Standard 7
As you review the responses to the indicators and rubrics, what major trends, themes, areas of focus, or goals emerge that cut across this standard?
How will you use the insights gained from this self-assessment to inform and enhance your improvement efforts related to this standard?
As we began the school improvement process, we worked together with all stakeholders to develop our mission statement, motto, vision and belief statements. We involved community members, students, board members, teachers, and administration as we established these directional guidelines. We continued to look at a vast array of data, including ACT scores, DIBELS results, Online assessments, Terra Nova results, classroom observations, and perceptual data from a variety of surveys. Analysis of the data indicated a need to address reading. Our ACT scores in particular showed that we were consistently scoring below the state average in reading. This led us to write a school improvement goal that focused on improving literacy with an emphasis on using technology to accomplish that goal. We came to realize that literacy was not a narrow enough focus and did not truly reflect our goal. After careful consideration, we revised our goal to more accurately represent our desire to improve reading skills for all students while moving our emphasis on technology into our belief statements.
We utilize our website, school board meetings, the local newspaper, faculty meetings, student assemblies, and involvement in community groups as avenues for communication with our stakeholders. For example, there is a link to the State of the Schools report on our website. We continue to use perceptual data based on themes (instructional focus, community focus, safe and orderly, resources, and leadership) because we value the input of our patrons. This data can be analyzed for trends over time, and we plan to continue monitoring the themes that we have in place.
Data is gathered utilizing technology through walk through evaluations and school activity report forms, both of which are done through Google Docs. Other assessment data is new to our system as we meet the requirements of the state department with NeSA, and as we make a change from Terra Nova to MAP assessments. Our ACT scores have remained consistent, and we will continue to analyze that data as we try to meet our benchmark of surpassing the state average in reading. However, we are in the process of establishing baseline data with the MAP assessments and are beginning to train our teachers how to maximize the potential benefits of the extensive information and guidance that MAP data can provide. Our plans are to not only have better data, but also to better utilize that data.
In addressing this goal, we have brought professional development to our teachers as well as encouraged the staff to attend opportunities at our service unit and elsewhere. A data team has been established and dates set for training on how to interpret and analyze MAP assessment results. This team will then lead the rest of the staff in learning to use MAP data. A pilot team of teachers has received training in the LtoJ process and implemented the program in their classrooms this year. Research indicated that this program would further our school improvement goal and integrate well with our previously established programs. We have been pleased with the results and have decided to implement the program schoolwide. Technology has also been a focus of our professional development, highlighting how technology can benefit student learning.
The school improvement team has made a significant effort to ensure that new programs not only align with our goal and mission statement but also integrate well with other school programs rather than detracting from what we are already doing.
Other programs that we have implemented include Advantage, preschool/junior kindergarten, and ACT online prep/John Baylor ACT test prep. The Advantage program came from our desire to remove failure as an option for students. Those students who are behind on homework or failing a class spend an extra hour at the end of the school day working on class work with direct supervision and extra help when necessary. This program provides a means to ensure students are performing at their level of capability rather than choosing to do nothing. The preschool program was very successful in its first year, and the teacher felt a strong desire to provide a junior kindergarten so that we would not have students who went a full year with no education before starting regular kindergarten. The junior kindergarten was implemented this year. We have used the ACT online prep for the past few years, and this year purchased the John Baylor ACT test prep to better prepare our students for taking the ACT.
As we continue in our school improvement efforts, we want to focus on the future. We feel confident that we are headed in the right direction and continue to put the best interest of our students at the forefront. The programs we are implementing will be evaluated through the data we collect to ensure that we are achieving our goal. We feel certain that we will have solid data from our new assessments that will assist us in making sound decisions.