Title I Restructuring Planfor

2010-2011

March 2 and 4, 2010

CHANDLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Our Purpose

Communicate the vision and plan for restructuring Chandler Elementary School Share information related to how the plan may affect all elementary licensed teachers in GCS Present the process for making personnel decisions

The Process

1. Approximately 50 stakeholders researched the viability of all options available to Chandler.

2. Stakeholders included parents, teachers, administrators, business partners and community leaders.

3. The consensus was to pursue the replacement/transfer of teachers.

4. Smaller work group drafted the details of plan.

The Plan ComponentsThe following elements aligned with those which were found to be common among schools in Indiana, recently approved for restructuring.

Staff Transfer/ReplacementLeadershipIncentive PayAlthough the option of replacing staff does not require all of the following components to be addressed, there is nothing in the research to suggest that simply replacing/reassigning staff will achieve the desired results of improved student achievement.

The Plan Components (continued)

Curriculum & Instruction Instructional TimeAssessmentEnvironment and ClimateProfessional DevelopmentParent/Community InvolvementPlan Evaluation

Staff Replacement/Transfer

Our Goal: to create a “well-balanced” instructional team, committed to the overall vision (plan) for Chandler. Factors to consider:• experience • instructional strengths and expertise• strong commitment to professional growth • three year commitment to the school

Staff Replacement/Transfer Up to 30% of certified staff; up to 12 teachers Changes need to be “substantive” Rationale will need to be provided to IDOE

with roster for 2010-2011The Process:1. Voluntary Transfers2. Involuntary Transfers3. External Recruitment if needed

Staff Replacement/ Transfer

Timeline:

February Request approval from Board & IDOE March 2 & 4 Teacher information sessions

[communicate the plan and explain the process to all elementary licensed staff]

March 15 Teacher Interest Forms due to Personnel office

Voluntary and Involuntary TransfersMay 1 Internal Teacher selection process

completeJune 1 2010-2011 Chandler Roster to IDOE

Leadership

Due to the fact that the principal was named in

February 2009, she is exempt from replacement. • Ms. Lisa Lederach, Principal – responsible for implementation and coordination of all improvement efforts• Ms. Mary Kay Longacre, Title I Coordinator – support to Chandler staff and administration• Ms. Tamra Kay Ummel, Executive Director – district support

Incentive Pay

All incentives will be funded through the IDOE and/or grants:

Professional Development:

• Teachers who commit to the vision and plan for Chandler will commit to extensive (up to 60 hrs.) staff development in the summer 2010 (up to 30 hours) and throughout the school year (up to30 hours).

Incentive PayPerformance: Performance pay will be based on teams of teachers meeting performance targets as established in the plan.

• Based on teams of teachers meeting performance targets as measured by student achievement.• Improvement in student performance on ISTEP (grades 4 & 5)

• Improvement in % of students who pass ISTEP (grade 3)

• Students making adequate progress on mClass (grades k – 2) • Narrow the achievement gap for English language learners and students with disabilities (all grades using ISTEP or mClass)

Curriculum & Instruction –

Our Three CommitmentsGrounded in research and professional work of Dr. Marzano:

• Commitment to Learning Goals – a tight and viable core curriculum• Commitment to Effective Instructional Practices – using “high probability strategies” and evaluation techniques• Commitment to Building Background Knowledge – through the use of the six step process for teaching vocabularyFor Chandler Elementary, the district’s commitment to these

reform efforts will be accelerated and intensified.

Instructional Time

Increased instructional time is a variable that positively impacts student learning:Additional thirty (30) minutes of instruction within the teachers’ school day. This will be accomplished through master scheduling. Extended learning time beyond the school day, four days/week for interventionists to work with targeted students. This will be accomplished through flexible scheduling of personnel.

Assessment

Continue to use a variety of data tools to inform instruction: Formal and informal assessment Staff and students will use formative feedback scales (rubrics) to monitor progress on learning goals Data conversations and collaboration will occur at least every three weeks Stakeholder meetings will continue

Environment & ClimateThree of the five successful school restructuring stories cited a positive school climate as a critical element for successful restructuring -• Climate survey will be conducted biannually; results to help inform future changes• Positive school-wide behavioral expectations (i.e., Marvin Marshall)• Standardized dress to be phased in over the next 3 years• Multi-year classroom placements (looping) with students in two or three year cycles.

