Appendix H-SCHOOL COVER SHEET - Transformation Model
Transcription
Appendix H-SCHOOL COVER SHEET - Transformation Model
Appendix H-SCHOOL COVER SHEET - Transformation Model School Name: Dalewood Middle Address: 1300 Shallowford Road Chattanooga, Tenn. 37411 District Point of Contact (POC) Name & Position: Le Andrea Ware – Innovation Zone Director Phone#: 423-209-8421 Email Address: [email protected] School Number: 0055 Title I Status: __X___ School-wide Program _____ Targeted Assistance Program _____ Title I Eligible School Year the school entered Priority status: 2010 Principal's Name SY 2012-13: (Indicate TBD if unknown at this time.) Chris Earl Waiver Request(s): Phone # 423-493-0331 __X___ Not Requested for this School _____ Requested for this School Email Address: [email protected] Amount the LEA is requesting from SY 2012-13 School Improvement Funds for the next three years for this school*: * Each year--not to exceed $2 million Pre-Implementation Activities Year 1 Year 1: SY 2013-14 excluding preimplementation Year 2: SY 2014-15 Year 3: SY 2115-16 Three Year Total Budget $44,000 $330,960 $400,000 $400,000 $1,174,960 1 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H School Level Descriptive Information 1. School Comprehensive Needs Analysis: Using the analysis of the data in the areas below, provide a summary and conclusion for each of the areas as indicated. Using the needs assessment, each LEA is required to select an intervention for each school. School Name: DALEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL Intervention Model – TRANSFORMATION Provide a minimum of two years of data where indicated. Provide a summary and conclusion of the analysis of each area. 1. Student Profile Data 2010-11 Total student enrollment Grade level enrollment 6th 7th 8th Number of students in each subgroup (List applicable subgroups below.) African American Hispanic White Other Mobility (%) - Entrants, Withdrawals Attendance % Suspensions (#) Expulsions (#) AP, IB, and Dual Enrollment (#) Graduation Rate 2. Staff Profile Data Principal: Chris Earl Length of time in position: 2 months 2011-12 323 289 112 103 108 98 92 99 297 5 20 1 257 5 26 3 41.1 91.7 143 27 41.4 92.9 270 14 The Research and Accountability Office of the Hamilton County Department of Education provided student enrollment information based on end of the year data from the2010-11and 2011- 12 school years. Dalewood’s student enrollment began to spiral downward three years ago when parents exercised their right under NCLB to transfer their child to a school paired with Dalewood that had higher levels of student achievement. From 2010-11 to 2011-12, the total enrollment decreased by 99 students. During the same time period, the number of African American students decreased and the number of Hispanic students rose slightly. The average daily attendance average increased from 91.7% in 2010-11 to 92.9% in 2011-12. However, the number of suspensions almost doubled from 143 in 2010-11 to 270 in 2011-12. A probable cause is teacher weaknesses in classroom management leading to an increase in discipline referrals (and thus suspensions) between the two years. Needs: Determining the root causes of student discipline issues by conducting surveys, interviews, and researching the types of infractions that led to suspensions. Establish a schoolwide disciplinary code of conduct that will be enforced consistently. A system to support students with high numbers of discipline infraction, those who enroll during the school year NA NA (note the high mobility rate), and those who are at risk of being retained. This is essential since NA NA retentions result in students entering high school overage which places them at risk of becoming a drop out Provide a summary and conclusion of the analysis of each area. Dalewood’s current principal has been in his position for two months. Prior to coming to Dalewood Middle School, he was a high school Assistant Principal for 8 years. During his previous administrative assignment, Mr. Earl focused on developing interventions to close the achievement gap between African American male students and their peers. 2 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Teaching Staff Number of years experience in profession 1. 1 to 3 2. 4-10 years 3. 11-20 years 6 / 25% 10 / 41.7% 5 / 20.8% 4. 21+ years 3 / 12.5% Dalewood Middle School has 21 full-time teachers and 1 half-time teacher. There are 13 core teachers, 6 exploratory teachers, 2 special education/inclusion teachers, and 1 CDC teacher. One hundred percent of the teaching staff is Highly Qualified. In addition to the 22 classroom teachers, there is also 1 Dean of Students and 1 Literacy Coach for a total of 24 staff members. Of the total staff, 54% is Caucasian, 42% is African-American, and 4% is Other. The staff is primarily comprised of teachers who are in the early stages of their career - 67% percent have ten years or less experience and 25% have three or less years experience. Need: Job embedded professional development that meets the needs of early career teachers such as well as the needs of veteran teachers. Teaching Staff Number and % of experience in the school 1. 1 to 3 2. 4-10 years 3. 11-20 years 4. 21+ years 11 / 45% 10 / 42% 3 / 12.5% 0 / NA Teacher attendance rate Of the twenty-two teachers at Dalewood, eight (36%) are new to the school this year. Almost half the faculty (45%) has been at Dalewood three or less years and only 12.5% of the faculty has been at the school more than 10 years. This type of faculty turnover makes it difficult to sustain a positive and imbedded school culture and climate. Needs: Strategies to increase teacher retention including financial incentives, meaningful job-embedded professional development, collaborative planning time, and school leadership opportunities. 2010-2011 2011-2012 There was a sharp decline in teacher attendance between the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years. In 2011-12, Dalewood Middle School had the second 93.8% 86.1 lowest teacher attendance rate (86.1%) in Hamilton County. The high number 3 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H of teacher absences is a serious source of concern due to the negative impact on student achievement. Even with the best plans, substitutes are not truly a substitute for the expertise of the teacher. Every day a teacher is not present results in a loss of instructional time that cannot be replaced. In addition, when a substitute teacher is not available the students are often “split” among other classes on the grade level. In this case, the teacher absence has a ripple effect where instruction is negatively impacted in all the classes at the grade level. Teachers must be held accountable for their attendance. Teacher evaluation data by levels 2011-2012 Level 1 2 Level 2 2 Level 3 5 Level 4 3 Level 5 1 Needs: A focus group to determine the root causes of low teacher attendance and strategize supports to increase teacher attendance. Also, to incentivize high attendance, an annual bonus of $500 will be granted through the HCDE Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) to teachers who attain a 97% or better attendance rate. In 2010-11, 12% of the teachers had a teacher effectiveness score of Level 1 or 2, however, in 2011-12, the percent of teachers with a teacher effectiveness score of 1 or 2 more than doubled to 30%. Although this suggests a large shift, the source was actually only one teacher at each effectiveness level (increasing from 1 to 2 teachers). Teacher attendance may have been a factor in this shift since the teachers who earned a lower effectiveness level between the two years had higher levels of absenteeism in 2011-12 than in 2010-11. In order to increase student achievement, there must be an increase in the percentage of highly effective teachers. Needs: A two-tiered approach of capacity-building professional development (led by administrators and Instructional Coaches). This includes support in best practices, management techniques, data usage, monitoring and checking for understanding, and professional collaboration through the Professional Learning Communities Model. Also, pay incentives would assist in recruiting and retaining highly effective teachers. 3. Student Achievement Data 2010-2011 2011-2012 Provide a summary of existing status and current needs. 10.4% P/A 9.6% P/A The overall Reading/Language Arts achievement on TCAP continues to be under 15% Proficient and Advanced, and declined slightly from 2010-2011 to 2011-2012. Therefore, it is essential that an effective program is in place for Reading/Language Arts “Every test taker” (ETT) category 4 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H the ELA courses and that literacy is a focus within every course. This includes student access to reading materials at various Lexile levels. EXPLORE data from 2011 and 2012 indicates that our eighth grade students are below the national average in the English and Reading sections. The 2011 national average for English was 14.2 and the average for Reading was 13.8. Dalewood’s average score for English was 11.0 and the average score for Reading was 11.2. The 2012 national average EXPLORE score for English was 14.7 and the average score for Reading was 14.6; Dalewood’s average score for English was 11.8 and the average score for Reading was 12.4. In 2012, our female students had a higher level of achievement on the English and reading sections than the male students (a trend that is seen across the country). The average English score for females was 12.5 and the average score for males was 11.0. The average reading score for females was 13.4 and the average score for males was 11.3. Dalewood Middle School has shown continuous improvement on the State Writing Assessment with the overall percentage of students scoring at a 4 or higher increasing from 78.5% in 2010 to 89.4% in 2012. However, both the content and the format of the writing assessment are changing. Students must be prepared to respond to informational texts. Therefore, we will continue to focus on writing across the curriculum to respond to the changes and to build upon the success we have had on this assessment in the past. Needs: A focused, research-based language arts program such as Reader’s/Writer’s Workshop; an online reading program to address the needs of students reading significantly below grade level; an after-school tutoring program for students who are not served by the Gear Up program; Summer Reading/Writing Program; a Literacy Coach to oversee the implementation of the school-wide literacy plan; stipends for after school and Saturday professional development in effective literacy and writing instructional strategies. Subgroups: African American Hispanic* White* Economically Disadvantaged * Starred subgroups had less than 45 students. 