School Improvement Plan
What is a School Improvement Plan?
A School Improvement Plan (SIP) is a strategic blueprint that schools use to enhance student learning and improve educational practices. It outlines specific goals for improvement, actions to achieve those goals, and methods for measuring progress.
Key Points of a SIP:
- Goals: Clear objectives the school aims to achieve to enhance student outcomes.
- Actions: Steps and strategies the school will implement to reach its goals, based on research and effective practices.
- Monitoring: Regular review of progress with adjustments made to ensure the school stays on track toward its improvement objectives.
The purpose of a SIP is to provide a clear roadmap for schools to improve educational outcomes for all students, particularly focusing on eliminating disparities and ensuring equitable opportunities for every student.
Every school in Washington State is required to have a School Improvement Plan.
Monitoring and Adjusting:
A SIP is not set in stone. It's reviewed regularly, with progress monitored against the set goals and activities adjusted as needed to stay on track toward improvement.
Visit the Issaquah School District SIP website to learn more about SIPs.
District - School Improvement Plans
Achievement Goals
By Spring of 2024:
- Student achievement for all students in the area of math will increase from 87% meeting standard to 90% meeting standard, measured by the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA).
- 75% of all students who are not meeting standard on fall i-Ready Math Diagnostic will meet or exceed typical growth, and 60% will meet or exceed stretch growth.
Guiding Questions
Reflecting on previous action plans
- What actions were successfully implemented?
- What was observed? What evidence did you use to determine impact?
- How did actions impact disproportionality and equity?
- What actions would you continue or change?
What actions were successfully implemented?
What was observed? What evidence did you use to determine impact?
How did actions impact disproportionality and equity?
What actions would you continue or change?
Backed by Data
Schools use multiple data sources to inform their planning. Progress toward school improvement in overall achievement and disproportionality is monitored using state and district measures using a common School Improvement Data Dashboard.
School-Based Action Plan
Action | Implementation | Impact: Evidence/Monitoring |
---|---|---|
Math PD |
Professional development focused on strengthening math instruction with a focus on using the strong instructional practices in i-Ready we have gained and how it can be applied to strong math instructional practice.
|
Feedback provided by teachers, evidence in classroom observations. |
Morning Math Club intervention group for 2nd – 4th grade students |
|
We are using i-Ready data to monitor and identify the students that scored below or approaching standard. We are also using the Numbers and Operations assessment at the end of each cycle to look at student growth. |
Community Connection |
Community Learning Night with a math emphasis – how families can support learners at home to better understand growth mindset, joy of process, risk taking, and our curriculum. |
We will have attendees complete an exit ticket to share what they liked, learned and want to know more about. |
Community Connection |
STEAM family event with a math focus. |
We will have attendees complete an exit ticket to share what they liked, learned and want to know more about. |
Math Centers |
Several teachers are implementing math centers where groups and small groups are identified through i-Ready data. |
i-Ready Math data from fall, winter, and spring. |
Community Connection |
Parent Panel in March 2023 with an emphasis on how students learn math in other countries |
Feedback from participants. |
Building a Mathematical Community and Mindset |
Wednesday PD Sessions with Cascade Ridge and Sunny Hills. |
Feedback provided by teachers, evidence in classroom observations. |
Teacher Learning Walks |
Teachers can go to classrooms where specific math interventions are implemented; including math centers and students talking about math. |
The number of teachers that participate, their feedback, and how they implement strategies in their own classroom. |
Highly Capable Teacher Partnership |
Our Hi-Cap teacher is working with many teachers to support and differentiate student learning through planning, co-teaching, PD, and observations. |
Teacher feedback, observations. |
i-Ready Time |
Some of our students would benefit from time on their path in i-Ready but cannot access it at home or in class. Time has been built into their days to get ten minutes, four days a week, with a support staff to complete. |
i-Ready data for time on lessons, lessons passed, and the diagnostic. |
High School Math Tutors |
We are partnering with a local high school to begin having 6- 8 students come to Discovery beginning in February for 13 weeks. They will meet 30-45 minutes three times a week to work one-on-one with students tutoring them in numbers and operation. |
Teacher and tutor feedback, observations, and i-Ready Math data. |
Breakout EDU Puzzles |
Students participate in a variety of collaborative puzzles focused on critical thinking, problem solving, and interpreting graphs/data. |
Teacher feedback, observations. |
Hour of Code Participation |
Many teachers integrate math and computer science through Hour of Code activities (both using robotics and without). |
Teacher feedback, observations. |
UDL Leadership PD |
Five staff members will meet with Mary Waldrum from OSPI once a month beginning in February. The PD will build capacity and knowledge base in UDL to support students in class through application and implementation, and grow our capacity to support staff in UDL, particularly in math instruction. |
Observations, exit tickets from PD, teacher feedback. |
SIP Team & Final Review
- Principal: Kathy Keegan
- Site Council/PTSA Review Date: January 20, 2022
- Supervisor Review: Susan Mundell
- School Board Review Date: February 15, 2023
Leadership Team:
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Tara Peterson, Kindergarten teacher
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Pam Shank-Kaufman, 1st grade teacher
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Margie Gerrity, 2nd grade teacher
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Jennifer Belding, 3rd grade teacher
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Syona Pathak, 4th grade teacher
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Robert Huss, 5th grade teacher
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Aubrey Clark, LAP teacher
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Cynthia Park, LRC1 teacher
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Mary Flett, Equity representative
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Marni Vail, Equity representative
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Natalie Ploetz, PE teacher
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Dawn Fields, Dean of Students
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Aly Rumberger, IT Specialist