School Writing Programs Kentucky Department of Education October 2009

Goals of this Presentation Understand Senate Bill 1 implications related to writing (development of writing program, program reviews, portfolio expectations, interim) Learn what you can do now to support your schools Understand resources available for support

SB 1 states, “Each school-based decision making council or if there is no school council, a committee appointed by the principal, shall adopt policies that determine the writing program for its school.” Each school will submit the policy to KDE for review and comment. SBDM Requirements Related to Writing

Writing, as defined by SB1 “Writing means a purposeful act of thinking and expression that uses language to explore ideas and communicate meaning to others. Writing is a complex, multifaceted act of communication.”

Writing Programs Writing program Writing policy Writing plan Each SBDM council shall determine the writing program for its school. Components of a program: Instructional practices Aligned & enacted curriculum Formative & summative assessments Professional development & support services Administrative support & monitoring

Writing Policy Writing program Writing policy Writing plan Each SBDM council shall adopt policies that determine the writing program for its school.

School-wide Literacy: Beyond the Writing Program Literacy program Writing program Writing policy plan Writing plan A school’s writing program fits within the larger realm of a school’s literacy program. A school’s literacy program includes reading, writing, speaking, listening, and observing.

Writing Program Review Process Literacy program Writing program Writing policy plan Writing plan The writing program review is the process for analyzing components of a school’s writing program: the “instructional practices, aligned and enacted curriculum, student work samples, formative and summative assessments, professional development and support services, and administrative support and monitoring.”

Now through fall Writing Plans and Policies—schools may develop interim plan for transition period Writing Program Review Pilot— schools have access to pilot program review process Writing Program Review—results included in accountability for each school Timeline

Best Practice recommendation: SBDM appoints a committee to develop the school’s writing program & policies Suggested Committee Representation Literacy lead Teacher council member Parent council member Assistant Principal of curriculum/instruction Additional teachers Additional parents Classified staff Community members Students (at secondary level)

“Writing portfolios, consisting of samples of individual student work that represent the interests and growth of the student over time, shall be a required part of any writing program in primary through grade twelve.” Portfolios, Per SB1

Portfolios are part of the required criteria for the program review and audit process. A writing portfolio shall be maintained for each student and follow each student from grade to grade and to any school. Portfolios, Per SB1

A school’s policies for the writing program shall address : the use of the portfolio for determining student’s performance in communication grading procedures and feedback to students regarding their writing & communication skills the responsibility for review of the portfolios and feedback to students other policies to improve the quality of an individual student’s writing & communication skills

Individual Learning Plans (6-12) and Writing Students can collect documents in their ILP Students can now journal in their IL P 14

What can you do now to support the schools in your district? Take advantage of the luxury of time you have before accountability.

Take a Snapshot of your school’s writing program as it is NOW

Create Future Snapshots What does the snapshot of your school’s writing program look like – next year? – in 3 years? – in 5 years? Your planning should be long-range

A School’s Writing Plan Literacy Program Writing program Writing Policy plan Writing plan A school’s writing plan and policy may not encompass all the components of a school’s writing program. Therefore the program review process may certainly reach further than what is included in a school’s writing plan.

Multiple opportunities for students to develop complex communication skills for a variety of purposes Access to and use of technology tools Access to and use of language resources Procedures for developing and monitoring portfolios Feedback to students regarding writing and communication skills Requirements of a Writing Plan

A closer look at this document Task: Read from the perspective assigned to your team. Decide the implications for the assigned perspective: What needs to happen for you to do your part in implementation and/or development of your school’s writing plan? (i.e. What do you need to do and what support will you need? )

Another Resource: Taking a Look at your School-wide Literacy Program Literacy Program Writing program Writing Policy plan Writing plan Literacy PERKS model

PERKS Essential Elements Academic Performance 1.Aligned Curriculum 2.Multiple Assessments 3. Instruction and Targeted Intervention Learning Environment 4. Literate Environment 5. School/Family/Community Partnerships 6. Professional Development Efficiency 7. Literacy Team 8. Valuable Resources 9. Literacy Plan

Literacy Program Effectiveness Review for KY Schools (PERKS) Structure of PERKS Literacy Team 9 standards with indicators Review model and support School-leveling planning based on review nal+Resources/Literacy/Literacy+PERKS/

Developing a Schoolwide Writing Plan acy/Kentucky+Writing+Program/Writing+Planning+Guidance+ -+Developing+a+Schoolwide+Writing+Plan.htm Literacy PERKS acy/Literacy+PERKS/ KDE Resources

Cindy Parker—Language Arts Branch Manager Writing Consultants KDE Contacts