School Improvement Plan: Eastern View High School

Culpeper, Virginia

Abstract

Eastern View High School has seen a decline in graduation rates for minority student, students with disabilities and the economically disadvantaged. This is affiliated with the low standardized test scores also associated with the aforementioned subgroups. Attendance has also shown a decline in these subgroups and can be considered a contributor to lower test scores and graduation rates. Discipline issues plague the school causing further student absences from class. This plan is meant to improve these school issues and reinvigorate the school community.

Improvement Committee Members

• Principal • Vice Principal • Attendance Secretary• Core Instructional Team Leaders• Elective Instructional Team Leaders• Curriculum Coordinator • Special Education Coordinator • Security Personnel

Summary of Data

• Below average test scores for minority, student with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged students.

• Below average graduation rates for minority, student with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged students.

• High rates of improper or disorderly conduct • Diminishing attendance of student with disabilities

and economically disadvantaged students

Student Scores

History Science

All Studen

tsBlac

k

Hispan

ic

White

Studen

ts with

Disabiliti

es

Economica

lly Disa

dvantag

ed

Limite

d Engli

sh Pro

ficient

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2008-092009-102010-11

All Studen

tsBlac

k

Hispan

icW

hite

Studen

ts with

Disabiliti

es

Economica

lly Disa

dvantag

ed

Limite

d Engli

sh Pro

ficient

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2008-092009-102010-11

Student Scores

Math Scores Writing

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

All Studen

tsBlac

k

Hispan

icW

hite

Studen

ts with

Disabiliti

es

Economica

lly Disa

dvantag

ed

Limite

d Engli

sh Pro

ficient

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2008-092009-102010-11

Graduation Rate

All Students Black Hispanic White Students with Disabilities

Economically Disadvantaged

Limited English Proficient

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

4 Years5 Years6 Years

Discipline and Attendance Records

Discipline Attendance

Wea

pons Offen

ses

Offenses

Against

Studen

t

Offenses

Against

Staff

Other Offen

ses Aga

inst Pers

ons

Alcohol, T

obacco, a

nd Other

Drug O

ffense

Propert

y Offen

ses

Disord

erly o

r Disr

uptive Beh

avior O

ffenses

Tech

nology O

ffenses

All other

Offenses

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

2008-092009-102010-11

All Studen

ts Blac

k

Hispan

ic

White

Studen

t with

Disabiliti

es

Economica

lly Disa

dvantag

ed

Limite

d Engli

sh Pro

ficient

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

2008-092009-102010-11

Environment Scan

Political • Failure to meet AYP

requirements• Directly related to minority

and economically disadvantage students poor performance on standardized test

• First Year Improvement Plan

Economic • $67.2 Million Budget• Reduction in funding over

last three years. • Ten schools on eight school

budget• Lack of raises and increasing

costs • “Do More with Less”

Environmental Scan

Ethnic Diversity• Population Increase • Hispanic population

explosion • 2nd fastest growing Hispanic

population in country• Minority Population • 25% African Am. • 9% Hispanic

Community Norms• Farming community • Little change in population

until 1980• Urban population attends

Eastern View• Little interest in vocational

activities• White Collar vs. Blue Collar

Goals and Objectives

• Objective #1-Increase standardize test scores in Math, Science, English, and History in all subgroups

• Objective #2-Increase 4 Year Graduation Rate in identified subgroups

• Objective #3-Decrease Discipline Issues associated with disruptive behavior

• Objective #4-Increase Attendance for students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged

Improving Test Scores

• Content Learning Continuum (CLC)

• Proven literacy and comprehension strategies to increase student achievement

• After School Tutoring service

• Faculty volunteers

• "The CLC is a tool for enabling all secondary teachers and administrators to participate in the development and evaluation of a literacy initiative that is consistent with the goals of secondary education for all students and that will dramatically improve literacy outcomes for those who are at risk of academic failure." (B.K., Ehren, & Deshler)