9.3% P/A 50% P/A 22.2 P/A 10.0% P/A 8.5% P/A 50% P/A 15.4% P/A 9.9% P/A There are gaps among subgroups in reading/language arts proficiency. The current population of Dalewood Middle School is 91% African American and 93% economically disadvantaged. The performance of these two subgroups 5 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Students with Disabilities Males Females 0.0% P/A 8.1% P/A 12.8% P/A 0.0% P/A 9.3% P/A 10.0% P/A represents the overall Reading/Language Arts achievement of the school. Therefore, over 90% of the school population scored at the Basic and Below Basic levels. While female performance decreased from 2010-11 to 2011-12 by 2.8% and the male performance increased during the same time period by 1.2%, females still outperformed males during both years. Although there seems to be a significant increase in the percentage of students with disabilities who were proficient/advanced between 2011 and 2012 (from 0% to 22%), this data is misleading since most students with disabilities take the MAAS version of the TCAP and the illustrated data does not include the MAAS. In fact, according to the Tennessee State Report Card, in 2011 students with disabilities met the federal benchmark in Reading/Language Arts. We will continue using the inclusion model for this population of students. In addition, the special education teachers will work directly with selected students during the daily activity period. Although it seems that Hispanic students greatly outperformed all other subgroups, this was a very small group in both 2010-11 and 2011-12. Therefore, the apparent high percentage of proficient/advanced in comparison to the other subgroups represents only a few students and is not statistically significant. Needs: A focused program such as Reader’s/Writer’s Workshop that targets the needs of students in the various subgroups to increase achievement in Reading/Language Arts and decrease the number of students scoring Basic or Below Basic; on-going training to regular education and inclusion teachers to meet the needs of students with disabilities. School performance on value-added student achievement 2011 (3 yr. avg.) Status: F Mean Gain: -3.4 2012 (3 yr. avg.) Status: F Mean Gain: -3.0 2011 (yr. & grade) 6th: .3 7th: 1.0 8th: 3.6 2012 (yr & grade) 6th: -1.7 7th: -4.5 8th: 4.2 The 8th grade language arts showed positive value-added student achievement for both 2010-11 and 2011-12. The 6th and 7th grades experienced negative value–added student achievement between 2010-11 and 2011-12. The positive results in 8th grade may be attributed to the successful implementation of the Reader’s/Writer’s Workshop Model. Needs: Continued implementation of Reader’s/Writer’s Workshop and professional development to support the program; additional implementation support for the 6th and 7th grade language arts teachers from the Literacy Coach; teacher effectiveness financial incentives for teachers scoring a 4 or 5 6 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H TVAAS to supplement the Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF). Mathematics “Every test taker” (ETT) category 6.6% P/A 5.5% P/A The overall Mathematics TCAP scores continue to be under the district target of 10% Proficient and Advanced. EXPLORE data from 2011 and 2012 indicates that our eighth grade students are below the national average in Mathematics. The 2011 national average was 15.1 and Dalewood’s average was 12.1. The 2012 national average was 15.5 and Dalewood’s average was 13.0. In 2012, our female students had a higher level of achievement (13.5%) on the mathematics section than the male students (12.3%). Needs: Intensive professional development in a research-based program such as Best Practices in Mathematics Instruction to increase knowledge of content and pedagogy; Math Interventionists to work with students scoring significantly below grade level; an assessment system that will allow for periodic measurement of student progress such as Discovery Education Assessments; a Numeracy Coach to coach teachers in effective classroom assessments and instruction; after school mathematics tutoring; stipends for after school and Saturday professional development in effective math instructional strategies. * Starred subgroups had less than 30 students. Subgroups: African American Hispanic* White* Economically Disadvantaged Students with Disabilities Males Females 6.1% P/A 0% P/A 22.2% P/A 6.4% P/A 0.0% P/A 5.2% P/A 8.0% P/A 5.0% P/A 25% P/A 7.7% P/A 5.4% P/A 0.0% P/A 3.7% P/A 7.3% P/A The current population of Dalewood Middle School is 91% African American and 93% economically disadvantaged. Therefore, the performance of these two subgroups represents the overall Mathematics achievement of the school. While both female and male performance in math decreased from 2010-11 to 2011-12, females outperformed males during both years. The Hispanic and white subgroups have very few students each. In 2011, there were 20 white students and 5 Hispanic students. In 2012, there were 26 white students and 4 Hispanic students. Thus, the percentage changes (+25% for Hispanic students; -14.5% for white students) in achievement that seem significant are actually a result of only a few students. According to the Tennessee State Report Card, in 2011, students with disabilities met the federal benchmark in mathematics. We will continue using 7 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H the inclusion model for this population of students. Need: An intervention that targets the needs of students in the various subgroups to increase achievement in Mathematics and decrease the number of students scoring Basic or Below Basic; on-going training to regular education and inclusion teachers to meet the needs of students with disabilities. School performance on value-added Math student achievement 2011 (3 yr. avg.) Status: F Mean Gain: -3.3 2012 (3 yr. avg.) Status: F Mean Gain: -2.3 2011 (yr. & grade) 6th Grade: -3.6 7th Grade: 1.1 8th Grade: 5.4 2012 (yr & grade) 6th Grade: -3.1 7th Grade: 2.5 8th Grade: 2.7 The 7th and 8th grade showed positive value-added student achievement for both 2011 and 2012 meaning that on average students gained more than a year’s growth in mathematics. However, the 6th grade showed negative valueadded student-achievement for both 2011 and 2012, meaning the students did not gain a year’s growth in mathematics. The three year average was an F for both years due to very low value added scores in 2010. Needs: A rigorous, comprehensive mathematics program and professional development to support the program; additional implementation support for the 6th and 7th grade language arts teachers from the Numeracy Coach; teacher effectiveness financial incentives for teachers scoring a 4 or 5 TVAAS to supplement the Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF). ACT scores (if applicable) N/A N/A Graduation rate (if applicable) N/A N/A 4. School Culture and Climate Provide a summary of existing status and current needs. TELL Survey Analysis Information attained from the TELL survey results revealed that only 52% of the teachers surveyed feel that Dalewood is a good place to work and learn. However, 65% responded that they work in an environment that is safe. This percentage is close to 30% less than the teachers surveyed throughout the state regarding the safe operation of their work environment. According to data provided by the TDOE, during the 2011-12 school year, there were a total of 845 disciplinary infractions, 68% of which took place in the classroom. Of the 845 disciplinary infractions, 112 of the infractions fell into the serious categories including but not limited to fighting, bullying, and vandalism. Currently there is no school resource officer and one campus monitor. School Safety Student Health Services Attendance Support Social and Community Support Parent Support Needs: Increased adult supervision in the cafeteria and corridors may help deter negative student behavior occurring in these high-traffic areas (Including teachers being at their doors during all transition times, related arts teachers helping to monitor the cafeteria, and parent volunteers); an effective In School Suspension (ISS) program and ISS Monitor to 8 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H allow for the removal of disruptive students from the classroom and to address their behavior issues; a solid school-wide positive behavior intervention that provides student incentives for good behavior (components include a recognition ceremony, out of uniform opportunities ,incentives from community donations, and celebrations) ; a 6th grade transition program to help students adjust to the social and academic needs of middle school.; offer professional development in classroom management; develop a school-wide positive behavior plan that includes clear policies and is consistently enforced. Currently eligible students receive health screenings through Dalewood Middle School’s nurse. Vision and dental screening was also provided through Hamilton County Health Department. Qualifying students have access to mental health support provided by Centerstone Counseling Services. Student absenteeism is a problem at Dalewood. Absences and interruptions to the students’ school day impact student achievement. Daily parental contact for student absenteeism and/or to encourage punctual attendance to school would greatly improve student attendance rates. Providing incentives for perfect attendance would also deter student absences. Needs: A program to provide contact and support for students who are chronically absent; an incentive program to reward students for excellent attendance. Components of the incentive program include a recognition ceremony, out of uniform opportunities, incentives from community donations, and celebrations. Parent and community involvement are important aspects that support student learning. However, TELL survey results show that only 27% of the faculty at Dalewood agree that parents/guardians are influential decision makers in the school. Currently, parents have a voice in the decision making process by being a part of the school’s leadership team and by joining the PTO. Dalewood also has a Family Partnership Specialist that coordinates parent involvement activities. Parents have been invited to attend several events at Dalewood this year, but, attendance has been low. School sponsored events such as PTO meetings, Family Nights, athletic events, report card pick up nights, and district mandated parent-teacher conference days offer different opportunities for parents to interact with the faculty. Although parents are also given the opportunity to volunteer at any time during school hours and during school sponsored events, parent support is minimal. Need: An intervention to increase parent support that includes opportunities for volunteering at school, instruction on how parents can support their children academically at home, a variety of school events that parents can attend (performances, recognition programs),and connecting parents with available social services. Dalewood Middle has a variety of community partners that assist our students in the community as well as during school hours. The following community partners provide social support: OnPoint (helps teens avoid risky behaviors), Delta Sigma Theta (provides female adult mentors for female students), Fellowship of Christian Athletes (spiritual support for athletes), YCAP (after school program for at risk students), Stop the Madness (provides male adult mentors 9 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H 5. Rigorous Curriculum- Alignment of curriculum with state standards across grade levels Curriculum Intervention Programs for male students), and TRIO (promotes college readiness). In addition, Dalewood has several community partners that provide academic support: GEAR UP (after school literacy, mathematics, and enrichment program), Junior Achievement (educates students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy), and the Hazel-Bowles Foundation (provides school supplies), and Vulcan (provides student incentives for academic achievement). These partners are essential in helping us to prepare well-rounded students to ensure they will have an opportunity to be successful in the future. Provide a summary of existing status and current needs. The Gates McGinnitie test is administered during the 3rd week of school to identify student reading levels so that remediation and enrichment opportunities can be provided for students. Students will be administered regularly scheduled Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) testing throughout the year to monitor growth in reading abilities. The Styles Reading Inventory will also be administered to students to help them identify the reading environment that best suits them individually when they are reading. We are implementing Power Reader to 20% of our overall student population that have the lowest reading level in their current grade. This will be used for roughly 20 students per grade level. District bench mark testing will be administered in math at the end of each quarter to provide data that will support areas of strengths and deficiencies for students so their academic needs can be addressed during class time as well as after school. We are continuing to explore different computer based avenues in math so that teachers can receive data with a quick turnaround that is aligned with TCAP and common