Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 Organizing School Improvement Plans Planning for Proficiency

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 A KEY INDICATOR OF STUDENT SUCCESS is: a student-focused measurable result that the school has the ability, desire, or need to influence and for which it is willing, or required, to be held accountable.

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 Key Indicators of Student Success Required Student Standards District’s/School’s Mission, Vision, Values, and Beliefs Summative Assessments Formative Assessments Budget, Staff, Programs, Processes Comprehensive School Improvement Planning Curriculum & Instruction Methods, Materials, Content, Resources Formative Assessments

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 Important Things to Remember: Follow district policy on planning. –While you control the content, always be aware of the specifics of your district’s planning policy, including specifics about format, timelines and cycles. Your district’s policy should also ensure that you meet all legal requirements. The process is continuous. –Beyond those requirements set forth in your district policy, don’t hold yourself to specific timelines or cycles. Update as needed. Many times, schools get stuck in a “one year” or “two year” planning cycle. Set your goals, meet them and move on to the next priority need.

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 Important Things to Remember: Plans should be about teaching and learning! Should be things that teachers can do for students to raise achievement on a consistent basis. Should not include administrative duties.

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 Important Things to Remember: Keep good written records for each step. –There is no right way to develop and write a plan, only right steps in the process. Use the planning sections of the “Keys to School Council Proficiency” for best practice. –KDE has endorsed this set of proficiency keys for school councils that includes a section on planning. This is not required, but can be beneficial in moving your planning to a proficient level.

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 What is the FIRST STEP?!?  NEEDS ASSESSMENT- What does the data tell us our needs are?

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 What is the SECOND STEP?!?  PRIORITIZING NEEDS- Which of these identified needs are of greatest concern (2-3 needs)?

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 What is the THIRD STEP?!?  CAUSE ANALYSIS- What factors caused these needs of greatest concern to occur?

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 When is a Cause a Root Cause? 1.Would the problem have occurred if the cause had not been present? If no, then it is a root cause. If yes, then it is a contributing cause.

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 When is a Cause a Root Cause? 2.Will the problem reoccur as the result of the same cause if the cause is corrected or dissolved? If no, then it is a root cause. If yes, then it is a contributing cause.

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 When is a Cause a Root Cause? 3.Will correction or dissolution of the cause lead to similar events? If no, then it is a root cause. If yes, then it is a contributing cause.

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 Other indicators that you have found the root cause: You run into a dead end asking what caused the proposed root cause. The cause is logical, makes sense, & provides clarity to the problem. The cause is something that you can influence & control. If the cause is dissolved, there is realistic hope that the problem can be reduced or prevented in the future.

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 What is the FOURTH STEP?!?  SETTING GOALS- What is our goal in addressing each of these needs and when will we reach these goals?

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 Complete ends-focused goal statements need to contain the following elements: Focused on student learning. Contain a specific target for achievement compared to the present. Provide a time frame for achievement of the target.

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 What is the FIFTH STEP?!?  GOAL ACHIEVING- What steps will we take to reach our goals and who will oversee each step?

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 What is the SIXTH STEP?!?  IDENTIFYING RESOURCES- What resources will we need to reach our goal(s)?

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 What is the SEVENTH STEP?!?  CONTINUOUS MONITORING- What method(s) will we use to ensure each step is completed?

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 What is the EIGHTH STEP?!?  EVALUATION- What method(s) will we use to measure the effectiveness of our actions?

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 What Now? When you reach a goal, the process begins again. Go back to step #1 and review your needs. What is the next priority? Then jump right back in at step #2 and follow through to #8.

Kentucky Department of Education Council Development & Planning Branch 2005 Council Development and Planning Branch education.ky. gov