FAQ, School Improvement Plan
Key: SAC = school advisory council SIP = school improvement plan SI = school improvement
1. Does our school need a SIP?
3. Does the SIP need to contain performance indicators which are measurable?
4. How do we start writing a school improvement plan (SIP)?
6. Can SAC vote to have a two-year SIP & do we vote on it again next year?
7. Where can I find new ideas or review on various educational strategies?
8. What does the law say about waivers and local decision-making?
9. How do I access my school's School Improvement Plan?
10. FL Education Improvement Plans - FL school's SIPs
1. Does our school need a school improvement plan (SIP)?
Depends...ss1001.42 states...SIPs are required for each school in the district which has a school grade of "D" or "F"; has a significant gap in achievement on statewide, standardized assessments administered pursuant to s.1008.22 by one or more student subgroups, as defined....
2. What needs to be in a SIP (School Improvement Plan)?
Title XLVIII - 1001.42
(16)(a) "Each plan shall also address issues relative to budget,
training, instructional materials, technology, staffing, student
support services, specific school safety and discipline strategies,
and other matters of resource allocation, as determined by district
school board policy, and shall be based on an analysis of student
achievement and other school performance data." and....(General Appropriations Act) Section 1 - Education Enhancement "Lottery" Trust
3. Does the SIP
need to contain performance indicators which are measurable?
Yes. General Appropriations Act -
" The improvement plan shall include performance indicators which are measurable."
4. How do we start writing a SIP (school improvement plan)?
You start by gathering data. Test scores, grades, absentee records, discipline data, School Advisory Report, are all examples of data you may include and you may use other forms of data. This is a school based decision that your SAC may decide upon. The SAC comes up with a needs assessment. Once a needs assessment is made, direction on how to address those needs is your school improvement plan.
1001.452 (replacing 229.58) Title
XLVIII District And School Advisory
Councils.-
(1)(a) "The school advisory council shall be the sole body
responsible for final decisionmaking at the
school relating to implementation of the provisions of ss.
1001.42(16) and
1008.345.
1001.42 (16)(b) "Approval process.--Develop a process for approval of a school improvement plan presented by an individual school and its advisory council.."
6. SAC voted to have a two-year plan. Does that mean we do not vote on it again next year?
1001.42 (16)(a) requires school
boards to "Annually approve and require implementation of a new,
amended, or continuation school improvement plan for each school in
the district,..."
"Because student performance and budgets change annually, your board may approve continuation plans in June and expect amended plans by August, September, or some other fixed date to ensure that the school always has an active plan in place that moves students forward. Some districts have five-year plans or three-year plans with annual "updates". Long range planning certainly makes sense to me personally when we are talking about student performance; and using the most current data would mean that some activities might need modification on an annual (or sooner) basis. Check your local policies for exact directions on this." ---Andrea Willett, DOE, Office of School Improvement
7. Where can I find new ideas or review on various educational strategies?
Fantastic Page! - DOE links - Assessment, Block Scheduling, Charter Schools, Class Size, Cooperative Learning, Data Analysis, Education (sorry, link is no longer available)
8. What does the law say about waivers and local decision-making?
1001.42 Powers and Duties of
the School Board:
(17.a.) "Adopt policies that clearly encourage and enhance
maximum decisionmaking appropriate to the school site. Such policies
must include guidelines for schools in the adoption and purchase of
district and school site instructional materials and technology,
staff training, school advisory council member training, student
support services, budgeting, and the allocation of staff
resources."
(17b.) "Adopt waiver process policies to enable all schools to
exercise maximum flexibility and notify advisory councils of
processes to waive school district and state policies."
10.
How do I access my school's School Improvement Plan?
Type in or click to this page:
https://www.floridacims.org/