1

Accountability breeds response-ability.

― Stephen R. Covey

From the Richmond County School System strategy

map and mission statement, continuous

improvement wheel, to information about Strategic

Waivers, this manual pulls together policies and

procedures to foster accountability.

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Page Number/s Content

4 Richmond County School System Strategy Map

5 Continuous Improvement Wheel

6 APIM Framework

7 Accountability Items in APIM Framework

8 Fishbone Example (Root Cause)

9 Blank Fishbone

10 Needs Assessment

11 School Improvement Planning Timeline

12 School Improvement Rubric

13 Family Engagement Plan

14-16 Strategic Waivers School System Process

17-18 Strategic Waiver Request Form

19-20 School Council Information

21 Community Engagement

22 Process for Policies and Procedures

23-28 ELEOT

29 CCRPI

30 Quarterly Reports

31-35 WSAI/WDAI

36 LEA Monitoring3

The Richmond County School

System will create a world-class, globally competitive

school system where all

students will graduate and

are college/career

ready.

4

5

A P I MFRAMEWORK

Find the best

data, analyze,

SWOT, Fishbone,

Prioritize needs.

Determine what is

working, identify

adjustments,

revise action

steps.

Follow the plan,

communicate,

provide

needed

support.

Identify goals,

objectives,

actions,

funding,

responsibilities.

APIM

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• Root Cause

• Data

• Needs

Assessment

• ELEOT

• TKES/LKES

• CCRPI

• Quarterly

Reports

• WSAI

• WDAI

• Accreditation

• Procedures

• Policies

• School

Council

• Community

Engagement

• Strategic

Waivers

• Attendance

Protocol

• School

Improvement

Plan

• Family

Engagement

Plan

APIM

Using the APIM framework, these Accountability items have been

categorized into appropriate areas. Each item will be discussed in more

detail later in the manual following the color-coding in the APIM

framework.7

8

Fishbone Example for Root Cause Analysis

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Each school will need to complete a Needs Assessment that entails

digging into the student data. Schools need to review the following:

• CCRPI Score and Indicators

• Georgia Milestones – percentage of Proficient Learners in each

content area

• Number of students reading on grade level

• Student enrollment trends

• Student mobility

• Student absences

• Student discipline including in-school and out-of-school

suspensions

• Faculty and Staff profile such as number of years in profession, at

school, attendance, etc.

• Number of advanced courses offered

• SAT/ACT scores (if applicable)

• Number of external business or community partnerships

• Number of community events

• Parental involvement (IC login report, workshop attendance, etc.)

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Date Event

May – June Complete a Needs Assessment to Determine Areas to Address in School

Improvement Plan

June 30 Send Needs Assessment to the Accountability Department

July Summer Leadership – School Improvement Sessions

July – August Use Information from Needs Assessment to Create or Revise School Improvement

Plan

August 30 Send School Improvement Plan to the Accountability Department

August – May Implement the Action Steps from the School Improvement Plan

August - May Schools to Monitor Their Plan

School

Improvement

Planning (SIP)

Timeline

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School Improvement Plan Rubric

The School Improvement Plan

(SIP) Rubric and blank SIP

templates can be found on the

www.rcboe.org website – click

on Staff and Departments –

Accountability - School

Improvement Planning.

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http://www.rcboe.org/

Family engagement and parental involvement have long been

thought to be an integral part of student success. Each school

needs to plan on ways to ensure that parents have substantial and

meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their

children. Things to consider in a parental engagement plan:

• How is diversity, including language and culture, honored?

• Are parental engagement activities scheduled throughout the

year?

• Are staff members trained in engaging diverse families?

• Is language assistance provided when necessary?

• Does the parental engagement plan reach all families through

various modes of communication?

• What is the timeline and what resources are needed for parental

engagement?13

Strategic Waivers Flowchart

SWSS

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Strategic Waivers School System (SWSS)

Flexibility with regards to Class-size and Reporting requirements (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-182) related to class size, staffing allotments, and utilization. RCSS seeks to waive

the requirements related to class size, staffing allotments, student caseload, and utilization to increase learning opportunities for all students.

Flexibility with regards to Expenditure Controls (O.C.G.A. §§ 20-2-171 and 20-2-167). RCSS would like flexibility to spend allotted dollars to support the system’s

strategic plan rather than be confined to categories required by expenditure controls.