Professional Development

One of the components of the successfully restructured schools is quality professional development for all staff –

• Accelerate the professional development around the three commitments to school reform• Immediate and on-going • Summer activities • Additional training opportunities may extend beyond the work day• Training reinforced through intermittent training and in regularly scheduled reflection time

Professional Development - Topics• Building Background Knowledge (Academic Vocabulary)• Learning Goals and Scoring Scales (embedded in core curricular materials with tight vertical alignment)• Using Formative Assessments• Systematic and comprehensive use of “High Probability Instructional Strategies”• School Climate Initiatives: positive behavior and standardized dress• Team Building and Problem Solving• Using Data to Drive Instruction

Parent / Community InvolvementThe plan includes the provision for a Parent Advisory Group to work closely with staff and administration to communicate regarding the restructuring plan. The goal is to build and maintain strong relationships through: • Home visits• A stronger parent compact, focused on how the school can support positive parent involvement• Long-term parent/teacher relationships through looping• Continuation of volunteer coordinator• Maintenance of existing parent and community activities

Evaluation

The evaluation of the restructuring plan will be both focused on the process and the end result(s). • Variety of methods will be utilized• Artifacts and evidence of plan implementation as well as results will be documented• Resources needed to conduct the evaluation have been identified• Title I Coordinator and the Executive Director for Elementary Education will support the Principal and staff in these activities

The Board approved the plan on 2/22/10

It is anticipated that we will receive IDOE approval this week.

We are now in the process of communicating the plan with all

stakeholders. The next step: The Transfer Process

So Where are we Now?

The Transfer Process

The Chandler Restructuring Plan is part of each and every school in Goshen Community Schools – we are all in this together.

1. Teacher Interest Form2. Voluntary Transfers3. Involuntary Transfers4. External Recruitment Efforts, if

needed

The Teacher Interest Form

All elementary licensed teachers will be surveyed to gather information related to interests, preferences, strengths and experiences. Deadline is March 15th:

• Grade level interests• Content level strengths• Past and current professional development activities• Collaboration efforts• Use of student data

TEACHER INFORMATION FORM

Due by: March 15, 2010

Directions: Please complete the following form and return it to Dr. Marceil Royer at the Administration Building. Name: _____________________________________________ Current School:___________________ Current Grade Level/or assignment: _____________________ Years of teaching experience: _______ 1. I would be interested in transferring to: Check all that apply and number to the right in order of preference with 1 being most desired.

Chamberlain _____ Chandler _____ Model _____ Parkside _____ Prairie View _____ Waterford _____ West Goshen _____ GMS 6th Grade _____ I am not interested in transferring _____ Briefly describe why you are interested in transferring:

2. I would be interested in teaching the following grades or subjects (in rank order):

1. _____________________________________________________ 2. _____________________________________________________ 3. _____________________________________________________

3. Briefly describe your instructional strengths: 4. Briefly describe how you have been able to work collaboratively in a Professional Learning

Community: 5. Briefly describe how you gather student data and how you use that data to change your instruction:

6. Please feel free to share any additional information that you would like administration to know as we consider your interests.

Voluntary Transfers

Extended Timeline; Deadline will be March 15 Including Transfers into and out of Chandler May not be known vacancies during the initial phase of this process Vacancies will be posted electronically, within the district Voluntary transfers require an interview process.

Involuntary Transfers

Only after voluntary transfers have been exhausted

AND Will involve dialogue between GCS Administration and GEA; however, administration reserves the right to assign teachers to positions

Some Key Points:

Interviews will be conducted by an administrative team Transferring teachers will retain building level seniority Consideration will be given to experience and instructional strength in an effort to create a “well balanced” staff

Dr. Stahly: “GCS must modify what we are doing so that all children

improve their level of achievement… this is about not only improving opportunities for children to achieve better; we

must offer recommendations such that the children actually do

achieve better.”

Committed to the comprehensive plan for Chandler