Improvement ARP ISD 2004

ARP ISD

DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2004-05

MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of the Arp Independent School District is to strive for excellence and develop responsible students with capacity to think critically and function successfully in a constantly changing competitive world.

PHILOSOPHY: Arp Schools are dedicated to providing all students with a safe, equitable, and effective educational environment where continuing staff development, character education, SCANS foundational skills and competencies, the Texas Education Agency’s Essential Knowledge and Skills, integration of current technologies, research-based strategies, and authentic assessments are facets of the curriculum to prepare students for successful futures and high-skilled careers.

Goal #1 Parents will be full partners with the district in the education of their children.

OBJECTIVES	PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE	RESOURCES ALLOCATIONS	TIMELINE	EVALUATION FORMATIVE/ SUMMATIVE
1. The Parent/Teacher Organization(s) will support and recommend strategies for promoting campus & district improvement. including extended learning for adults via distance education.	Principal, PTO,	Campus funds	bi-annually	Sitebase Committee Recommendations, Reports and sign-in sheets. Parent Surveys
2. Surveys will be taken to determine the need for alternative education requirements for the district, including extended learning for adults via distance education.	Curriculum Director	TEA TARGET Grants	Begin in August 2004	Purchased equipment in 2005 and offered one distance learning course and one distance learning community event
3. Remote Access given to district and community for distance learning	Tech Director	E-rate & TARGET grants	Began in 1998 Expanded in 2005	Purchased RAS in 1998, upgraded in 2005 Waiting arrival of Wireless Community Network Secured grant for Wireless H.S. Campus network in 2005
4. Reinstitute TigerVision (community access channel broadcasting from high school studio) to support community distance learning through student-produced video broadcasts.	Classic Cable and Tech Director	Campus & Cable funds	ASAP	As of 06/06/05 cable company has not responded to request.
5.Student ShowCase OpenHouse will allow students to show parents and community their work, electronic portfolios, multimedia projects, videos, Websites, talents and skills.	Principals, Teachers	TARGET Grant	annually	Program reviews and community involvement Attendance & participation on elementary campus in 2004
6. Parent Information nights will be scheduled for 8^th grade enrollment and to explain acceleration programs, Recommended High School Program, Dual Credit, CATE, and Articulation Courses.	Counselor and Curriculum Director	H.S. Campus Funds	annually	Counselor initiated several in-school sessions for students only Required 4-year plans need to be on file
7. Help educate parents on the high school recommended program, acceleration programs, and dual credit and articulation courses through newsletters, flyers, and orientations, and Website.	Counselor & Curriculum Director	Campus & District Funds	Begun 2003, Web site updated 2005	Program Flyers to be created 2005 New Website created 2005 Orientations to be conducted

Goal 2: Parents and other community members will be partners in the improvement of the school.

By May 2005, 50% of parents will be partners in the improvement of schools.