core standards. We are looking into computer based programs that would allow teachers to get more feedback as opposed to waiting for benchmark testing at the end of each quarter. TCAP Coach books are also being used in core content areas to support instruction as well as prepare our students for the test when it is administered this spring. Extra help opportunities are provided for students during after school tutoring and an extended day program we have developed through the use of the 21st Century Grant. Enrichment Programs Needs: An online diagnostic tool such as Discovery Education Assessment that will allow for ongoing monitoring of student academic progress. Enrichment opportunities are provided through our Gifted and Talented Program during school hours and students that have documented strong math skills are being offered Algebra I for a high school credit. Higher performing math students will have the opportunity to participate in an after school Algebra I course to gain high school credit. We will identify 10 students to participate in this program and we are still exploring other opportunities to provide enrichment opportunities in other areas for our high performing students. Needs: A 6thgrade summer transition program; academic enrichment activities offered during the daily activity period and after-school programs. Dual enrollment (if applicable) N/A 10 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Advanced Placement (if applicable) N/A 6. Instructional Program Provide a summary of existing status and current needs. Planning and implementation of research based instructional strategies The instructional program at Dalewood Middle School is aligned with the Tennessee standards which are reflected in teacher-generated curriculum maps, instructional units, and daily lesson plans. Teachers are expected to use a variety of research-based teaching strategies to meet the diverse needs of their students. These include cooperative learning, small group instruction, visual aids, graphic organizers, and technology-based instruction. Teachers are expected to use common grade level planning to meet weekly in teams to plan instruction and develop cross-curricular lessons as well as to collaborate on student behavior, academic progress, and to hold parent conferences. In addition, they meet monthly in subject-area teams to vertically align the curriculum. The school administrators review lesson plans weekly and give teachers feedback. In addition, they regularly observe classroom instruction in order to monitor the instructional program. Needs: The instructional program would benefit from a reform model program such as Making Middle Grades Work that would provide professional development in the areas of differentiated instruction, project-based learning, and higherlevel thinking strategies. In addition, content specific professional development in literacy and math provided by Reader’s/Writer’s Workshop and Teacher Development Group. Additional personnel, such as a Literacy Coach and a Mathematics Coach, would strengthen the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the instructional program. On the 2011-12 TELL survey, only 19% of the teachers at Dalewood agreed they have sufficient access to instructional technology. There are currently 8 classrooms with interactive boards. Two of these are special education classrooms and one is a related arts technology classroom. In addition, every academic teacher has an Elmo projection camera. One computer lab with 35 computers is designated for the related arts technology classroom. There are also 2 computer labs available for student work with a total of 50 desktop computers. Several classrooms have two desktop computers that have been designated for student use. Graphing calculators are available for all students to use in their mathematics classrooms. Dalewood currently has 5 Promethium Boards throughout the school and every academic teacher has an Elmo in the classroom. Use of instructional technology Use of data analysis to inform and differentiate instruction Needs: Panaboards to increase student engagement and technology-embedded instruction Although instructional data is reviewed by the administration, teacher observations have revealed that data from teacher-created assessments, common formative assessments, or TCAP, is not present in individual classrooms. This year, each teacher maintains a data notebook. These notebooks contain School-Level TVAAS scores, Teacher Effectiveness graphs, Literacy scores, TCAP for the prior year and current students. District benchmark tasks and PARCC constructed esponses assessments are also included in the notebook for mathematics courses. Teachers also collect, maintain, and monitor classroom-level data using the notebooks. They will use them to adjust instruction and determine pacing. The notebook use will be monitored by instructional coaches. 11 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Subject-area teams use EXPLORE data to determine areas of eighth grade students’ strength and weakness when the data from the test becomes available in November. Curriculum maps and lesson plans are adjusted accordingly. Each student takes the Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) test three times during the school year. Teachers use this test to determine appropriate reading-level texts for independent reading and to track student reading progress. Teachers will participate in TVAAS training in order to access, understand, and use the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System. Teachers will understand how their instruction has an effect on student academic growth. Predicted scores will be used by teachers in order to differentiate instruction. Needs: Computer-based academic intervention programs, such as Discovery Education Assessment, with immediate feedback in identifying areas of deficiencies for students to enhance student preparation for state mandated test; and professional development for teachers on how to use assessment data to drive instruction. Number of minutes scheduled for core academic subjects 6th Grade : Reading/Writing - 100 minutes/day (18,000 minutes/year) Math, Science, Social Studies – 50 minutes/day (9,000 minutes/year) 7th & 8th Grades: All Core Subjects – 65 minutes/day (11,700 minutes/year) Needs: Extend the school day; adjust master schedule to increase instructional time for core subjects. 7. Assessments Use of formative, interim, and summative assessments to measure student progress Timeline for reporting student progress to parents Dalewood Middle School uses the reading assessment, Scholastic Reading Inventory, for all students and the Reading Styles Inventory for the lowest quartile of students. PowerReader is also being implemented for the 20% of students with the lowest reading scores. The mathematics department administers quarterly Benchmark Assessments that are developed by Hamilton County. Eighth grade students take the State Writing Assessment and the EXPLORE test. All students take the TCAP or the MAAS at the end of the year. Additionally, all teachers conduct formative and summative assessments to guide their instruction and these assessments are included on their weekly lesson plans. Needs: Diagnostic assessments to provide immediate and ongoing data for teachers; professional development to assist teachers with the effective use of data to drive instruction. The school provides progress reports every three weeks and report cards quarterly. Report Card Pickup/Parent conferences are held after school and all parents are encouraged to attend. In addition, all teachers use an online gradebook through the program PowerSchool which gives parents ongoing access to student academic progress. Teachers are required to submit at least two grades per week. The computers in the library are available for parents who do not have home Internet access. 12 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Needs: A monitoring system for tracking teacher communications with parents. 8. Parent and Community Support Social, health, and community services to students and families Provide a summary of existing status and current needs. Dalewood Middle School uses a site-based council to promote collaboration between the school, parents, and the community. Seven community/business groups provide services to our students and families. Vulcan Materials donates money each year for special student projects such as a Christmas shopping trip to Wal-Mart for selected students. The Hazel Bowles Foundation donates school supplies to all students at the beginning of the school year, including uniforms for selected students. On Point, Big Brothers/Sisters, Urban League, Junior Achievement, and Better Tomorrow assist Dalewood through mentoring programs and classroom instruction. Other community volunteer/mentors are used to read along with students who read below grade level. Dalewood Middle School needs to increase community involvement to ensure that students are receiving all information and services necessary to come to school ready to learn, and to ensure that parents are informed to support their child’s learning. Needs: More strategic use of community health and mental health services for students and their families; community outreach events with fine arts focus (highlighting student talents); student community service learning activities. Parent support to students and school Currently we have a Family Partnership Specialist on staff to conduct special programs for parents, connect parents with community agencies, facilitate parent communication, and implement student incentive programs and field trips. Parents have an open invitation to join their students for lunch at any time. During the previous school year, parent support to students and the school was very limited. The Parent- Teacher Association only had twenty-five members in 2011-2012, and attendance was low at the few meetings that were held. Some parents volunteered at a few sports activities. Dalewood will continue to use ConnectEd message to provide parents with information regarding the school. We will generate a monthly newsletter to parents and flyers to keep parents abreast of the happenings within the school. The guidance counselor will continue to conduct family information sessions on testing data (Explore). This year we plan to provide more parent-focused events with incentives such as dinners and door prizes. The Family Partnership Specialist will continue to invite parents to join their child for lunch and will plan academic nights and parenting seminars. There is a need to increase parental involvement at Dalewood Middle School. Our specific needs are: (1) An active Parent Teacher Association with continual, positive presence in the building; (2) Parent volunteers in classrooms and at athletic and academic events; (3) Ongoing, positive communication between parents, teachers, and administrators to build a climate of trust and mutual support via newsletter, email, website, teacher web pages, etc.; and (4) Training programs to empower parents to support academics at home and become savvy advocates for their children. 13 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H 2. School Improvement Plan Attach an electronic copy of the school’s comprehensive plan for school improvement that will be implemented in conjunction with the Transformation Model. (Label as Attachment School Name School Improvement Plan) You may use the “streamlined” improvement plan developed in Fall 2011, “Revised Tennessee School and District Improvement Planning document or one of your choosing. 