Flexibility with regards to Salary Schedule requirements (O.C.G.A. §§ 20-2-212, 20-2-212.1, 20-2-

212.2). RCSS would like flexibility from the required use of the current state salary schedule to provide compensation based on teacher skills and system needs.

Flexibility with regards to Certification requirements (O.C.G.A. §§ 20-2-108, 20-2-200, 20-2-201, 20-2-

204). RCSS seeks flexibility from state certification requirements to allow for the selection of qualified applicants based on content expertise and knowledge.

Flexibility with regards to Educational Programs (O.C.G.A. §§ 20-2-151.2, 20-2-153, 20-2-154, 20-2-

154.1, 20-2-155). RCSS seeks flexibility in the requirements related to staffing, class size and program delivery/time requirements and models to offer a variety of

delivery models including but not limited to

advanced content at the elementary level, and to allow the system an opportunity to provide support to individual students based on need.

Flexibility with regards to ELL Program requirements (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-156) related to staffing, class size and program delivery/time/requirements/models.

RCSS seeks flexibility from the requirements related to staffing, class size and program delivery/time requirements and models including but not limited to serving

those students with Level 1 or 2 Language

Proficiency via additional segments.

Flexibility with regards to Education Program for Gifted Students (SBOE Rule 160-4-2-.38) related to staffing, class size, and program

delivery/time/requirements/models. RCSS seeks flexibility in the requirements related to staffing, class size and program delivery/time requirements and models to

offer a variety of delivery models including but not limited to advanced content at the elementary level.

Flexibility with regards to Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Program except as prohibited by O.C.G.A. § 20-2-82(e) (SBOE Rule 160-4-2-.12) related

to scheduling and minutes of

instruction. RCSS seeks flexibility from the requirement to provide flexible pathways for students to meet the required physical education courses.

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Strategic Waivers School System (SWSS)

Flexibility with regards to School Day and School Year for Students and Employees (O.C.G.A. §§ 20-2-

151, 20-2-160(a), 20-2-165 (except to the extent it relates to funding), 20-2-168(c), 20-2-290) related to requirements for minutes of instruction at each level,

scheduling, and staffing. RCSS seeks to waive allotted requirements of instruction time at each level to allow schools to focus time on areas that are a priority

for improving student achievement including but not limited to flexibility in the structure of providing 180 school days for students.

Flexibility with regards to Competencies and Core Curriculum, Online Learning, Alternative and Traditional Education Programs (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-140.1,

O.C.G.A. § 20-2-142) RCSS seeks flexibility in order to increase course offerings and program participation both inside and outside the system and scheduled

school day.

Flexibility with regards to Promotion and Retention: (O.C.G.A. §§ 20-2-283, 20-2-284) related to the timeline for decision making while preserving due

process rights and with regards to Statewide Passing Score (SBOE Rule 160-4-2-.13(2)(a) and (2)(c)). RCSS seeks flexibility to plan and place students for

promotion, placement, and retention as soon as practicable.

Flexibility with regards to Graduation Requirements and Awarding Credit for the purpose of substitution of equivalent or higher level requirements which will

assist students in acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful as they continue their education at the postsecondary level and/or enter the

workforce (SBOE Rules 160-5-1-.15, 160-4-2-.48, and 160-4-2-.47). RCSS seeks flexibility with regards to graduation requirements and awarding credit.

Flexibility with regards to Employment, Conditions of Employment as it relates to Duty Free Lunch (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-218). RCSS seeks flexibility to allow the

system to meet time and work requirements of each individual school site.

Flexibility with regards to School Attendance, Compulsory Attendance as it relates to the attendance protocol (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.2). RCSS seeks

flexibility to encourage attendance and to address excessive absenteeism based on the circumstances of each case.

Flexibility with regards to Categorical Allotment requirements, Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-183 to 20-2-186) related to system earnings

being expended based on system priorities and with regards to QBE Financing except to the extent it relates to funding (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-161).

RCSS seeks flexibility to develop a system budget based on the system strategic plan and the needs of our students, rather than basing the system budget on

current categorical allotments and maintain the

system’s earnings while providing flexibility in its application for services as provided through SWSS.

Flexibility with regards to Public School Choice (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-2131). RCSS seeks flexibility to allow students greater public school choice based on the

capacity of the school building, available space, programming needs, and conditions of transportation by parents and/or school system.

