Kentucky Department of Education

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Organizing School Improvement Plans

• Planning
• for
• Proficiency

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A KEY INDICATOR OF STUDENT SUCCESS is a
student-focused measurable result that the school
has the ability, desire, or need to influence and
for which it is willing, or required, to be held
accountable.
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Budget, Staff, Programs, Processes
Required Student Standards
Summative Assessments
Comprehensive School Improvement Planning
Key Indicators of Student Success
Curriculum Instruction
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessments
Methods, Materials, Content, Resources
Districts/Schools Mission, Vision, Values, and
Beliefs
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Important Things to Remember

• Follow district policy on planning.
• While you control the content, always be aware of
  the specifics of your districts planning policy,
  including specifics about format, timelines and
  cycles. Your districts policy should also
  ensure that you meet all legal requirements.

• The process is continuous.
• Beyond those requirements set forth in your
  district policy, dont hold yourself to specific
  timelines or cycles. Update as needed. Many
  times, schools get stuck in a one year or two
  year planning cycle. Set your goals, meet them
  and move on to the next priority need.

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Important Things to Remember

• Plans should be about teaching and learning!

• Should be things that teachers can do for
  students to raise achievement on a consistent
  basis.

• Should not include administrative duties.

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Important Things to Remember

• Keep good written records for each step.
• There is no right way to develop and write a
  plan, only right steps in the process.

• Use the planning sections of the Keys to School
  Council Proficiency for best practice.
• KDE has endorsed this set of proficiency keys for
  school councils that includes a section on
  planning. This is not required, but can be
  beneficial in moving your planning to a
  proficient level.

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What is the FIRST STEP?!?

• ? NEEDS
• ASSESSMENT-
• What does the data tell us our needs are?

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What is the SECOND STEP?!?

• ?PRIORITIZING NEEDS-
• Which of these identified needs are of greatest
  concern (2-3 needs)?

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What is the THIRD STEP?!?

• ?CAUSE ANALYSIS-
• What factors caused these needs of greatest
  concern to occur?

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When is a Cause a Root Cause?

1. Would the problem have occurred if the cause had
   not been present?

If no, then it is a root cause.
If yes, then it is a contributing cause.
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When is a Cause a Root Cause?
2. Will the problem reoccur as the result of the
same cause if the cause is corrected or dissolved?
If no, then it is a root cause.
If yes, then it is a contributing cause.
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When is a Cause a Root Cause?
3. Will correction or dissolution of the cause
lead to similar events?
If no, then it is a root cause.
If yes, then it is a contributing cause.
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Other indicators that you have found the root
cause

• You run into a dead end asking what caused the
  proposed root cause.
• The cause is logical, makes sense, provides
  clarity to the problem.
• The cause is something that you can influence
  control.
• If the cause is dissolved, there is realistic
  hope that the problem can be reduced or prevented
  in the future.

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What is the FOURTH STEP?!?

• ?SETTING GOALS-
• What is our goal in addressing each of these
  needs and when will we reach these goals?

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Complete ends-focused goal statements need to
contain the following elements
Focused on student learning.
Contain a specific target for achievement
compared to the present.
Provide a time frame for achievement of the
target.
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What is the FIFTH STEP?!?

• ?GOAL ACHIEVING-
• What steps will we take to reach our goals and
  who will oversee each step?

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What is the SIXTH STEP?!?

• ?IDENTIFYING RESOURCES-
• What resources will we need to reach our
  goal(s)?

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What is the SEVENTH STEP?!?

• ?CONTINUOUS MONITORING-
• What method(s) will we use to ensure each step
  is completed?

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What is the EIGHTH STEP?!?

• ?EVALUATION-
• What method(s) will we use to measure the
  effectiveness of our actions?

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What Now?

• When you reach a goal, the process begins again.

• Go back to step 1 and review your needs.

• What is the next priority?

• Then jump right back in at step 2 and follow
  through to 8.

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Council Development and Planning Branch

• Erin.McGee_at_education.ky.gov
• 502-564-4201