14 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Transformation Model School Name: Rationale for selection of intervention model: Explain how the LEA will use the turnaround intervention model to address the root causes of the school’s low-performance as identified in the school’s needs assessment. Dalewood Middle School will implement the transformation model to address the root causes of low-performance at the school. As mentioned in the needs assessment, eight of Dalewood’s twenty-two teachers (36%) are new to the school building this year, and six of the twenty-two (25%) have only 13 years of total teaching experience. With such a high number of teachers brand new to the school, it could be detrimental to select the turnaround model and replace 50% of the teaching staff. The new administration has already seen promising improvements to the school culture so far this year, and the transformation model will provide the opportunity to build upon that momentum. With many staff members new to the school and to the teaching profession, we strongly believe that with the right professional development, supports, culture of feedback, and level of accountability, our staff can become highly effective teachers. The transformation model’s emphasis on preparing teachers in effective instructional strategies and using data to drive their decision-making in the classroom is the right fit for our needs. Our low Math and Reading/Language Arts test scores speaks to the need for our staff to know our students as individual learners, to have the skills and tools to bring them quickly up to grade level, and the systems to monitor performance and course correct as necessary. This process will require strong leadership, a reformed culture of high expectations and a safe learning environment with a system to incentivize positive behavior. The transformation model emphasizes these elements by replacing the principal, implementing a rigorous evaluation system, coupled with rewards for high-performers, providing staff with meaningful professional development, and promoting a culture of data and continuous improvement. Coupled with the support from the iZone, Dalewood’s School Improvement Plan provides a framework for successful implementation of the transformation model. If the LEA has begun in whole or in part a turnaround intervention model within the past two years, and wished to continue, describe the actions that have been taken up to the present that are relative to the turnaround requirements. Cite evidence of the impact of the model on the school to date. The only action that has been taken in the past two years as part of the transformation model requirements is that Chris Earl was newly appointed to serve as principal of Dalewood Middle School at the beginning of SY 2012. Since his appointment, there are promising signs of a strong vision for school improvement and an improving school culture. 15 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Annual Goals for Reading/Language Arts on State assessments for “all students” group and for each subgroup. SY 2013: The percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced on the Reading/Language Arts section of the TCAP state assessment will increase a minimum of 10 percentage points from the SY 2012-2013 baseline percentage. The following percentages are based on the SY 2011-2012 TCAP results and will be updated upon receipt of the SY 2012-2013 TCAP results and approval of the School Improvement Grant. The goals exceed the Annual Measureable Objective (AMO) Achievement and Gap Closure Targets as set by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) and the Hamilton County Department of Education (HCDE). SY 2014: The percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced on the Reading/Language Arts section of the TCAP state assessment will increase a minimum of 10 percentage points from the percentage obtained in SY 2013-2014. SY 2015: The percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced on the Reading/Language Arts section of the TCAP state assessment will increase a minimum of 10 percentage points from the percentage obtained in SY 2014-2015. Dalewood Middle Reading/Language Arts % Proficient/Advanced All Students SY '11-'12 13.8% 2013 23.8% 2014 33.8% 2015 43.8% Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 12.6% 13.5% 14.3% 22.6% 23.5% 24.3% 32.6% 33.5% 34.3% 42.6% 43.5% 44.3% African-American Hispanic White Asian 12.4% 13.3% 19.0% n/a 22.4% 23.3% 29.0% 32.4% 33.3% 39.0% 42.4% 43.3% 49.0% Limited English Proficiency Economically Disadvantaged Students with Disabilities n/a 14.6% 28.2% 24.6% 38.2% 34.6% 48.2% 44.6% 58.2% Female Male 8.9% 15.6% 18.9% 25.6% 28.9% 35.6% 38.9% 45.6% 16 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Quarterly Milestone Goals for Reading/Language Arts on interim assessments for “all students” group and for each subgroup for ( to be updated annually upon renewal of the grant) Four interim assessments will be used to monitor student progress toward annual achievement goals: The HCDE District Literacy Quarterly Benchmark Assessment will be utilized to determine students’ performance levels and mastery of Reading/Language Arts standards. The goal is for all students in grades 6, 7, and 8 to demonstrate a minimum of a 2.5 percentage point gain on each Reading/Language Arts quarterly benchmark assessment. Discovery Education interim benchmark assessments will be utilized to monitor student achievement in Reading/Language Arts. The goal is for all students in grades 6, 7, and 8 to demonstrate a minimum of a 2.5 percentage point gain on each Reading/Language Arts quarterly assessment. The Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) will be utilized to evaluate and monitor students’ reading ability. The assessment will be administered at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the school year. The goal is for all students to demonstrate a minimum growth of 3 months in their reading ability per assessment round. Annual Goals for Mathematics on State assessments for “all students” group and for each subgroup. SY 2013: The percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced on the Mathematics section of the TCAP state assessment will increase a minimum of 10 percentage points from the SY 2012-2013 baseline percentage. (The following percentages are based on the SY 2011-2012 TCAP results and will be updated upon receipt of the SY 2012-2013 TCAP results and approval of the School Improvement Grant. The goals exceed the Annual Measureable Objective (AMO) Achievement and Gap Closure Targets as set by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) and the Hamilton County Department of Education (HCDE). SY 2014: The percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced on the Mathematics section of the TCAP state assessment will increase a minimum of 10 percentage points from the percentage obtained in SY 2013-2014. SY 2015: The percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced on the Mathematics section of the TCAP state assessment will increase a minimum of 10 percentage points from the percentage obtained in SY 2014-2015. 17 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Dalewood Middle Mathematics % Proficient/Advanced All Students SY '11-'12 10.8% 2013 20.8% 2014 30.8% 2015 40.8% Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 10.3% 9.0% 4.4% 20.3% 19.0% 14.4% 30.3% 29.0% 24.4% 40.3% 39.0% 34.4% African-American Hispanic White Asian 9.6% 10.1% 19.1% n/a 19.6% 20.1% 29.1% 29.6% 30.1% 39.1% 39.6% 40.1% 49.1% Limited English Proficiency Economically Disadvantaged Students with Disabilities n/a 11.4% 28.1% 21.4% 38.1% 31.4% 48.1% 41.4% 58.1% Female Male 6.5% 7.8% 16.5% 17.8% 26.5% 27.8% 36.5% 37.8% Quarterly Milestone Goals for Mathematics on interim assessments for “all students” group and for each subgroup for (to be updated annually upon renewal of the grant). Three interim assessments will be used to monitor student progress toward annual achievement goals: The HCDE District Mathematics Quarterly Benchmark Assessment will be utilized to determine students’ performance levels and mastery of Mathematics standards. The goal is for all students in grades 6, 7, and 8 to demonstrate a minimum of a 2.5 percentage point gain on each Mathematics quarterly benchmark assessment. Discovery Education interim benchmark assessments will be utilized to monitor student achievement in Mathematics. The goal is for all students in grades 6, 7, and 8 to demonstrate a minimum of a 2.5 percentage point gain on each Mathematics quarterly assessment. 18 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Annual Goals for Science on State assessments for “all students” group and for each subgroup. SY 2013: The percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced on the Science section of the TCAP state assessment will increase a minimum of 10 percentage points from the SY 2012-2013 baseline percentage. (The following percentages are based on the SY 2011-2012 TCAP results and will be updated upon receipt of the SY 2012-2013 TCAP results and approval of the School Improvement Grant.) SY 2014: The percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced on the Science section of the TCAP state assessment will increase a minimum of 10 percentage points from the percentage obtained in SY 2013-2014. SY 2015: The percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced on the Science section of the TCAP state assessment will increase a minimum of 10 percentage points from the percentage obtained in SY 2014-2015. Dalewood Middle Science % Proficient/Advanced All Students SY '11-'12 18.8% 2013 28.8% 2014 38.8% 2015 48.8% Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 13.8% 26.1% 16.5% 23.8% 36.1% 26.5% 33.8% 46.1% 36.5% 43.8% 56.1% 46.5% African-American Hispanic White Asian 15.8% 0.0% 57.9% n/a 25.8% 10.0% 67.9% 35.8% 20.0% 77.9% 45.8% 30.0% 87.9% Limited English Proficiency Economically Disadvantaged Students with Disabilities n/a 27.1% 16.7% 37.1% 26.7% 47.1% 36.7% 57.1% 46.7% Female Male 16.9% 20.6% 26.9% 30.6% 36.9% 40.6% 46.9% 50.6% 19 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Quarterly Milestone Goals for Science on interim assessments for “all students” group and for each subgroup for (to be updated annually upon renewal of the grant). Discovery Education interim benchmark assessments will be utilized to monitor student achievement in Science. The goal is for all students in grades 6, 7, and 8 to demonstrate a minimum of a 2.5 percentage point gain on each Science quarterly assessment. Annual Goals for attendance rate in middle schools. SY 2013: The student attendance rate for Dalewood Middle School will meet or exceed 95% SY 2014: The student attendance rate for Dalewood Middle School will meet or exceed 95%. SY 2015: The student attendance rate for Dalewood Middle School will meet or exceed 95%. These student attendance goals exceed the attendance rate requirement established by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE). Quarterly Milestone Goals for student attendance rate. Administrators and teachers will use the HCDE Dashboard (IBM Cognos) to monitor student attendance. The quarterly milestone goal for student attendance is 95% 20 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Transformation Model Requirements Action Steps for Model Requirements. LEA Design and Implementation of the Intervention Model for Each Year of Grant Note: Pre-implementation activities for Year One must be included in the chart at the end of this model. Implementation Timeline Name and Position of Responsible Person(s) Requirements for the Transformation Model (LEA must implement actions 1-11.) A transformation model is one in which the LEA must implement each of the following strategies to develop and increase teacher and school leader effectiveness: 1. Replace the principal who led the In Spring 2012, the HCDE iZone conducted a rigorous nationwide Spring 2012 Rick Smith, HCDE school prior to commencement of the recruitment and selection process to identify, recruit, and place Superintendent transformation model proven effective administrators in Dalewood Middle school. Chris Earl was selected, a former high school Assistant Principal, due to his track record of closing achievement gaps. 2. Use rigorous, transparent, and equitable evaluation systems for teachers and principals thata. Take into account data on student growth (as defined in this notice) as a significant factor as well as other factors such as multiple observation-based assessments of performance and ongoing collections of professional practice reflective of student achievement and increased high-school graduations rates b. Are designed and developed with teacher and principal involvement Teacher and leader evaluation is a critical component of school reform. Research has consistently shown that teachers are the primary drivers of student learning and achievement (Marzano, 2007). Ongoing 2013-2016 Tennessee Educator Acceleration Model Le Andrea Ware, Innovation Zone Director Steve Holmes, Middle School Operations Director By state law, the Tennessee Educator Acceleration Model (TEAM) is utilized to evaluate teacher and principals. TEAM requires a minimum of 50% of the evaluation be tied directly to student achievement for teachers and administrator. 