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17

Strategic Waiver Request Form, cont.

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School Council

Information on School Councils is available on www.rcboe.org – Staff and

Departments – Accountability – School Council

The Georgia School Council Institute has developed training materials, handouts

and templates to assist school council members with council business.

Schools should submit the following information annually:

•List of Members Names

•4 School Council Meeting Dates

•Agenda & Minutes for each Meeting (see sample agendas by clicking here)

•Current By-Laws19

http://www.rcboe.org/http://www.georgiaeducation.org/training.htmlhttps://www.rcboe.org/cms/lib/GA01903614/Centricity/Domain/4716/SampleAgendas.pdf

Richmond County School System School Council webpage: http://www.rcboe.org/Page/8577

School Council Resources: http://georgiaeducation.org/training.html

Sample Agendas and Instructions for eBoard:

http://www.rcboe.org/cms/lib010/GA01903614/Centricity/Domain/4716/SampleAgendas.pdf

Advantages of a School Council flyer:

http://www.rcboe.org/cms/lib010/GA01903614/Centricity/Domain/4716/Advantages%20of%20a%20School%20Council.pdf

Quarter 1: July, August, and September

Determine your School Council members. Remember, you must have at least 7 members – 4 parents (two should be

businesspersons), 2 school employees, and the Principal

Make sure that all new members go through School Council training

Parent Flyer that you can personalize for your school

Set your meeting dates (you must have 4 meetings per year- see sample agendas)

Attend any System-wide School Council meetings that are scheduled

Submit your School Council members by September 30 using this form

Set your agenda for the first meeting – make sure that you have one meeting in the first quarter – take minutes

Review the School Council End-of-the-Year report so all members will understand what they are working toward.

Email your School Council By-Laws to the Accountability Office by September 30

Sample School Council PowerPoint that you can personalize for your school

Quarter 2: October, November, and December

Set your agenda for the second meeting

Hold your second meeting – make sure that you take minutes

Attend any System-wide School Council meetings that are scheduled

Quarter 3: January, February, and March

Set your agenda for the third meeting

Hold your third meeting – make sure that you take minutes

Attend any System-wide School Council meetings that are scheduled

Quarter 4: April, May, and June

Set your agenda for the fourth meeting

Hold your fourth meeting – make sure that you take minutes

Attend any System-wide School Council meetings that are scheduled

Submit your School Council End-of-the-Year report by June 10

School

Council

Planner

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http://www.rcboe.org/Page/8577http://georgiaeducation.org/training.htmlhttp://www.rcboe.org/cms/lib010/GA01903614/Centricity/Domain/4716/SampleAgendas.pdfhttp://www.rcboe.org/cms/lib010/GA01903614/Centricity/Domain/4716/Advantages of a School Council.pdfhttp://www.rcboe.org/cms/lib010/GA01903614/Centricity/Domain/4716/Parent Flyer Template.docxhttp://www.rcboe.org/cms/lib010/GA01903614/Centricity/Domain/4716/SampleAgendas.pdfhttp://rcboe.org/cms/module/selectsurvey/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=515http://www.rcboe.org/cms/lib010/GA01903614/Centricity/Domain/4716/SchoolCouncilEndOfTheYearReport.docxhttp://www.rcboe.org/cms/lib010/GA01903614/Centricity/Domain/4716/SchoolCouncilBylaws.pdfhttp://www.rcboe.org/cms/lib010/GA01903614/Centricity/Domain/4716/School Councils 2015-2016.pptxhttp://www.rcboe.org/cms/lib010/GA01903614/Centricity/Domain/4716/SchoolCouncilEndOfTheYearReport.docx

Community Engagement

• Community Partners for System and Schools

• Laptops for Valedictorians and Salutatorians

• REACH Scholarship

• Fort Gordon Troop Adopters

• Business and Education Advisory Committee

• Pay As You Go Committee

• Augusta University Day of Service

For more information about Community Engagement, contact our

Community Engagement Specialist at

accountability@boe.Richmond.k12.ga.us

Community Engagement Projects

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mailto:accountability@boe.Richmond.k12.ga.us

Policies and ProceduresProcess for Policies

Each year after the legislative session, policies are reviewed based on the changes in laws and State rules. A

policy committee reviews, makes changes, and presents them to the Superintendent. The Superintendent

places them on the Board agenda to sit for 30 days for stakeholder input and then to vote on the changes after

the input is reviewed.

