Full Description
Developing and updating school improvement plans is an annual ritual for virtually all school principals and their school improvement committees. Still, large numbers of schools continue to produce disappointing outcomes. The authors believe that part of the problem is the result of plans that focus on the wrong targets and that rely on ineffective strategies for improvement. To help principals and their school improvement committees develop and implement plans with a greater likelihood of success, the authors offer a step-by-step process for school improvement planning. They go on to pinpoint specific school improvement goals, including raising reading and mathematics achievement, building robust school cultures, addressing the needs of English language learners, improving instruction, and reducing absenteeism and dropouts. For each goal, a variety of objectives and proven strategies is presented along with sample school improvement plans. The book addresses the differences in planning to turn around a low-performing school, planning to sustain improvements over time, and planning to move a good school to a great school.
Contents
Introduction
Section I: Paving the Way to Better School Improvement Plans
Chapter 1: Seven Steps to Good Planning
Chapter 2: Finding Focus For School Improvement
Chapter 3: Planning and Implementation Problems
Section II: School Improvement Scenarios: Challenges, Planning, and Implementation
Chapter 4: Reading Improvement: Following an Icon: Raising Reading Achievement at Lincoln Elementary
Chapter 5: Math Improvement: Overcoming the Middle School Math Dilemma
Chapter 6: Improving Culture
Chapter 7: Improving Instruction
Chapter 8: Reaching English Language Learners: Ensuring Academic Achievement For All
Chapter 9: Addressing the Special Needs of At-Risk Students
Chapter 10: Improving Attendance
Section III: The Importance of Differentiated Planning
Chapter 11: Planning School Turnarounds
Chapter 12: Planning to Sustain Success
Chapter 13: Planning for Educational Excellence