Increasing Graduation Rate

• Mentorship Program• Community members

from local businesses, religious organizations, and volunteer organizations work with at risk students

• Partnership with CLC and Tutoring Program

• Community Involvement

• Research explains a youth that is "exposed to the mentoring of an adult is associated with greater educational success, in terms of both educational performance and overall educational attainment."(Erickson, McDonald, & Elder, 2009)

Decreasing Discipline Issues

• School safety audit with security personnel

• Professional development

• Positive student and teacher interaction

• Proactive Approach• School Community

Emphasis

• "The best practice related to addressing student behavior issues should be based on a clearly articulated and comprehensive behavior management policy at a system, district/community, school, and classroom level." (Hallam & Rogers, 2008)

Increasing Attendance

• Attendance Audit • Internal review of

processes • School Responsibility • Publicity and Local

media • Special privileges• Newsletters and

Communication

• "An attendance audit can be undertaken in a variety of ways, but the more inclusive it is in terms of participants the better the quality of the information that will be collected." (Hallam & Rogers, 2008)

Alignment with District Mission

• "Our mission is to equip and motivate all learners to maximize their potential."

• “We all have a stake in every student’s journey into learning – the future well being of each of us rests upon the students attending our schools today”

• “As an organization, we are always striving for improvement. All of our schools have attained accreditation from the Virginia Department of Education based on our Standards of Learning test scores – we are pleased, but not satisfied. We can do more” (Culpeper, 2012)

Action Steps

• Obtain permission to accept grant for implementation of CLC from school district

• Contact local organizations for volunteers to assist in mentoring program(YMCA, Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Clubs)

• Contact local media pertaining to new school initiatives including: mentoring, attendance audit, and CLC programs

• Conduct back ground checks on volunteers • Research viable Professional Development for student and

teacher interaction

Action Steps

• Contact local businesses, religious organizations, and high education institutions to gain support for the new programs

• Research creative approaches to gain funds for events associated with mentor program

• Obtain volunteers from the faculty to assist in tutoring service

• Use school communication resources to educate families on new programs

Improving Test Scores

Fiscal Resources• Limited financial

contribution • Grant possibilities for

implementation • Volunteers for Tutoring

program • Aligns with fiscal problems

of the county

Time Resources• CLC is a five year

commitment to implement all stages

• After school activities conducted from 3:30-5:00 Monday-Thursday

• Each subject one day a week

• Transportation

Improving Test Scores

Human Resources• Faculty members must

become leaders in CLC • Volunteers for tutoring

service • Administrator to facilitate

after school activities

Material Resources • Classroom with modern

technology to help teachers increase understanding for students

• No Transportation issues

Improving Graduation Rates

Fiscal Resources• Advertisement for

community support in the mentor program

• Funding for events and fieldtrips

• Background Checks for community volunteers

Time Resources• Organization and

implementation of program • After school activities • Weekend activities

Improving Graduation Rates

Human Resources • Community Volunteers• Guidance Department• Parents and Guardians

Material Resources• Classrooms and Forums for

events and meetings • Calendar of Events • Newsletters and public

notices to communicate the importance of the program

Decreasing Discipline Issues

Fiscal Resources• Professional Development

for all staff • Understanding the financial

limitations of the school system

Time Resources• Research associated with

finding beneficial Professional Development

• Calendar Issues • Predetermined days for

professional in-service • Review of safety plan

Decreasing Discipline Issues

Human Resources• School Community • All stakeholders are

participates • Security Personnel

Material Resources• Electronic and Print versions

of the code of conduct • Public events • Upon request, visible, and

available

Increasing Attendance

Fiscal • The internal audit

represents no additional monetary contributions

• Small amounts of funding will be required for newsletters and local media outlets

Time Resources• Audit is lengthy process to

accumulate data• Patterns in attendance • Comparison to past

attendance data

Increasing Attendance

Human Resource• Improvement Team and

Attendance department • Data organization • Attendance department

providing data • Suggestions for

improvement from faculty, staff, and students.

