Accountability and Student Achievenment : accountability plans

You can find the agenda here. 
We have the ones (from last year) from Burncoat High, Claremont, and Forest Grove. Reminder that by Mass General Law we may review, but do not approve, School Improvement Plans.

Accountability plans
(we're looking at last year's plans; this year's plans are being developed)
drafted by principals with instructional leadership; they take it to the other principals; brought to school site councils; then to central admin
process runs pretty smoothly
sometimes get questions about their not being as comprehensive as they should be
should be aligned with goal areas for the distrct
keep plans as managable as possible
Biancheria (speaking specifically about Burncoat): when we look at action steps and best practices, is there a way that the district can gather best practices that work?
Perda: not specifically from school accountability plans themselves, more the conversations that take place at district meetings
benchmark assessment started by Vernon Hill, carried to district from their success
material that could be done to start the conversation
is there a report that comes back to admin at the end of the year?
Yes, came in last Friday (started writing at the end of the year) to Perda's office
student achievement measures "are heavy on the MCAS" thus are due after the tests come out
Biancheria: concerns me, as "more than just one test"
can people view the plans?
Yes, they're on the district website
Biancheria: asks that there be a hard copy at each of the schools
O'Connell: Burncoat lower number of students who don't graduate
any sense of how Burncoat is informing site council as a means of informing
Perda: have a review of the accountability plan
formal mechanism for providing feedback
"to be sure the priorities truly represent the values of the school community"
O'Connell: almost have the council is from outside the school
going beyond the school improvement plan
Biancheria (on Claremont): interesting how they reviewed what they were interested in
more students take Clark classes: terrific opportunity, look at how we prepare students for college courses
acronyms used: have a resource page for them
Perda: glossary, so anyone can look it up
O'Connell: middle school MCAS scores
Perda: something that was just being discussed at senior staff
Claremont had some terrific progress in their schoolwide data
also seeing transition points from grade 6 to 7 and 8 to 9
"is it a little easier in a place like Claremont where they aren't changing buildings?"
what are the best practices and can they be replicated elsewhere?
Novick: exemplar in actually being comprehensive in their needs analysis
looking at it as a school-wide chance to evaluate all (not just MCAS) is going on in the building
Monfredo: looking at chronic absenteeism
Biancheria (on Forest Grove): reaching every family
student mentoring program with teachers
middle school, not easy for them to make adjustments, not only as how we move them along, but from each other
O'Connell: intermural after school program
math programs
Perda: connecting back to connecting with parents; drop off from elementary to middle to high
the extent to which we can stem that tide would ease that transition
engage in every facet of their children's education
Novick: how to make this oly about MCAS scores, but about more broad based questions of school functioning
Perda: would be hard pressed to see a school that isn't looking beyond MCAS for their strength and weaknesses
Novick: how do we communicate that other information should be shared?
Perda: make this a shared document? Geting it into a wider audience, wider readership
Monfredo: submit best practices on school climate or school environment
sharing ideas with one another