35% is generated from the TVAAS data with the other 15% being the selected AMW (Achievement Measurement Worksheet). TVAAS is available for all core content teachers. Non-content specific teachers and administrators have their scores derived from school-wide data. Christian Earl, Principal Elaine Harper, Assistant Principal The other 50% of the evaluation measure for teachers is based on HCDE’s Project COACH model. Hamilton County received permission from the state department of education to implement its own teacher developed evaluation instrument. Project COACH was designed in collaboration with multiple stakeholders including 21 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H teachers, LEA, union reps, and administrators. COACH operates from a coaching stand point where administrators work collaboratively with teachers to improve teacher effectiveness. Tenured teachers are observed a minimum of 6 times per year and non-tenured teachers, 8 mini-observations per year. Closely monitored are the following domains that are directly tied to student achievement: Planning and Preparation for Learning, Classroom Management, Delivery of Instruction, Monitoring, Assessment and Follow-up. A mid-year conference is followed by a summative review. Scores are then converted to the TEAM state scale. Project COACH and TVAAS Alignment: Administrators will receive intensive training in effectively evaluating and supporting teachers to ensure Project COACH results are appropriately aligned with TVAAS results. School-wide Professional Development Plans (PDP): Due to the bottom five percent status of the iZone schools, all iZone principals and teachers are required to collaboratively develop a school-wide professional development plan for all teachers. Performance Improvement Plan (PIP): It is expected that all iZone teachers will maintain an effectiveness level of 3 or above. Throughout the year, ample opportunities will be provided to certified staff members to improve their professional practice. Following year one, teachers receiving an effectiveness level below 3 will be placed on a monthly PIP that is collaboratively developed with the administration. Failure to maintain an effectiveness level of 3 or higher after year two will result in removal from the iZone or dismissal from HCDE. Teacher Attendance Since high rates of teacher absenteeism is a problem at Dalewood and it is imperative that students receive consistent instruction from their teachers on a daily basis, focus groups will be held to 22 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H determine the root causes of low teacher attendance. Based on the findings, the administration will determine the best course of action to both incentivize teacher attendance and hold teachers accountable. 3. Identify and reward school leaders, teachers, and other staff who, in implementing this model, have increased student achievement and highschool graduation rates and identify and remove those who, after ample opportunities have been provided for them to improve their professional practice, have not done so A critical component and resource to recruit and retain highly SY 2013-2014 effective teachers for Dalewood Middle school is the participation in the strategic compensation models developed through the Tennessee-Teacher Incentive Fund Grant (TN-TIF). Currently, DMS participates in the TN-TIF grant. The strategic compensation models, designed for elementary, middle, and high schools, provide individual, team, and building performance awards for teachers and principals based on the following criteria: Dr. Kirk Kelly, Director of Accountability and Testing There is a need to supplement the existing HCDE Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) to allow DMS administrators and Success Rate teachers to receive monetary incentives for signing/retention, achieving the annual goals as stated in the SIG, and attaining a TVAAS Effectiveness Level 4 or 5. Penny Murray, Human Resources Coordinator Le Andrea Ware, Innovation Zone Director Reading/Language Arts Teachers (Grades 6-8) Funding # Funded Description Source Each by SIG R/LA: Level 4 or 5 (TVAAS) TIF R/LA Grades 6-8 (achieve SIG goal) SIG 4 TCAP Writing (10% decrease in scores 0, 1, 2, 3s) TIF Individual Teacher Attendance = 97% TIF* Signing and Retention Bonus SIG $12,600 Amount $ 5,000 $ 2,000 $ 100 $ 500 $ 5,000 Mathematics Teachers (Grades 6-8) Funding # Funded Description Source Each by SIG Math: Level 4 or 5 (TVAAS) TIF Math Grades 6-8 (achieve SIG goal) SIG 3 TCAP Writing (10% decrease in scores 0, 1, 2, 3s) TIF Individual Teacher Attendance = 97% TIF* Signing and Retention Bonus SIG $12,600 Amount $ 5,000 $ 2,000 $ 100 $ 500 $ 5,000 23 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Science Teachers (Grades 6-8) Funding # Funded Description Source Each by SIG Science: Level 4 or 5 (TVAAS) SIG Science Grades 6-8 (achieve SIG goal) SIG 3 TCAP Writing (10% decrease in scores 0, 1, 2, 3s) TIF Individual Teacher Attendance = 97% TIF* Signing and Retention Bonus SIG $12,600 Amount $ 5,000 $ 2,000 $ 100 $ 500 $ 5,000 Literacy Coach Amount Description 5,000 Signing and Retention Bonus 3,000 R/LA Grades 6-8 (achieve SIG goal) 500 Individual Teacher Attendance = 97% SIG/LEA SIG/LEA TIF* $8,500 $ $ $ Funding # Funded Source Each by SIG 1 Numeracy Coach Amount Description 5,000 Signing and Retention Bonus 3,000 Math Grades 6-8 (achieve SIG goal) 500 Individual Teacher Attendance = 97% SIG/LEA SIG/LEA TIF* $8,500 $ $ $ Funding # Funded Source Each by SIG 1 Assistant Principal Amount Description SIG $10,000 $ 10,000 Signing and Retention Bonus Funding # Funded Source Each by SIG 1 Principal Funding # Funded Source Each by SIG $ 15,000 Signing and Retention Bonus SIG/LEA $15,000 Amount Description 1 24 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Additional criteria for receiving full TIF award includes: Attendance: 95% or better Must be employed (unless retired or promoted) in the incentive eligible position at the scheduled time of payout. Teachers who leave the District before the time of the payout will be deemed ineligible for a payout. Employees must be in “good standing” (all licensures and certifications are up-to-date). Employees must be supervised and evaluated by the principal or supervisor of the campus where they are serving students. Performance evaluation ratings for teachers must be highly effective or effective in order to receive a pay-out. Teachers receiving a rating of improvement necessary or does not meet standards will be ineligible for an award payout. In order to retain a highly effective teaching staff: All tenured and non-tenured Dalewood Middle school teachers will be evaluated annually All Dalewood Middle school teachers will be required to maintain a minimum annual overall composite score of 3 or above Teachers scoring a 3, 4 or 5 will receive a satisfactory evaluation and continued iZone employment Tenured or non-tenured Dalewood Middle teachers who fail to score a 3, 4 or 5 will receive an unsatisfactory evaluation and will be reassigned to a non-iZone school or recommended for district dismissal. 25 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H 4. Provide staff with ongoing, highquality, job-embedded professional development (e.g., regarding subjectspecific pedagogy, instruction that reflects a deeper understanding of the community served by the school, or differentiated instruction) that is aligned with the school’s comprehensive instructional program and designed with school staff to ensure they are equipped to facilitate effective teaching and learning and have the capacity to successfully implement school reform strategies Dalewood Middle School will conduct the following school-based Ongoing 2013 –2016 professional development support: Involve all staff in an orientation to the Making Middle Grades Work (MMGW) whole-school improvement framework. Conduct a two-day workshop for a team of teacher-leaders (subject and grade-level leaders) and administrators to analyze data and further evaluate school needs. Visit high-performing urban middle schools that have made significant progress using the MMGW framework/design to learn strategies for improvement that are transferrable to Dalewood. Le Andrea Ware, Innovation Zone Director Jamie Parris and Stacy Roddy- HCDE Math Directors Kathy Pagano & Julie Legg- HCDE Literacy Directors Christian Earl, Principal Train cadre of teacher-leaders from ELA, science, social studies and related arts to develop school-wide Literacy Plan. Provide job-embedded Rigor Workshops by content area that train teachers to utilize research-based protocols to identify levels of rigor and of student engagement in assignments and assessments, then develop a plan to raise the level of rigor of assignments and assessments. Elaine Harper, Assistant Principal Literacy and Math Content Instructional Coaches- Sylvia Davis, TBD Provide job-embedded support to teachers and the guidance counselor to energize the current advisement program and ensure it engages all faculty members in connecting to students and helping students and their parents plan for high school and post-secondary education or job-training. Dalewood Teaching Staff iZone SIG Facilitator (TBD) Ongoing, job-embedded math and language arts professional development facilitated by the literacy and numeracy coaches. Battelle for Kids Trainers/ Tenn. Center of Regional 26 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Excellence (CORE) Sharon Harper Various approved vendors/external providers via RFP 5. Implement such strategies such as financial incentives, increased opportunities for promotion and career growth, and more flexible work conditions that are designed to recruit, place, and retain staff with the skills necessary to meet the needs of the student in a transformation school. Dalewood Middle will emphasize the following areas as they work Ongoing 2013-2016 to recruit, place, and/or retain quality staff to ensure continuous school improvement and increased student learning: Le Andrea Ware, Innovation Zone Director Support and Guidance Brent Webb, Innovation Zone Data Analyst Administrative Support: Dalewood administrators will continue to maintain a safe and orderly environment and ensure that maximum instruction time will occur in classrooms, operate under an open-door policy with strong lines of communication and value input and involvement from the staff in the decision-making process, provide feedback in a timely manner, seek to address the individual professional needs of the staff, and provide staff with the appropriate tools for promoting engaging instruction to occur in the classroom. Christian Earl, Principal Elaine Harper, Assistant Principal Dalewood Teaching Staff Mentors: New teachers and teachers identified as needing assistance will be partnered with a lead teacher mentor to ensure support in all phases of the professional growth process. SIG Coordinator (TBD) Support Personnel: The content specific coaches, and family partnership specialist will work in their respective roles to ensure improved student achievement; relevant parent and community involvement; increased professional learning; and frequent monitoring and analysis of data. Battelle for Kids Trainers/ Tenn. Center of Regional Excellence (CORE) Sharon Harper Professional Development: These activities will provide the opportunity for continued development of a community of learners; will provide the content-specific and school-wide instructional support