NH Department of Education

Developing the School Improvement Plan

April 15, 2011
Referencing requirements for Schools in Need of Improvement:
NH RSA 193-H and Federal Public Law 107-110

April 2011 NH Department of Education

 Developing the School Improvement Plan

Agenda
 Statutory Requirements and Deadlines

 The Planning Process

◦ Materials Needed
◦ Recommended Planning Resources

 Writing the Plan

◦ Plan Format
◦ Review of Required Components, including Parent
Notification Requirements for Title I Schools

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan
Materials Needed to Develop the Plan

Required Materials

School Improvement Plan Instructions

and
School Improvement Plan Template

The above are TWO separate documents – you will need both. The
forms are different for Title I and non-Title I schools-please make
sure to use the appropriate documents.

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan
Materials Needed to Develop the Plan
Reference Materials

Planning Resources
(“recommended reading” for the school’s improvement team prior to
beginning their work)

Chart of State and Federal Requirements

(an overview of the requirements for both Title I and Non-Title I
schools)

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan

Location of Materials on the NHDOE Website

From the NHDOE home page at http://www.education.nh.gov/ :
 For Title I Schools:
◦ Select “T” on the subject index alphabet in the top section of the homepage
◦ Select “ Title I, Part A”
◦ Select “Title I Schools in Need of Improvement (SINI) Information”
◦ Links to the Instructions and Improvement Plan Template are listed individually.
 For Non-Title I Schools:
◦ Select “S” on the subject index alphabet in the top section of the homepage
◦ Select “Schools in Need of Improvement”
◦ Select 2011-2012. Links to the Instructions and Improvement Plan Template are
listed individually in the “School Improvement Plan Instructions and Materials”
section.
 Reference Materials:
All reference materials, including this power point, are located in the “School
Improvement Plan Instructions and Materials” section of the SINI web page.

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Developing the School Improvement Plan

Statutory Requirements

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan
State and Federal Statutory Requirements
(Pages 1 and 2 of the “Instructions” Document)

New Hampshire’s school and district accountability statute

requires the development of a school improvement plan for
any school officially designated as a school in need of
improvement. (NH RSA 193:H) The plan must describe at a
minimum:

(1) the area(s) in which the school did not make adequate
yearly progress for two consecutive years, resulting in the
designation as a school in need of improvement, and

(2) the activities the school will implement to improve the

underlying issues affecting student achievement in the designated
area(s).

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan
State and Federal Statutory Requirements
(Pages 1 and 2 of the “Instructions” Document)

For Title I schools designated as a school in need

of improvement, the improvement plan is also
required by the federal No Child Left Behind
Act (P.L. 107-110).
Title I school improvement plans must therefore
include the following items (3) – (8):
 

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan
State and Federal Statutory Requirements
(Pages 1 and 2 of the “Instructions” Document)

(3) an overview of the research demonstrating that

strategies selected are of proven effectiveness;

(4) parent and family involvement strategies to increase

the likelihood that improvement efforts are successful
and sustained;

(5) a description of how parents and outside experts were

consulted in designing the plan;

(6) a description of the school or district’s teacher

mentoring program;

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan
State and Federal Statutory Requirements
(Pages 1 and 2 of the” Instructions” Document)

(7) a description of the parent notification process, together with a

copy of the parent notification letter, explaining the reasons for the
school’s designation. The Parent Notification letter must be
disseminated to parents at least 14 days prior to the start of the 2011-
2012 school year.

If applicable, the letter must include procedures parents may use to

request school choice for their child.

Before completing Form Page 7, review the Public School

Choice Requirements and Guidance on Pages 6-13 of the
Instructions for Developing the Title I School Improvement Plan.

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan
State and Federal Statutory Requirements
(Pages 1 and 2 of the “Instructions” Document)

In addition, the district must annually post on its website:

◦ the number of students requesting school choice;
◦ the number of students that receive school choice; and
◦ the name(s) of the schools to which students have transferred with
the associated number of students that are attending through choice.

(8) signed assurancesthat certain practices and policies are

established and implemented.

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan
State and Federal Statutory Requirements
(Pages 1 and 2 of the “Instructions” Document)

Duration of the Plan

 The school improvement plan is in effect for a
two-year period (school years 2011-2012 and
2012-2013 ).

While your planning process should encompass

a two-year period, you will be submitting an
action plan for the 2011-2012 school year only.

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan
State and Federal Statutory Requirements
(Pages 1 and 2 of the “Instructions” Document)

 The “school in need of improvement” designation is

removed once the school makes Adequate Yearly
Progress (AYP) for two consecutive years in the content
area(s) that caused the designation.

 State and federal requirements are further illustrated in

the “Chart of State and Federal Requirements”
referenced in Slide 4 and located on the 2011-2012 SINI
webpage.

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan
State and Federal Statutory Requirements
(Pages 1 and 2 of the “Instructions” Document)

Required Focus of the Plan

In contrast with other strategic plans which may be
broader in scope, this improvement plan must be
specifically focused on improving student achievement
in the areas in which the school did not make Adequate
Yearly Progress (AYP), resulting in the designation as a
school in need of improvement.

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan
State and Federal Statutory Requirements
(Pages 1 and 2 of the “Instructions” Document)

Deadline for Submission

 In accordance with state and federal law, the plan must be
submitted no later than 90 days from the date the designation as a
school in need of improvement is official. The designation is
official at the close of the AYP appeals process on May 9, 2011.

 Deadline for approval of the Title I SINI parent notification letter is

June 15, 2011 (should be received by the NHDOE by May 13th).

 Deadline for submission of the complete School Improvement Plan

is 90 days from May 9, or August 5, 2011.