ACTIVITY/STRATEGY	PERSON RESPONSIBLE	RESOURCE ALLOCATION	TIMELINE	EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF EVALUATION
1. Increase communication between teachers and parents regarding the academic performance and development of students through the use of the PTO newsletter, School Report Card, AEIS report, G/T parent meetings, Title I parent meetings, monthly Head-Start parent meetings, School-parent compact, teacher notes, progress reports, marquee, signs, Campus Site-Based Committee meetings, Early Years Publication, TIER Letters to parents, TAKS results, parent and student surveys, PTO carnival, Open House, Meet the Teacher/Supply Night, newspaper articles, school website, class websites, class syllabi, Student Handbook, and school Website.	Principal Superintendent PTO Teachers Parents Aides Counselor Curr. Dir.	$1000 local funds Head-Start funds Title I funds -- $500	continuous	Parents will be aware of student academic progress and programs. Positive communication between teacher, staff, administration, and parents. Parents will have participated by attending an extended day function, extra-curricular event, or program specific committee meeting or conference. Parents will have returned signed program agreement, handbook signature sheet, filled out appropriate program paper work and attended appropriate program parent meeting.
2. Online grading program will be implemented in 2004 for pilot and given Web access to parents in 2005-06	School Board Approval, Tech Director	$12,000 Ornelas Gift Fund	September 2004	Pilot conducted successfully Web implementation will take place as planned
3. Develop mutually beneficial partnerships between schools and community entities.	Parents Teachers Administrators Students Curriculum Dir. Counselor Businesses PTO	PTO Arp State Bank Leo’s Burger Barn Terry’s Brookshires	Aug-May	Positive communication and relationships between the school and community.
4. Provide human relations activities that will enable students to deal positively and effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, such as Veteran’s Day Celebration, Black History Month, Self-Esteem Program, Every 15 Minutes, Community Access TV Programming, Website News Highlights, and Counselor	Teachers Principal Librarian Counselor Curr. Dir. Administration Local EMS	Region VII Drug Education Funds Local funds	Aug-May	Students will have increased appreciation of diverse cultures.
5. Have an athletic field day at the high school track.	Staff Parents Students Teachers Principal	High School Track Facilities $300 local funds P.E. Equipment	May	Each child will have the opportunity to be successful in fitness activities. Conducted successfully
6. Students will perform at PTO meetings.	PTO Teachers Students Principal	None	Sept-May	More parent involvement in student activities and in the music program.
7. Provide information to parents concerning the 3 TIERS and 504 programs through handouts, parent conferences, "Meet the Tiger" BBQ Dinner for Community, Student Handbook, and school Website.	Administrators Teachers Counselor Curr. Dir.	$900 local funds & community donations	Aug-May	More parent involvement and knowledge of school programs, curriculum, and student achievement.
8. Reallocate Computers to student checkout for at-risk students (TIER students), Achieve Now! and laptops.	Technology Coordinators	$300 Technology Funds (Modems)	Aug - May	Better relations with parents and students. Better knowledge of school technology services. Program partially implemented for special needs students
9. All teachers will receive laptops and students with special needs and research projects will be allowed to check a laptop out from the Tech Dept.	Technology Director	TARGET Grants, District Funds	September – August	Number of Laptops checked out 66 laptops checked out in 2004-05 5 laptops not checked out
10. Meet the Teacher night for all three campuses to give program flyers to parents. Included in this night is a parent drawing for a prizes. Advertise using posters, flyers, bank statement mail-out (1/2 sheet) in July. (School Calendar, sports calendar, activities) Send to the bank by June.	Principals	Local funds $100 X3	August 16, 2005	Number of parents involved in meet the teacher night.

GOAL 3: All faculty and staff will be trained and certified in the SBEC Technology Application Competencies (8th grade computer literacy competencies. )* All staff will move from Level I to Level III Engaged-learner Competencies for transparent technology integration.

OBJECTIVES	PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE	RESOURCES ALLOCATIONS	TIMELINE	EVALUATIONS
1. Identify levels of competencies for all faculty and staff	Technology Director & Campus Technology Coordinators	District Staff Development Funds	Sept 2003 to present	Completion of Self - Inventory by teachers 2003 Completion of Technology Application Skills Assessment 2004 Completion of 2 Modules of Technology Integration 2005 Completion of STAR Charts 2004 by all faculty members
2. All teachers will utilize district digital resources to record grades, attendance, student progress, curriculum alignment, assessments, and student works	School Board Approval, Principals, Tech Director	District, E-rate, TARGET grant, Ornelas Gift Fund	Begun in 2003, Resources updated in 2004	All teachers directed to use online gradebook and attendance All teachers successfully submitted attendance and at least one six weeks in online gradebook Wireless access was given to Ag and Band Hall buildings Curriculum Calendars digitized, a percentage of benchmarks placed on ClassServer Over 200 lessons placed on ClassServer for 24-7 access Still need all teachers to participate in development of online resources
3. A Laptop will be given to each teacher for classroom use who completes INTEL© or comparable training.	Campus Technology Coordinators	District Level	Continuous	Rubrics and # Web based Training Modules completed by teachers 40 Teachers completed INTEL (c) Training 2 Research Modules completed May, 2005 by all faculty except 1
4. Train and mentor all teachers in 8th grade computer competencies and integration techniques using 3 Tiers of accountability (ClassServer)	Campus Technology Coordinators and TARGET Grant participants	TARGET grant	continuous	2 Training Sessions conducted in 2004 1 Training Session conducted in 2005 2 Modules completed by all teachers (except 1) on ClassServer Module 3 will require teachers to create lessons on ClassServer in 2005 STAR Chart Evaluations revealed need for advanced skills in online productivity
5. Train and monitor all teachers in eclectic strategies for differentiated lesson design to the benefit of all learners (ClassServer)	Curriculum Director	TARGET grant	continuous	Each Research Module is designed for direct acquisition of professional skills for differentiated instruction Evaluation & TAKS data suggests more skills are needed by faculty
6. Allot multiple computers to classroom with trained teachers and highlight best practices in district. Title II Part D funded TCEA trip for any teacher in the district who wants to participate in Technology Integration Training.	School Board Approval, Curriculum Director	Ornelas Gift Funds Title II Part D	2004-05	14 Teachers attended TCEA 60 computers added to district inventory 10 older computers removed from service Best Practices included in Research Module Training TAKS and Module Evaluations demonstrate need for more Best Practice exposure and skills development
7. Certify classroom teachers as Master Trainers to assist integration of technology into curriculum.	Curriculum Director	N/A	February 2005	12 Mentor teachers identified through 2 TARGET grants

*GT Teachers maintain their certification by accruing credit hours in extended training. All faculty gain in-service in GT, discipline management, modification and improvement strategies, and technology.