that ensures the effective, continued, Various approved vendors/external providers via RFP 27 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H successful implementation of the school improvement design model; promote teachers in their career growth (National Board Certification; career advancement) and offer opportunities to expand their professional knowledge; and offer time for collaboration to occur while building a sense of unity toward achieving common goals. Teacher Leaders: Dalewood will provide and encourage opportunities for leadership positions (i.e., committee chairpersons, team leaders, department chairpersons, Leadership Team) to increase involvement of more staff members in school improvement decision-making and implementing the action plans with the appropriate professional learning and administrative support. Collaboration: This transformation model demands increased on-going collaboration to effectively and efficiently implement school improvement strategies and programs (i.e., interventionists, data analysis, common planning, common forms of assessment, instructional strategies, mentoring) and appropriately incorporate technology in the curriculum. Collaboration will also ensure that the professional development is embedded in classroom instruction and is sustained through support, practice, and applicable revisions. Stipends: Offered through Title I funds to encourage and compensate teachers for active and productive participation in extended day opportunities (i.e., professional development, school improvement programs, collaboration) that further school improvement efforts. Teacher Incentives: This transformation model will allow certified teachers to receive monetary incentives for achieving the annual goals as stated in the SIG. (Indicator 3-Financial Incentives) The state approved evaluation system (Project COACH and 28 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H TEAM) will ensure a fair and thorough evaluation process through self-assessment and reflection, multiple observations, feedback, data analysis of student performance, and assessment of other duties and responsibilities. Resources Technology: Through SIG funds and local grants, classrooms will be equipped with up-to-date technology devices that will enhance instruction, and students will be provided with technology tools that will increase their engagement and achievement. Parental and Community Involvement Partnerships with Businesses: Dalewood will support teachers through increasing the meaningful involvement of business partners in the educational process (i.e., providing job shadowing, work-based learning, and apprenticeships for students; volunteering for school programs and activities; offering expertise as classroom speakers; providing supplemental funding for student incentives; providing information to teachers about entry-level job requirements). Parental Support: Dalewood will support teachers through increased, relevant parental involvement through full-time Family Partnership Specialists who will establish and maintain open lines of communication, coordinate volunteer opportunities, and provide learning opportunities to aid parents to better serve their children and support teachers in the educational process. Culture and Climate Public Relations: Dalewood will work with local college teacher preparation academies to target prospective qualified teachers; will continue to communicate through local media outlets, newsletters, and websites (iZone, school, national), 29 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H sharing quality program information, successes, and information concerning school improvement; and elicit input and staff involvement on public relations. Sense of Community: Dalewood teachers will develop positive working relationships with co-workers through collaborative activities and professional development opportunities that promote and/or require teamwork. A sense of belonging, partnerships, and loyalty will enhance continued school improvement efforts and teacher retention. Recognitions and Celebrations: Dalewood will continue to demonstrate their awareness and commitment to iZone teachers by utilizing motivational tools/strategies to recognize staff members‘ accomplishments and/or their successful programs and to celebrate school improvement successes (i.e., hospitality committee, teacher of the week, teacher of the year, personal awards/recognitions) Building Positive Student Relationships: Teachers will be provided with learning opportunities to increase their ability to engage students and get them excited about learning; build rapport, respect and positive classroom atmospheres; and guide students to become independent learners. Teachers will also be provided leadership and flexible growth opportunities (i.e., serving as Clinical Instructors, Mentors, Content Experts, Department Heads) A transformation model is one which the LEA must implement each of the following comprehensive instructional reform strategies. 6. Use data to identify and implement an instructional program that is research-based and “vertically aligned” from one grade to the next as well as aligned with State academic standards Data Support Train staff on data usage to support instructional and school wide decisions. Teachers will maintain data notebooks throughout the Chris Earl, Principal Fall 2013 Elaine Harper, AP Sylvia Davis, Literacy 30 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H school year that they will use to plan, adjust, and differentiate instruction. Coach TBD, Numeracy Coach Curriculum Alignment Ongoing vertical and horizontal alignment of the curriculum content in grades six through eight to assure vertical and horizontal alignment to the CCSS and Tennessee State Standards. Ongoing 2103-16 Alignments will be reflected in teacher curriculum maps and lesson plans. Teaching Practices and Rubrics Implement research-based middle grades school and classroom teaching practices that align with grade-level standards throughout the three years of support in this proposal. Train teachers using job-embedded staff development as needed so that all teachers can use a protocol for analyzing student work. Provide training for teachers on Utilizing High-Quality Rubrics for assignments requiring student work products such as projects or written assignments. 7. Promote the continuous use of Data Support student data (such as from formative, Train staff on data usage to support instructional and interim, and summative assessments) to school wide decisions. inform and differentiate instruction in order to meet the academic needs of Assessment Development individual students Collaborate with The instructional coaches and the MMGW consultant will support language arts and mathematics teachers to develop assessments (formative, interim, and summative) to guide and differentiate Ongoing 2013-16 Chris Earl, Principal Summer 2013 Sylvia Davis, Literacy Coach TBD, Numeracy Coach Monthly 2013-16 31 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H instruction. Utilize ongoing formative assessment to immediately intervene when students who fall behind academically. Offer these students additional learning opportunities during the daily Activity Period or with after-school academic programs. Ongoing 2013-16 Data Workshops The MMGW consultant will train teachers and administrators on methods of evaluating data to determine areas of need and drive instructional decisions. Conduct annual data workshops that allow the leadership team to re-evaluate the data yearly and use it to make adjustments to instruction as needed. Monthly 2013-16 Annually 2013-16 Ongoing Diagnostic Assessments Determine student reading lexile using the Scholastic Reading Inventory assessment (SRI) Conduct online assessments using Discovery Education in language arts, mathematics, and science. Quarterly 2013-16 Data will be used to inform and differentiate instruction. A transformation model is one which the LEA must implement each of the following strategies to increase learning time and create community oriented schools. 8. Establish schedules and implement Extended Learning Plan for Students and Teachers strategies that provide increased Ongoing 2013-2016 learning time as defined in the SIG final Dalewood will extend selected school days and restructure daily schedules to embed additional time and support for teacher and requirements. student extended learning opportunities. Additionally, students will be provided intervention and/or enrichment opportunities before Christian Earl, Principal Elaine Harper, 32 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H and/or after school, Saturdays, summer sessions and/or intersessions. Assistant Principal Extended Learning Opportunities for All Students- 300 Hours Senta Dixson, iZone Family Partnership Specialist TBD, iZone Innovation Projects Coordinator Lakweshia Ewing, HCDE Family Engagement and Partnerships Director Senta Dixon Family Partnership Spec Extended Day Schedule: o Dalewood will implement an extended day schedule of 32 select days, 16 in the fall of 2013 and 16 in the spring of 2014. Students will attend for an additional 1.50 hours per day during this time. Restructured School Master Schedules: o Dalewood will restructure the master schedule to add in 90 hours per year to core classes. This will be done in collaboration with elective classes in-house to extend learning in core subjects (English, math, sciences, foreign languages, history, etc.) on selected days throughout the year. Dalewood After school and Summer Options o Sessions will be conducted for Transition Camps, Intervention/Credit Recovery or Enrichment. o Twenty-First Century Learning Grant- Dalewood will also utilize this new grant to provide 15 hours per week of academic support in math, reading and science through this after school program. Students are also provided cultural enrichment (art, music) and technology opportunities to expand their knowledge base and experiences. Families of these students also benefit from GED preparation program and other adult focused educational opportunities. 33 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Extended Professional Learning Opportunities for Teachers: 116 Hours 9. Provide ongoing mechanisms for family and community engagement iZone Mini-Retreat – 16 hours- June 24-25; Time: 84p.m. (2 days) Summer Collaborative Planning – 28 hours- Time: 83 (4 days) o Credit recovery, assessment, pacing, alignment, mapping Quality Circles – 18 hours- 1 hour bi-weekly after school sessions Content Teams – 36 hours – weekly after school sessions Department Teams – 18 hours – bi-weekly sessions Dalewood Middle school will utilize a Family Partnership Ongoing 2013- 2016 Specialist to promote parental and community involvement that positively improves external perceptions and external partnerships. The specialist will serve as a liaison and advocate for parents, students, and school administration, coordinate volunteer activities, form a link and facilitate commitment and communication between school and home and school and community. Increase student, parent and community activities that work on improving the school culture and climate. Also each school will have community partners committing to provide funds, volunteer hours and a variety of expertise to support whole school/community transformation efforts. We believe that family and community support is an essential component of student success. Therefore, our school reform effort contains activities aimed at increasing family and community engagement. Recruit parent volunteers for classrooms and athletic and Christian Earl, Principal Elaine Harper, Assistant Principal Senta Dixon, iZone Family Partnership Specialist TBD, iZone Innovation Project Manager Lakweshia Ewing, HCDE Family Engagement and 34 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H academic events. Partnerships Director Maintain positive communication between parents, teachers, and administrators to build a climate of trust and mutual support via newsletter, email, website, and ConnectEd. Provide programs to empower parents to support academics at home and become savvy advocates for their children. Curriculum Nights: Allow parents the opportunity to attend each class, meet the teacher, examine textbooks and other materials, learn ways teachers contact parents, receive a syllabus, and register email addresses, contact information. Utilize Joyce Epstein’s Six Types of Parent Involvement to begin discussions with staff on ways to improve family involvement in their student’s education. Develop a mentor program for students without parents at home. Host Family Move Nights and Report Card Pickup Evenings to promote parental involvement in the school. Records of activities will be maintained by the school’s Family Partnership Specialist and reviewed by the school administration. Senta Dixson FPS A transformation model is one which the LEA must implement each of the following strategies to provide operational flexibility and sustained support. 