Policies must reflect the mission, vision and goals of the school system and be in place to support a quality

education for all students.

For brand new policies or to rescind old policies, the policy committee meets, reviews data and makes

recommendations to the Superintendent. The Superintendent places them on the Board agenda to sit for 30

days for stakeholder input before final approval by the Board of Education.

Assess

•Determine policies that need to be updated based on waivers or stakeholder input.

•Meet with attorney to determine which policies/procedures need to be updated based on legislative changes.

•Review pertinent data that may assist in decision making - this data may be stakeholder input, student performance data, or

updates in the laws.

Plan

•Create a policy calendar with dates for the policy committee to review and submit policies to the Superintendent.

•The policy committee makes changes to policies based on data and pertinent information and submits the changes to the

Superintendent for review.

•Copies of the policies are sent to the Board Members and Attorney for review before the Board meetings.

Implement

•The Superintendent places updated, new, or policies that need to be removed on the Board agenda for a 30-day feedback

period.

•The Board of Education reviews any stakeholder feedback and votes on the policies.

Monitor

•Review the policy calendar to make sure policies have been placed on the Board agenda.

•Update policies and procedures on eBoard after being approved.22

•ELEOT forms can be found on the website –sign in with your email username and password.

•Click on the tab at the top entitled Staff Resources (this tab is only visible when you are logged in).

•Click on the ELEOT link.

•You will find videos, the paper version of the ELEOT tool, as well as the National scoring comparison.

eleot

23

24

eleot, p. 2

25

RCSS - eleot

26

27

28

CCRPI

The College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) includes five main components: Content Mastery, Progress, Closing Gaps, Readiness and Graduation Rate. These components reflect a school’s performance on a 100 point scale. The purpose of CCRPI is to provide an objective measure of how schools and districts prepare students for success after graduation.

To access CCRPI information: http://www.gadoe.org/CCRPI/Pages/default.aspx

29

http://www.gadoe.org/CCRPI/Pages/default.aspx

Quarterly Report

Each nine weeks, a report is generated on each school with the following data:

• Enrollment

• Number of students absent more than 5 days/10 days

• Number of teachers absent more than 5 days/10 days

• Percent of students reading on grade level

• Percent of students performing on grade level in math

• Percent of active students using iReady for 45 minutes

• Number of discipline referrals

• Number of suspensions

• 9 Week GPA Average

• Drop outs

• Teacher vacancies

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Monitoring

Weighted

School

Assessment

Inventory

The WSAI is Richmond

County’s own

Accountability Tool. It

measures student

achievement, a high

performing culture and

workforce, family and

community engagement,

and operational

effectiveness.

31

WSAI

32

33

WSAI

34

Weighted Department Assessment Inventory (WDAI)

35

36

LEA MonitoringAll schools in the Richmond County School System will be Local Education Agency (LEA)

Monitored. These monitorings will include both site visits (face-to-face) and desktop

monitoring reviews.

Schools who have been chosen for site visit LEA Monitoring include Federal Priority Schools

(ESEA), Federal Focus Schools (ESEA), Chronically Failing Schools (GOSA), and other

schools who are internally identified for needs improvement. Other internal identifications

were based on CCRPI, Georgia Milestones and/or projected Weighted School Assessment

Inventory (WSAI) scores. These schools will receive a site visit monitoring in the fall from a

district level team and will present in early spring at the district office for the Curriculum &

Instructional and Technology Division and their Area Assistant Superintendent. Each school

will house documentation through a web-based platform aligned to the Leader Keys

Effectiveness System (LKES) standards.

LKES Standards to be Monitored

Performance Standard 1: Instructional Leadership; Performance Standard 2: School

Climate; Performance Standard 3: Planning and Assessment; Performance Standard 4:

Organizational Management; Performance Standard 5: Human Resources Management;

Performance Standard 6: Teacher/ Staff Expectation; Performance Standard 7:

Professionalism; and Performance Standard 8: Communication and Community Relations.

For more information, sign into the system website, click on departments, system and

school effectiveness, and look to the left that says LEA Monitoring.

Department of AccountabilityAccountability@boe.Richmond.k12.ga.us

864 Broad Street

Augusta, Georgia 30901

706-826-1000

Questions?

More Information?

37

mailto:Accountability@boe.Richmond.k12.ga.us