5123.1 - Supervision - Actions Required for School Districts in Need of Improvement

Students

5123.1 Supervision/Actions Required for Schools/Districts Designated as “Needing Improvement”

Board of Education Responsibility

The Windsor Locks Board of Education (Board) is given specific educational policy and management responsibilities by statue if the District or a District school(s) is designated by the State Board of Education as “in need of improvement” based on student performance and performance trends on the state-wide mastery examinations,” consistent with federal and state law. Recognizing that the problems of low student test performance are multi-faceted and not susceptible to rapid amelioration, the Board, in partnership with the State of Connecticut, commits itself to action designed to address and remediate those special problems faced by the district/schools designated as “in need of improvement” by the state and the students who attend them.

Application of Policy

This policy shall apply only to schools in the District which have been officially designated as “in need of improvement” (I.N.O.I.) by the State Department of Education pursuant to the provisions of C.G.S. 10-223e(b). When the District or a designated school is removed from the list established by the state, this policy shall no longer be applicable.

Schools “In Need of Improvement”

1. As used in this policy, a school District which has been designated as “in need of improvement based on student performance and performance trends on state-wide mastery examinations” as defined in C.G.S. 10-223e(b) shall be referred to using the abbreviation “I.N.O.I.”

2. As used in this policy, “the process for improving school performance” required under state and federal law with respect to any public school within the District which has been designated as “in need of improvement” shall be referred to using the abbreviation “P.I.S.P.” for “process for improving school performance”.

Responsibility of the Board of Education Regarding Improvement Plan(s) (PlSP)

1. Upon receipt of information from the State Department of Education that one or more schools have been designated as I.N.O.I., the Board shall review the steps legally required dealing with the designation.

2. If more than one District school is designated I.N.O.I. by the State, the Board, the schools on said designation list shall be prioritized and a timetable developed for such schools to undergo a process for improving school performance (“P.I.S.P”).

3. Board shall be guided by the advice of the State Department of Education as to which such schools are most in need of improvement.

4. The list and timetable for improvement established by the Board shall be forwarded to the Commissioner of Education for his/her approval.

5. The Board shall require each school designated as I.N.O.I. to take the following actions:

• Develop a written improvement plan (P.I.S.P.) designed to remediate the causes of the school’s I.N.O.I. designation. The P.I.S.P for an I.N.O.I. school must include:

i. site-based management of the school;

ii. involvement of the school community and developed in consultation with the school’s Principal, teachers at the school, and parents of students attending the school;

• Said improvement plan must be submitted to the Board of Education for its approval and will be implemented in accordance with the plan.

Responsibility of Board of Education to Monitor Improvement Plan (P.I.S.P.)

The school Principal shall have responsibility for coordinating steps necessary to implement the PISP for the school under the supervision of the Superintendent of Schools. The school Principal shall contact the State Department of Education to request technical support for the implementation of the P.I.S.P.

After the PISP has been approved for a school designated as I.N.O.I., the Board shall monitor progress made under the improvement plan.

If two years after the date of approval of the PISP, the Board finds that the I.N.O.I. school has not made sufficient progress, the Board, shall develop a plan for such school that requires the Superintendent to take one or more of the following actions in order to improve student performance at the designated school:

a. Complete an operations audit and instructional audit to identify any deficits in curriculum and instruction or in the learning environment of the school or district and develop and implement a plan to correct any identified deficiencies;

b. Redirect state and federal funds to address critical needs;

c. Provide incentives to attract highly qualified teachers and principals;

d. Direct the transfer and assignment of teachers and principals;

e. Implement model curriculum, including, but not limited to, recommended textbooks, materials and supplies approved by the Department of Education;

f. Reorganize or reconstitute schools

g. to meet the State’s instructional and learning benchmarks to ensure removal from the list of underperforming schools or districts.

Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes

10-14n Statewide mastery examination, Certification of mastery.

Limitations on use of test results. Examinations in accordance with federal NCLB Act; funding. Kindergarten assessment tool.

10-221(b) Boards of education to prescribe rules.

10-223e State-wide education accountability plan and possible actions. Study of academic achievement.

10-265g Summer reading programs required for priority school districts. Evaluation of student reading level. Personal reading plans.

10-265l Requirements for additional instruction for poor performing students in priority school districts; exemption. Summer school required; exemption.

P.A. 10-111 An Act Concerning Education Reform in Connecticut.

P.A. 11-135 An Act Concerning Implementation Dates for Secondary School Reform, Exceptions to the School Governance Council Requirement and the Inclusion of Continuous Employment in a Cooperative Arrangement as Part of the Definition of Teacher Tenure.

PA-13-207 An Act Concerning Student Assessments.

P.L. 107-110 The No Child Left Behind Act.

Policy Adopted: March 28, 2013

Policy Revised: April 8, 2021