do We Improve Student Achievement and What Does

Leadership Look Like?Walkthroughs and Learning Objectives - TeacherTube

A Plan for Effective School LeadershipAccording to an old proverb, "A vision without a plan is just a dream. A plan without a vision is just drudgery. But a vision with a plan can change the world.“

Our meta-analysis resulted in the identification of 21 responsibilities that define the role of a school leader.

School Improvement Means People Improvement

“If the fundamental challenge of school improvement is improving professional practice……….we must develop the capacity of educators to become more effective.”

Why School Improvement?

• State and Federal Accountability

What should I know about School Improvement?

• All schools must have a School Improvement Plan ………… and• You will want one!• Your district may direct or guide your work in this area • So what should I know or do……….

First, there was NCLB & AYP and then came the State ESEA Waiver....

and then it went awayIn 2012 gone was:• AYP• Steps 1-4• Choice• Supplemental Educational Services• School Improvement Plans

In came:• AMO’s• Priority, Focus, and Emerging Schools• Student Growth Percentiles• Student and School Success Plans i.e. Indistar

And in 2014 AYP was back again:• Along with Achievement Index

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*Same animals, just different stripes, and more confusing…..

How Effective School Systems and Schools Work together in School Improvement

Eight Stages of School System Improvement Planning

Office of Student and School Success - Indistar

Continuous Improvement Process:Action-planning processes are anchored in the continuous improvement process shown below.

Main Menu

When the School Indicators link is selected from the dashboard, the Main Menu screen appears.

The School Improvement Process is a continuous cycle of Assess, Create, and Monitor the work on the indicators of effective practice.

Also provided are tutorial videos, resources, reports, a place to set up agendas and keep minutes, and access to coaching comments.

“Where are we now?” provides a quick glimpse of the work of the school team in graphs and reports.

Convenient access to tech support or to view state contacts is also provided on the main menu.

School improvement can be a complicated journey.Lots of people have ideas on where to go and what to do.

They just don’t always have the same idea on how to get there.

The journey can become complicated and messy.The destination gets lost in the mess.

The ultimate goal in school improvement is for the people associated with the school to drive its continuous improvement for the sake of their own children and students.

Your work will not be simple.

For schools to succeed and improve, you must have the vision and leadership that

will take it to the next step.

Good Luck on Your Journey…..

Comments and/or Questions?