Question

Hastings Elementary School (HESH E S) is a K–5 K through 5school with 700 students. The school leader has been asked by the district superintendent to analyze the school’s most recent state-mandated assessment results to develop goals for school improvement. The school leader analyzes the assessment results for grades three through five, comparing the results with the state’s proficiency goals for all students and all student groups, to identify areas in need of improvement. State Proficiency Goals for All Students and All Student Groups Percent Proficient and Above Grade Reading Mathematics Third 65 70 Fourth 65 70 Fifth 65 70 District Vision Our vision is to ensure that all students receive an exemplary educational experience that will allow them to be competitive and productive citizens. School Goal Hastings Elementary School will meet or exceed state proficiency levels for all test grade levels. Hastings Elementary School State-Mandated Assessment Results Percent Proficient and Above All Students Special Education Students English Learners Grade Reading Mathematics Reading Mathematics Reading Mathematics Third 64 70 65 70 50 65 Fourth 70 75 60 60 55 70 Fifth 75 80 65 65 65 70 Mathematics/Reading Faculty Survey Statements Agree Disagree 1. The school’s vision and goal development process provides effective guidance for school improvement. 46% 54% 2. The school’s vision and goal monitoring process provides effective guidance and motivation for me. 55% 45% 3. I am meeting the needs of all students in my classroom. 50% 50% 4. I have sufficient resources to meet the needs of my students. 70% 30% 5. Professional development has met my educational needs. 52% 48% 6. My grade-level team meetings help improve my teaching. 75% 25% 7. My grade-level team regularly reviews mathematics and reading formative assessment results to determine trends in student misconceptions and adjust instruction. 44% 56% 8. I would benefit from additional support for improvement. 65% 35% Open-ended comments made by five or more teachers. Students receiving special education services through inclusion are sometimes struggling—not sure what to do to help them. I love using team meetings to take care of logistics, share best practices, and create common lesson plans. I struggle with the language barriers when working with my EL E Lstudents, and I’m not sure how to determine what they need next. The school leaders provide goals and choose professional development (PDP D), but sometimes I wonder why these are our goals and where the ideas for PD P Dcame from. Question Citing the data, identify and justify THREE specific goals for school improvement that the school leader should establish. For EACH goal, describe a strategy the school leader should implement and explain how the strategy will help the school leader accomplish the goal.

Answer 1

Teachers are the backbone of a school system.

Interpreting the data of survey some things are clear. They are:

1. There is no lack of resources.

2. Most teachers seek additional support.

3. The grade level meetings help.

4. More than half seek help in interpreting results and adjusting instruction.

5. There’s help needed with special children and language barriers.

6. Some degree of transparency with regard to school improvement because there seems to be less guidance there.

The English skills are largely on par with the State’s expectations. The school falls short in Math. Therefore the strategy has to focus on Math, supporting teachers to develop professionally specifically to improve instruction, work on language barriers.

Suggested plan of action.

Focus area	GOAL	STRATEGY	HOW IT WILL WORK
MATH INSTRUCTION	To enhance math instruction especially for teachers of grade 3	Take time bound measures Look into assessments and see if they match the instruction Share best practices of better performing teachers	1. A weekly feedback of the teachers’ performance will help her work upon her weak areas. 2. The assessments may not be appropriate to the instruction. Use other schools’ assessment to crosscheck the effectivity of instructions. 3. Teachers have sought guidance. Enrolling them for math specific instructional courses would help them innovate and perform better.

OVERCOMING LANGUAGE BARRIERS

To help teachers communicate well with all students

Hire interpreters for a brief period

With the help of interpreters teachers should be able to cross the hurdle of language

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

To implement programs for all the teachers of the school for their professional development

Identify specific areas that will affect all teachers

Teachers’ overall confidence will certainly improve