Goal 4: Provide instructional resources, adequate reading material, staff development, and technology for each teacher, multiple student-computers in each classroom for student use, and connectivity established utilizing E-rate funding to

OBJECTIVES	PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE	RESOURCES ALLOCATIONS	TIMELINE	EVALUATIONS
1. Provide a network compatible TAKS acceleration software to provide skills for TIER students.	Curriculum Director	District Funds and Special Education Coop Funds	2004-05	L&M Software purchased for Math Acceleration Writing Program purchased for High School Need Math Text and Materials Coordinated K-8 Need Manipulatives and Training K-12 in Math Writing Program Successful as per TAKS evaluation Science Instruction needs to follow best practices.
2. Provide core subject teachers with research-based instructional strategies for student success through summer workshops and growth plans	Principals, Region VII Workshops, Curriculum Director	District Funds	2004-06	Research Modules designed to assist teachers Region VII Summer Workshops District Staff Development
3. Provide district with program descriptions for all curriculum areas	Principals, Department Chairs, Curriculum Director	District Funds	2004-2006	Number of program descriptions completed Ability to evaluate programs by descriptions
4. Provide students a way to reclaim credit or accelerate credits through a credit recovery/acceleration program	Board of Trustees, Superintendent, Curriculum Director, Principals	District Funds	Evaluations of Programs 2004-05 Implement by Fall 2005	Ability of students to stay on at least a 4-year graduation path.
5 Establish interactive video network for dual credit courses with colleges and/or universities.	Technology Director	District Funds/ State Technology Allotment	2004-05	Purchase conducted Courses initiated
6. Write grant for additional library books and reading materials at all grade levels	Librarian and committee	Unknown	2004-05	Successful grant written Need still exists
7. Implement effective & efficient resource sharing through library media center, distance learning facilities with college programs, and Internet direct connectivity.	School Board Approval, Technology Director	Ornelas Gift Funds	2004-05	Successfully purchased new library server and Web-based Library program for entire district.
8. Implement handheld technologies in the core curriculum classrooms for student research and data manipulation.	Technology Director, Campus Technology Assistants	Technology Allotment	2004-05	Not yet initiated

Goal 5: Quality Instruction to promote individual student success will result from a well-balanced and appropriately scoped and sequenced curriculum for all students.

A well-balanced curriculum will be taught so that all students may realize their learning potential and prepare for productive lives.

OBJECTIVES	PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE	RESOURCES ALLOCATION	TIMELINE	EVALUATION
1. Implement Department Chairs to assist in the Scope & Sequence of TEKS K-12, enrichment, modifications, and integration techniques.	Superintendent, Principals, Curriculum Director	District/ Campus funds	Began in 2003, continuous	Curriculum Calendars in place Benchmarks in place Successful TIER initiatives
2.Provide each student with a syllabus for each class for each six weeks.	Principals	Campus	Began 2003	Initiative Needs to be enforced
3. rovide tutorials and small classes for students who are at risk (STAR) of not passing the state mandated tests.	Principals	Campus, Title 1 $5000	Oct- June	Number of students successful on TAKS Need to improve instruction during this period of time
4. Provide students with accelerated curriculum, articulated, dual, and concurrent courses, and distance learning opportunities to graduate early (Virtual High School)	Teachers, Curriculum Director	TARGET grant	Began 2002	Number of students successful in accelerated program -- 3 in 2004 Number of Virtual High School Students -- 6 in 2004
5. Provide all students with the Least Restrictive Environment for education according to the CAP Plan	Principal, ARD committee	Special Ed, Campus	continuous	Number of special student included in regular classroom Number of special students successful on TAKS

5-b: By May 2005, a TEKS-based curriculum will be implemented within each grade level so that 96% of students master grade level TEKS.

ACTIVITY/STRATEGY	PERSON RESPONSIBLE	RESOURCE ALLOCATION	TIMELINE	EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF EVALUATION
1. Review and revise the local curriculum to meet TEKS and TAKS objectives using additional waiver days from the state for staff development in areas of need.	Curriculum Director, Principals, Dept Chairs, Teachers	District	continuously	August Inservice Training and Alignment Summer Dept Chair Workshops Improvement Plans
2Continue Right Choice/Character Counts programs	Teachers, Principals	Campus