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan
State and Federal Statutory Requirements
(Pages 1 and 2 of the “Instructions” Document)

Review and Approval Process

 Criteria used to review the plan is listed in the
“Instructions” document
 Plans meeting all requirements are recommended to the
State Board of Education for approval
 An annual progress report is required until such time as
the school’s designation as a school in need of
improvement is removed.

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Developing the School Improvement Plan

Developing the Plan

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan
(Page 3 of the “Instructions” Document)

Reminder:
To complete your plan, you will need both of these
documents!

School Improvement Plan Instructions

and
School Improvement Plan Template

Be sure to download the documents appropriate to

your school (Title I or Non-Title I), as they are different!

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan
(Page 3 of the “Instructions” Document)

Schools that have been through the SINI planning process

recommend...
The Planning Resources document
This document contains:
Self-assessment tools to begin the process of reviewing
the school’s strengths and weaknesses in relation to
research-based best practice:
Continuum for School Planning or
Center for Innovation Steps to Success (on-line)
These tools guide the “root cause analysis” process
and provide links to “research” to answer the questions
“Where are we now? Why? What are the next steps”

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan
(Planning Resources Document )

Some schools have found it helpful to acquire the services of an

outside facilitator to guide the team through this planning process.

See Part C of the Planning Resources document for a list of

experienced facilitators.

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 Center for
Innovation and Improvement
As NH is a Pacesetting State for the

Steps to Success initiative

a coach will be provided to assist new SINIs that elect the on-line
self-assessment process.
Technical assistance sessions to provide an overview of
the process will be offered at the following locations:

Monday May 2 1-4 Claremont PD Ctr

Thursday May 5 9-12 PSU - Concord
Wednesday May 11 9-12 Seacoast PD Ctr
Wednesday May 25 1-4 North Country PD Ctr

To register contact Kristine Braman at kbraman@ed.state.nh.us

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan
(Planning Resources Document )

The process outlined in Parts A and B of the Planning Resources

document encourages the following activities for developing the plan:

 Establishing a core school improvement planning team with

clear roles and responsibilities;

 Conducting a “check-up”, or self-assessment, of current school

practices and programs designed to improve student
achievement, so to answer these questions:
What did we implement and why? (the “Here’s What”)
What were the results? ” (the “So What”)

 Locating the student achievement gaps (which students are

falling behind and in which areas);

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 Developing the School Improvement Plan
(Planning Resources Document )

 Identifying the possible contributing factors (conditions, issues,

practices, or policies);

 Determining which factors are within the school’s control and

deciding what to tackle first (prioritizing);

 Creating an action plan (the “Now What”)

 Ensuring the plan is monitored for effectiveness as well as timely

implementation.

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 Developing the Plan
Required Components
(See Page 4 of Instructions Document and
Appropriate Form Pages of the Improvement Plan Template)

Writing the Plan:

Required Components

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 Developing the Plan
Required Components
(See Page 4 of Instructions Document and
Appropriate Form Pages of the Improvement Plan Template)

School Improvement Plan

Template Document
Title 1 Non-Title 1
REQUIRED PLAN COMPONENTS
Form Page 1 Form Page 1
 Cover Page ------------------------------
Form Page 2 Form Page 2
 Memorandum of Understanding------
Form Page 3 Form Page 3
 Demographic Information -------------
Form Page 4 Form Page 4
 Plan Abstract------------------------------
Form Page 5 Form Page 5
 Plan Narrative-----------------------------
Form Page 6 Form Page 6
 Action Plan -------------------------------
Form Page 7
 Parent Notification ---------------------

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 Developing the Plan
Required Components
(See Page 4 of Instructions Document and
Appropriate Form Pages of the Improvement Plan Template)

 Cover Page (Form Page 1).

Complete all information.

 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Form Page 2 is completed by the Superintendent.
Submit the MOU with original signature by regular mail.

 School Demographics (Form Page 3).

Complete all information.

 Improvement Plan Abstract (Form Page 4).

As the plan is a public document, the abstract is used to inform the State
Board of Education regarding the school’s strategies for improvement in
the area(s) for which it is identified.

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 Developing the Plan
Required Components
(See Page 4 of Instructions Document and
Appropriate Form Pages of the Improvement Plan Template)

 Improvement Plan Narrative (Form Page 5).

 Describe the plan development, review, and dissemination
process:
 Who was involved?
 Who was consulted?
 How was the plan reviewed prior to submitting it?
 How will it be disseminated and explained to others?

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 Developing the Plan
Required Components
(See Page 4 of Instructions Document and
Appropriate Form Pages of the Improvement Plan Template)

 Improvement Plan Narrative (Form Page 5).

 Location of Achievement Gap(s)

 Be specific
 Focus on the content area(s) in which the school is
identified for improvement
 Focus on struggling learners

 Identifying the “Root Cause” Issues

• Provide a summary of the issues identified, and those
selected as priorities for this plan.

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 Developing the Plan
Required Components
(See Page 4 of Instructions Document and
Appropriate Form Pages of the Improvement Plan Template)

 Action Plan for School Year 2011-2012 (Form Page 6).

Duplicate Form Page 6 as needed. For each area in which the school is
identified for improvement, clearly describe the
Goal (achievement gap to be reduced)

Strategies (to be implemented)

Objectives (anticipated changes in professional practice AND

student learning)

Proposed Activities for 2011-2012 to achieve the Objectives.

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 For More Information

Title I Schools
Mary Ellen Arigo (603-271-8315)
MArigo@ed.state.nh.us

Non -Title I Schools

Merry Fortier (603- 271-7382)
MFortier@ed.state.nh.us

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