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Friday, May 18, 2012

Page Topics
School Improvement Introduction School Improvement Planning Resources

Department Contacts
Dr. Sarena Shivers
Assistant Superintendent
Student Achievement and Services
734-994-8100 x1257
sshivers@wash.k12.mi.us
Zoe Starkweather
Grants and Development
734-994-8100 x1274
zstarkwe@wash.k12.mi.us
Dr. Tim Jackson
Career and Technical Ed.
517-540-6830
tjackson@wash.k12.mi.us
Margy Long
Great Start Collaborative Director
Washtenaw Success by 6
734-994-8100 x1277
mlong@wash.k12.mi.us
School Improvement
School Improvement

School Improvement Introduction

Improvement is a continuous process used to ensure that all students are achieving at high levels. All schools can create better environments so that more students are successful. Continuous improvement of schools is essential to providing increased student performance and quality results. Innovative, exemplary, and research-based programs, coupled with professional development, focused and aligned resources, and public participation in planning, are critical factors in schools that demonstrate continuous growth. All public schools and Public School Academies (PSA) in Michigan are required to develop and implement a 3-to-5 year school improvement plan.

The job of the school improvement team is to lead the development of a school improvement plan that addresses school needs, to monitor the implementation of the plan, and to revise it when appropriate.

School staff must understand the process and recognize that it includes a number of steps that are cyclical in nature. To determine progress and needs, data are continuously collected and analyzed. With a good understanding of the process and a shared vision and mission, staff can begin to think in terms of changes necessary to creating improved student achievement. As teams begin to work through the process, they will shape and reshape what they know about instruction, the change process, and school improvement.

Benefits of school improvement planning include:

  • Creates a collaborative, continuous improvement culture to ensure that all student are achieving at high levels.
  • Encourages innovation through research-based practices
  • Focuses and aligns staff development resources
  • Increase public participation in planning
  • Provides data to support and document growth
(Adapted from Macomb ISD)

In April 2006, the Michigan Department of Education’s (MDE) Office of School Improvement rolled out the School Improvement Framework with rubrics, support tools, and a conversation starter kit. The research-based Framework “establishes a clear structure for thinking and talking about, strategizing, and acting upon continuous improvement. With 5 strands, 12 standards, 26 benchmarks, and descriptive clarifying criteria, the Framework provides a way of organizing the conversation about school improvement.” (MDE Office of School Improvement).

The Office of School Improvement (OSI) launched a new school improvement website aligned with the School Improvement Framework. The Framework and related tools are available at www.michigan.gov/schoolimprovement

  


School Improvement Planning Resources

WISD’s Achievement Initiatives Team provides you access to the following resources and tools to ensure, through improvement planning, that every student receives an equitable and personalized education.