10. Give the school sufficient HCDE has committed to providing the resources needed to support Ongoing 2013-2016 Le Andrea Ware, operational flexibility (such as staffing, the Dalewood transformation, including altering those policies that Innovation Zone calendars/time, and budgeting) to could impede the success of School Improvement initiatives. Director implement fully a comprehensive Highlights include: approach to substantially improve Support the hiring of additional support/resource personnel 35 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H student achievement outcomes and increase high school graduation rates necessary to sufficiently implement the school improvement plan in each school (Literacy and numeracy coaches, academic interventionists, behavioral specialists, data coaches, Family/Community Coordinators and technology support technician, etc.). The District will grant approval to allow Dalewood to utilize the expertise and resources of the educational organizations and improvement consultants to provide onsite training in the delivery of effective research-based instructional strategies and programs. The District will continue to allow the alignment of additional funding sources (including School Improvement Grant funds, if approved) to implement school improvement initiatives (i.e., technology enhancement, hiring of additional personnel to support program implementation, extended learning opportunities, summer programs, professional development, data assessment and analysis). The District and Board of Education support continued partnerships with parents, local businesses, post-secondary institutions, and service organizations to strengthen the commitment to and engagement in all iZone schools. The District will continue to (1) ensure all hired teachers are properly certified in their area of instruction, and (2) document that teachers maintain satisfactory yearly performance evaluations as set forth in the approved evaluation system. The District will support the process of allowing the flexibility to hire, retain and/or remove staff as specified in the SIG transformational and turnaround models, upon approval, by rewarding and retaining teachers who 36 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H increase student achievement, identifying and supporting those who are in need of improvement, and removing from Dalewood Middle , teachers who, after being provided ample opportunities to improve their professional practice, have failed to do so. Other “above and beyond” district supports for iZone schools include: Priority hiring timelines 11. Ensure that the school receives ongoing, intensive technical assistance and related support from the LEA, the SEA, or a designated external lead partner organization (such as a school turnaround organization or an EMO) Omission from district placements of displaced teachers Reduced pupil/teacher ratios Structured autonomy regarding operational matters such as accessibility to funding for school needs and opportunities for faculty and staff Revised negotiations relating to SIG requirements, if approved, regarding teacher expectations, work hour requirements and compensation The iZone Director and her team are responsible for coordinating the work of all central office divisions to ensure that Dalewood is fully supported and any needs that arise are addressed as efficiently and effectively as possible. This cross-divisional coordination is accomplished through two venues: monthly iZone Steering Committee Meetings and the Superintendent’s weekly cabinet meetings. Ongoing 2013-2016 The iZone Steering Committee is led by the iZone Director and is comprised of the heads of the Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Human Resources Divisions, as well as the leaders of the Federal Programs and Special Education Departments. The members of the committee have committed to a standing schedule of monthly meetings that are exclusively focused on iZone-related Le Andrea Ware, Innovation Zone Director Brent Webb, Innovation Zone Data Analyst TBD, iZone Project Manager 37 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H issues. These steering committee meetings provide the iZone Team with the opportunity to regularly focus and coordinate the work of the various divisions on the needs of the school The steering committee also serves as a forum where the Director can bring iZone-related issues or questions to other senior district leaders for guidance and advice, as well as to build consensus around iZone plans or changes. TBD, iZone Instructional Supervisor Le Andrea Ware, iZone Director Brent Webb, iZone Data Analyst As a senior member of the HCDE district staff, the iZone Director also participates in the Superintendent’s weekly cabinet meetings. At these meetings, the Director provides the Superintendent and her fellow cabinet members with updates on iZone successes and challenges and seeks the Superintendent’s input on various policy issues. The iZone district office will frequently monitor leading indicators and provide appropriate, timely, and ongoing guidance and support to ensure continuous progress of school improvement efforts. Permissible Strategies for the Implementation of the Transformation Model A transformation model is one which the LEA may implement any of the following required strategies to: (Strategies #12-26 are not required.) Develop and increase teacher and school leader effectiveness Provide comprehensive instructional reform strategies Increase learning time and create community oriented schools Provide operational flexibility and sustained support. 12. Providing additional compensation See indicators #3 and 5 to attract and retain staff with the skills necessary to meet the needs of the students in a transformation school 13. Instituting a system for measuring Create an informal observation checklist to monitor changes in instructional practices implementation of instructional practices resulting from resulting from professional development professional development. Ongoing 2013-2016 Conduct focus walks to monitor implementation of instructional practices resulting from professional 38 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H development. Chris Earl, Principal Develop teacher and student survey to analyze the effectiveness of teacher practices and garner students’ reflections on the opportunities they have had to complete rigorous, engaging assignments. Elaine Harper, Assistant Principal TBD, SIG Coordinator Le Andrea Ware, iZone Director Chris Earl, Principal Human Resources Personnel 14. Ensuring that the school is not required to accept a teacher without the mutual consent of the teacher and principal, regardless of the teacher’s seniority Dalewood will receive priority from the HCDE Human Resource Department, iZone Project Manager, and iZone Director to ensure high quality teachers are recruited and retained for each campus. No teachers, regardless of seniority will be placed in Dalewood without the mutual consent of the principal, teacher and iZone director. 15. Conducting periodic reviews to Administrators: ensure that the curriculum is being Conduct ongoing classroom observations. implemented with fidelity, is having the Meet monthly with curriculum coaches to discuss intended impact on student curriculum implementation and review formative achievement, and is modified if assessment data ineffective Recommend changes based on meeting outcomes. Instructional Coaches: Conduct numerous classroom observations Meet with teachers during planning periods to evaluate unit development, lesson plans, and daily learning objectives Evaluate lesson plans and student work to determine if they meet grade-level expectations and show proficiency to the state and CCSS standards. The instructional coaches will tier their support based upon particular teacher needs. 16. Implementing a schoolwide “response-to-intervention” model Ongoing 2013-16 Ongoing 2013-16 Le Andrea Ware, iZone Director Brent Webb, iZone Data Analyst Chris Earl, Principal Elaine Harper, Assistant Principal Sylvia Davis, Literacy Coach Monthly 2013-16 Ongoing 2013-16 TBD, Numeracy Coach Teacher Leaders All teachers will provide additional support based on formative Quarterly 2013-2016 Le Andrea Ware, assessments and the need for additional credits. Student academic iZone Director and behavioral performance will be reviewed weekly by grade1st Quarter: Julylevel teams, identifying students by tiers in terms of need for Sept 39 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H intervention. Intervention plans will be developed by the academic -Schedule of and School-wide Behavioral Support teams for each tier of interventions and academic and behavioral need. student list 2nd Quarter: Oct-Dec -Schedule of interventions and student list Brent Webb, iZone Data Analyst Chris Earl, Principal Le Andrea Ware, iZone Director Brent Webb, iZone Data Analyst Margaret Abernathy, Director of Exceptional Education Chris Earl, Principal Sylvia Davis, Literacy Coach TBD, Numeracy 3rd Quarter: JanMarch -Schedule of interventions and student list 4th : April-May Schedule of interventions and student list 17. Providing additional supports and professional development to teachers and principals in order to implement effective strategies to support students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment and to ensure that limited English proficient students acquire language skills to master academic content Professional Development Include special education teachers in the Reading and Mathematics training that will be necessary for all content area teachers. Ongoing 2013-16 Work with Special Needs and ELL teachers through jobembedded training in specific teaching and learning strategies and specific differentiated learning strategies necessary for their students to meet the proficient level of TN and CCSS standards. Identify MMGW Sites that have been successful in increasing student achievement of their special education and ELL populations to gain strategies that are transferable to Dalewood. 