1. Arkansas ACSIP Pilot Project (Indistar)
presented by
Elbert Harvey, Coordinator School Improvement/Standard Assurance
Bobby Lester, Director of Federal Programs
School Improvement Specialist
Arkansas Department of Education
March 17th, 2015

2. Purpose of ACSIP
The purpose of the Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Planning (ACSIP) is to provide a framework for a comprehensive, highly structured specific and focused action plan that addresses primarily the effective use of the school’s implementation of goals, instructional programs, and strategies to meet student needs. The ACSIP model is an annual planning and fund distribution design that must be used by all Arkansas public and charter schools, as defined by Ark. Code Ann. §

3. ACSIP at Work – Conceptually School Level
School leadership teams conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to identify priorities, goals, interventions, and actions that scientific-based research indicates will improve adult and student performance and close achievement gaps.
The team identifies resources available to successfully complete school improvement actions, effectively implement interventions, and meet goals to achieve intended outcomes.
The school leadership team uses the ACSIP framework to develop an annual plan that includes fund distribution.
The team submits the collaboratively-developed plan to district leadership for approval and support.
What are our needs? What can we do to meet them? How will we spend our money in order to fund actions identified in the plan to meet our needs? How can district leadership support us as we implement our plan?

4. ACSIP Program Applications
Federal Programs
Title I
Title II A
Title III
Title VI
Federal Budgets- Use the Match up cards for visuals during this portion of the training or list the budgets on post it paper.
Title I - Title I Part A Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged
(Title I Part D Neglected Institutions Funds included as a set aside.)
Title II A- Effective Teachers and Leaders
Title II D – Enhancing Education Through Technology
Title III – Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students
Title IV A, 21st Century Schools, Part A– Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities
Title V, Part a – Innovative Education Program Strategies
Title VI State, Part B. Subpart 2 – Rural and Low-income School Program
(100% of funds received under Title VI State, may be used for the same purpose as Title I-A, II-D, III, IV-A, Teacher recruitment and retention, including the use of signing bonuses and other financial incentives, Teacher professional development, Parental Involvement activities)
Title VI Federal, Part B, Subpart 1 – Rural School Achievement Program (REAP)
(100% of funds received under Title VI Fed. may be used for the same purpose as Title I, IIA, IID, III, IV-A, and V-A.)
State Budgets
ALE – Alternative Learning Environment Funding
ELL – English Language Learners Funding
NSLA – National School Lunch Act Funding
PD – Professional Development
Pam’s Talking points
All federal money must be budgeted but it doesn’t all have to be spent.
Title I is for Literacy and Math

5. ACSIP Budgets and Components
Federal Budgets
Title I
Title II A
Title III
Title VI
State Budgets
ALE
ELL
NSLA PD

6. State Expectations ACSIP and APSCN must agree.
NSLA expenditures must be at 85% or higher.
Fund transfers among state categorical funds are allowable, but fund balance may not exceed 20% of total allotment of all state categorical funds.
Waivers to exceed the 20% maximum may be submitted for Commissioner approval.

7. Bottom Line Where do funds come from? Where do funds go?
Did funds improve outcomes?

8. Audit Finding: APSCN and ACSIP do not agree.
WHY?
Program people in ACSIP
Budget people in APSCN
Program people make amendments to ACSIP
Budget people don’t know.
“What we have here is a failure to
communicate.”
The graphic show one-way communication, but we have no-way communication.

9. A Journey through Time It all started With!!!
Next Came…
First Look
Quick Fix to a “Finding”
Along Came
ESEA Waiver, It was only “Logical”
Looking Forward “What If”
Now!!!!!
Statewide System of Support
Academy of Pacesetting States
Indistar
Indistar – Parent Involvement Plan
Indistar – SIG
Indistar – Priority and Focus Schools
If we could only “BUDGET” ADI & ADE
How to “FLY” Pilot project

10. Parental Involvement Plan
Optional Template for District and School Plans
Contains State and Federal Components
Majority of Districts in the State use the template

11. SIG Schools in Arkansas
All SIG schools in Arkansas chose the Transformation model
Cohort 2 were required to utilize SIG Online Tool to help with Transformational model implementation
Rapid Indicators
Optional for Cohort 1
All schools volunteered to use SIG Online Tool

12. SIG Schools in Arkansas
Assess Indicators
11 Federal Requirements for Transformational Model
Create Transformation Plan
Crosswalk Indicators with Transformation Toolkit
Budget
Amendments

13. The Problem Reality Desired Future Compliance Allowability
District Direction
Complexity of Reporting
Authentic planning for improvement
Identified Need
Leadership Team Allocated
Simplicity of Reporting

14. The Solution - Divide and Conquer The ACSIP model is an annual planning and fund distribution design…
Planning
Budgeting
Planning is reported in Indistar, and school improvement planning is about school improvement.
ADE program people provide coaching support to district and school leadership on effective implementation of research-based indicators for school improvement.
Budgets are reported in APSCN and uploaded to the Indistar plan as a separate document.
ADE budget people determine funding allowability and provide guidance for adherence to state and federal rules and regulations.

15. Learning to Budget Can we Budget at the Task Level
We contracted with ADI to develop a process to budget by task.
Is there another way?
How can me make Both Budget Match?
We worked with ADI to develop a process to import a Budget Document

16. The Indistar Improvement Equation
Adult
Performance
Student
Increased
Learning
Coaching and Stakeholder Feedback
the professional practice of school personnel, as well as family supports provided students
Formative Assessments
Interim Assessments
Summative Assessments
End of Course Assessments
All students learning; most performing at high levels

17. The Indistar Improvement Process
1. Assess
Team assesses indicators.
2. Create
Team creates and revises objective plans.
3. Monitor
Team monitors progress.

18. Indicators in Arkansas
Three required district-level indicators
Five required indicators for schools with school wide Title I programs
Three required from six state-identified indicators for all other schools
Let’s have a look!

19. Future “Learning to Soar”
Evaluate our progress and process
What lessons did we learn or “Should Have”
Work with Legislative Audit
Implement Title I application
Add Title II & Title III applications
Integrate Special Education
Expand ACSIP Pilot or Proceed to Statewide Implementation

20. Questions Elbert Harvey elbert.harvey@arkansas.gov
Bobby Lester
Richard Wilde
Jayne Green