• Adequate Support

Material Resource• Phone Messaging System • Accurate attendance

records • Newsletters and digital

copies of attendance policy to be distributed to community

Ensuring Community Involvement

• Educating the community on the new programs through word of mouth, local media, and public service announcements

• School events such as Open House, Sporting Events, and public meetings should be used to celebrate participants in the programs

• The students need successful mentors from the community

•Local business can be provided with add space for participating or contributing to the programs

Ensuring Community Involvement

• Availability of school community for discussion and suggestions

• Email and phone number contacts • Provide the community opportunities to guide

the programs • Sense of ownership and importance

Time Line

• Implementation of programs • Long term objectives • Positive benefits for the future • 5 Year Process • Attendance and Discipline• Increasing Test Scores and Graduation Rates

Evaluation Plans

Increasing Test Scores• Virginia Standard of

Learning Tests • Inactive Achievement Tests • Lexile Scores

Increase Graduation Rate• Student milestones • Continued Growth • Curriculum Guide • Questionnaire and

evaluations

Evaluation Plans

Decrease Discipline Issues• Use of documentation such

as referrals • Data presented to biweekly

meetings of improvement committee

• Summative evaluation at conclusion of the school year

Increasing Attendance • Formative assessments for

educators regarding student attendance during already established problem periods on the calendars

• Daily percentages of student attendance can be produced and analzye

• Summative data will be provided at the conclusion of the school year

Expected Outcomes

These new programs are expected to increase student achievement and subsequently improve test scores and graduation rates for all subgroups. Increasing the attendance rate will help ensure students are given adequate attention in order to perform well on state mandated tests. Decreasing discipline issues should also increase face time with educators and improve the ability of the teachers to effectively complete their obligations to the students. The improvement committee anticipates these programs will help secure full accreditation for Eastern View High School and remove it from the list of schools in need of improvement described under the No Child Left Behind legislation.

References• B.K., L., Ehren, B. J., & Deshler, D. D. (n.d.). The content literacy continuum: a

school reform framework for improving adolescent literacy for all students. Informally published manuscript, The University of Kansas, Retrieved from http://framewelder.com-cache.s3.amazonaws.com/extras/10/pattan_rtii/handouts/(5) Content Literacy Continuum.pdf

• Champion, A. B. (2009, May 17). Culpeper's latino population booms. Culpepr Star Exponent. Retrieved from http://www2.starexponent.com/news/2009/may/17/culpepers_latino_population_booms-ar-335966/

• Commonwealth of Virginia-compulsory attendance law. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.vbschools.com/students/conduct/compulsory_attendance_law.asp

• Culpeper county public school budget. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.culpeperschools.org/division_budget.php.

• Culpeper county public schools. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.culpeperschools.org/evhs.php

References• Culpeper county public schools. (2012). Retrieved from

http://www.culpeperschools.org/evhs.php • Erickson, L., McDonald, S., & Elder, G. (2009). Informal mentors and education:

Complementary or compensatory resources?. Sociology of Education, 82(4), 344-367. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.library.capella.edu/docview/216484135/abstract?accountid=27965

• Hallam, S., & Rodgers, L. (2008). Improving behavior and attendance at school. (p. 310). Buckingham, GBR: Open University Press. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com.library.capella.edu/lib/capella/docDetail.action?docID=10229876

• U.S census bureau. (2012, Janurary 31). Retrieved from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/51/51047.html

• U.S. Department of Education. Title I improving the academic achievement of the disadvantaged. (2012). Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg1.html

References

• Vdoe virginia department of education. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/ 2011.

• Virginia Department of Education School Report Card: Eastern View High School https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/reportcard/report.do?division=24&schoolName=6441

• Virginia Department of Education School Report Card: Culpeper County Schoolshttps://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/reportcard/report.do?division=24&schoolName=All