40 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Coach 18. Using and integrating technology- Technology Upgrades based supports and interventions as part Purchase Panaboards and Apple TV convertors to increase Summer 2013 of the instructional program student engagement and technology-embedded instruction. Purchase additional computers and ipads through funding sources outside of SIG. Training Summer 2013 Panaboard Professional Development 19. In secondary schools-(a) Increasing rigor by offering opportunities for students to enroll in advanced coursework (such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate; or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses, especially those that incorporate rigorous and relevant project-, inquiry-, or design-based contextual learning opportunities), early-college high schools, dual enrollment programs, or thematic learning academies that prepare students for college and careers, including by providing appropriate supports designed to ensure that lowachieving students can take advantage of these programs and coursework (b) Improving student transition from middle to high school through summer Monitoring Frequent administrative observations of classroom practice to determine if technology is being effectively embedded Ongoing 2013-16 in teaching practice. If necessary, require teachers to develop an Action Plan to increase classroom technology usage. Early Warning System: Design an Early Warning Intervention and Ongoing 2013-16 Monitoring System that includes conducting diagnostic assessments throughout the school year to strategically place students into academic groups and identify for targeted interventions. Utilize the COGNOS data dashboard, county benchmark assessments, and ongoing formative assessments to identify students at risk of failure. Assign responsibility to the coaches and counselor for oversight and monitoring of data; Ensure they report out on student progress regularly at Leadership Team meetings and during collaborative planning time with teachers Offered identified students additional instruction based on specific needs during the daily activity period, after school programs, and the extended day. Monitor contact with families of students identified for Chris Earl, Principal Elaine Harper, Assistant Principal Chris Earl, Principal Elaine Harper, Assistant Principal Ashley Medley, Counselor TBD, Literacy Coach TBD, Numeracy Coach Dani Morris, Science Department Chair 41 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H transition programs or freshman interventions academies (c) Increasing graduation rates through, High School Credit Courses th for example, credit-recovery programs, Provide 8 grade students the opportunity to earn credits in re-engagement strategies, smaller Algebra I (though a partnership with HCDE Virtual learning communities, competencySchool) and Spanish. based instruction and performancebased assessments, and acceleration of basic reading and mathematics skills; or (d) Establishing early-warning systems to identify students who may be at risk of failing to achieve to high standards or graduate 20. Partnering with parents and Partnership Program parent organizations, faith- and Ongoing 2013-16 Continue to strengthen partnership with various community-based organizations, health community organizations (Vulcan, GEAR UP, On Point, clinics, other State or local agencies, and Stop the Madness, Junior Achievement, Delta Sigma others to create safe school Theta, YCAP, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Hazelenvironments that meet students’ social, Bowles Foundation, FREE Chattanooga, and TRIO) in emotional, and health needs order to provide resources and support to Dalewood students both during and after school hours. Develop a partnership with Leadership Chattanooga that will provide student testing supplies and uniforms, grant writing assistance, and resources for student incentives. Senta Dixon, FPS Ashley Medley, Counselor Chris Earl, Principal Elaine Harper, AP Advisory Train Advisory Teachers to include units of instruction on health-related subjects including personal hygiene, personal and family health, coping mechanisms, emotional Fall 2013 well-being, dealing with bullies and other problematic social relationships. Faith-Based Organizations Build partnerships with local churches and other faithbased organizations to provide mentors and counseling for Ongoing 2013-16 42 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H students experiencing problems with relationships, those whose parents are undergoing breakups, students whose relatives are in jail or prison for various crimes that negatively affect the students, or other situations that could benefit from regular counseling from clergy members. 21. Extending or restructuring the Weekly 2013-16 House Program school day so as to add time for such Conduct student advisory periods one day per week where strategies as advisory periods that build staff will meet with students to build relationships, discuss relationships between students, faculty, issues pertinent to middle school students, and ensure that and other school staff every student has at least one adult advocate in the school. 22. Implementing approaches to improve school climate and discipline, such as implementing a system of positive behavioral supports or taking steps to eliminate bullying and student harassment Summer 2013 In School Suspension Monitor Interview and hire ISS Monitor ISS Monitor will provide supervision and support for students who must be removed from the regular classroom due to behavior issues School-Wide Positive Behavior Support Implement the SWPBS model with an emphasis on teaching and reinforcing important social skills. Develop clear school-wide rules and consequences for behavior. Provide alternatives to student suspension. Elaine Harper, AP Ashley Medley, Counselor Advisors Chris Earl, Principal TBD, ISS Monitor Senta Dixon, Family Partnership Specialist Summer 2013 Habits of Success Begin Implement SREB’s Habits of Success using the implementation Fall publication: Skills for a Lifetime: Teaching Students the Habits of Success as the primer for several units to be used 2013 in Advisory class. 23. Expanding the school program to offer full-day kindergarten or prekindergarten 24. Allowing the school to be run under a new governance arrangement, such as a turnaround division within the LEA or SEA The Hamilton County Board of Education established the HCDE Ongoing 2013- 2016 Innovation Zone and appointed Le Andrea Ware as the iZone Director. The iZone Director and her team will provide the focused support and hands-on assistance for the five HCDE schools that Le Andrea Ware, Innovation Zone Director 43 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H will now operate under their direct supervision. Brent Webb, Data Analyst TBD, Innovation Zone Project Manager TBD, Innovation Zone Instructional Supervisor 25. Implementing a per-pupil schoolbased budget formula that is weighted based on student needs Pre-Implementation Activities: Please note: The activity categories listed below are not an exhaustive or required list. Rather, they illustrate possible activities that the LEA may list, depending on the needs of the school. Pre-Implementation allows the LEA to prepare for full implementation of a school intervention model at the start of the 2013-2014 school year. To help in its preparation, an LEA may use federal FY 2011 SIG funds in its SIG schools after the LEA has been awarded a SIG grant for those schools based on having a fully approvable application consistent with SIG final requirements. To help in its preparation, as soon as it receives the funds, the LEA may use part of its first-year allocation for SIG related activities in schools that will be served with federal FY 2011 SIG funds. Activities must align to schools’ needs assessment and requirements of the intervention model; represent change; be reasonable, necessary, and allowable; be researched-based; and be implemented prior to the beginning of the 2013-2014 academic school year. Activity Categories with Sample Activities: Family and Community Engagement: Hold community meetings to review school performance, discuss the school intervention model to be implemented, and develop school improvement plans in line with the intervention model selected; survey students and parents to gauge needs of students, families, and the community; communicate with parents and the community about school status, improvement plans, choice options, and local service providers for health, nutrition, or social services through press releases, newsletters, newspaper announcements, parent outreach coordinators, hotlines, and direct mail; assist families in transitioning to new schools if their current school is implementing the closure model by providing counseling or holding meetings specifically regarding their choices; or hold open houses or orientation activities specifically for students attending a new school if their prior school is implementing the closure model. Rigorous Review of External Providers: Conduct the required rigorous review process to select a charter school operator, a CMO, or an EMO and contract with that entity (see C-5); or properly recruit, screen, and select any external providers that may be necessary to assist in planning for the implementation of an 44 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H intervention model. Staffing: Recruit and hire the incoming principal, leadership team, instructional staff, and administrative support; or evaluate the strengths and areas of need of current staff. Instructional Programs: Provide remediation and enrichment to students in schools that will implement an intervention model at the start of the 2012-2013 school year through programs with evidence of raising achievement; identify and purchase instructional materials that are research-based, aligned with State academic standards, and have data-based evidence of raising student achievement; or compensate staff for instructional planning, such as examining student data, developing a curriculum that is aligned to State standards and aligned vertically from one grade level to another, collaborating within and across disciplines, and devising student assessments. Professional Development and Support: Train staff on the implementation of new or revised instructional programs and policies that are aligned with the school’s comprehensive instructional plan and the school’s intervention model; provide instructional support for returning staff members, such as classroom coaching, structured common planning time, mentoring, consultation with outside experts, and observation of classroom practice, that is aligned with the school’s comprehensive instructional plan and the school’s intervention model; or train staff on the new evaluation system and locally adopted competencies. Preparation for Accountability Measures: Develop and pilot a data system for use in SIG-funded schools; analyze data on leading baseline indicators; or develop and adopt interim assessments for use in SIG-funded schools. 45 TDOE SIG Application Appendix H Pre-implementation activities: To prepare for the implementation of the transformation model as detailed in this School Improvement Plan, the remainder of the school year and the summer of 2013 will be focused primarily on Staffing, Professional Development, and preparing the Instructional Program. Recruitment and selection: Leadership will project vacancies for next school year over the winter months, and will prioritize recruitment of highly effective teachers who demonstrate the competencies and skill set that will make them a good fit for the school’s transformation plan and teaching needs. Leadership, with the support of iZone staff, will also recruit and hire the Numeracy and Literacy Coaches and ISS Monitor, as described in the plan. Prior to the receipt of the School Improvement Grant, the leadership team will develop job descriptions for these positions and upon receipt of the grant, will advertise strategically to ensure a highquality crop of applicants. Professional development planning: During Spring of 2013, the leadership team will plan for the following year’s professional development offerings. Based on the school’s needs, the district will issue an RFP to approve vendors for professional development opportunities. Implementation of summer professional development: Set high expectations for teacher attendance and effectiveness during summer PD. Roll out transformation plan and clearly explain what additional supports are available to teachers, as well as how they will be held accountable for results. Describe instructional strategies and professional development opportunities that will be required over the next school year. Leadership Training: All leaders will go through summer leadership training through the iZone on implementation of the teacher evaluation system, developing leadership skills, and the supports they will receive as an iZone school. Development of curriculum maps, pacing guides, and common formative assessments. Pursue focused community partnerships aligned with Dalewood’s school improvement goals. Plan focus groups to identify root causes and establish a plan of action to address teacher attendance and morale.