Site-Based Decision Making: A Basic Overview Texas Education Agency – Resource Guide

Overview The basic premise of site-based decision making is that the most effective decisions are made by those who will actually implement the decisions. The belief is that people involved at the campus level have a greater opportunity to identify problems, develop problem resolution and change strategy than people located off-campus. Site-based decision making concepts also recognize that people at the campus level are more likely to internalize change and to support its implementation if they are involved in the decision making than if they are not.

Legal Basis The Texas Education Code, Section , requires that the board of trustees ensure that the district and all campus plans be developed, reviewed and revised annually for the purpose of improving the performance of all students. Annual board approval must ensure that the district and campus plans are mutually supportive to accomplish the identified objectives and support the state goals and objectives listed in Chapter 4 of the Texas Education Code.

Campus Level Responsibilities The objective of site-based decision making is to improve student performance and to enhance accountability. Each campus should have the freedom to set its own educational objectives, consistent with the school district's goals. The campus improvement plan is a vehicle to accomplish this.

Components assess the academic achievement for each student in the school using AEIS; set the campus performance objectives based on AEIS; set objectives for special needs populations; identify how the campus goals will be met for each student; determine the resources needed; identify staff needed; set timelines; measure progress to ensure the plan is resulting in academic improvement; include goals and methods for violence prevention and intervention on campus; provide for a program to encourage parental involvement at the campus set goals and objectives for a coordinated health program.

Committee Members Faculty: 2/3 of representatives will be teachers; 1/3 of representatives will be non-teaching campus and district-level staff Parents: parent representatives must have children currently enrolled at the school and cannot be employees of the school Community Members: must reside within district boundaries. Business Representatives: members need not reside or operate business within the district boundaries.

Meetings Three Annual Meetings (One must be public) –Meeting #1: Set Goals Early Fall –Meeting #2: Review Goals Mid Year –Meeting #3: Evaluate Goals End of Year

Development: Research of state rules and laws pertaining to SBDM. Training: Introduction of site-based decision making policies, procedures, and activities. Analysis: Analyze campus performance on AEIS to identify performance gaps. Planning and Action: Place priorities on needs and execute the action steps developed in the CIP. Evaluation: Compare actual student achievement to the goals established. Site-Based Decision Making Planning Lifecycle

Example of Campus Improvement Plan