FIVE-YEAR IMPROVEMENT PLAN
2007-2012
Chester County Board Of Education
Five-year Improvement Plan
2007-2012
To insure that all
Chester County Schools are among the best
in the State and Nation.
Vision:
To provide a positive
school environment with challenging programs that will equip all students with
the necessary skills to successfully compete in a challenging and complex
world.
Beliefs:
1. Continuous improvement in planning, delivery, and evaluation of all services is expected.
2.
Teachers who are excited about their job
are dedicated to providing the best possible education for students.
3.
Students are expected accept responsibility
for their behavior and academic progress.
4.
Students are expected to become creative
thinkers.
5.
Students are expected to become problem
solvers.
6.
Students’ participation in extra curricular
activities enhances the overall learning experience.
7.
Citizenship skills are essential in a
democracy.
8.
Adequate training is essential for students
entering the workforce.
9.
The opportunity to progress academically, to
his or her fullest potential, is the right of every student.
10.
Regular attendance is a vital component for
every student’s success.
11.
It is important to graduate each student.
12.
Students deserve a safe and healthy
learning environment.
13.
Technology skills are essential for
tomorrow’s workforce.
14.
Teaching and learning are enhanced in a
clean, well-maintained building.
The Chester County Board
of Education has established goals for improvement during the next five years
(2007-2012). The Board expects the
entire school system to make notable annual progress toward the accomplishment
of the following goals:
Goal I. Recruit, Retain, and Develop Competent Personnel.
Objective I
Chester County
professional and nonprofessional personnel will meet all state and licensure
requirements.
S-1 Conduct joint interviews with the
Superintendent and Principals and verify the qualifications of prospective
professional personnel.
S-2 Solicit assistance from colleges and
universities in seeking qualified applicants.
S-3 Solicit
input from cooperating teachers as to the skills/abilities of prospective
teachers who have served as student teachers in the system.
S-4 Attend university job fairs in order to
attract job applicants.
S-5 Advertise job openings and vacancies
throughout the system and in local media.
S-6 Meet the Highly Qualified definition of
NCLB with all newly hired teachers and paraprofessionals.
S-7 Recruit minority teachers.
Objective 2
The Board will provide
ongoing training opportunities for all personnel.
S-1 Conduct orientation sessions for all new
employees annually.
S-2 All personnel will be provided an employee
handbook.
S-3 Conduct in-service training and staff
development for all personnel based on analysis of data and school improvement
planning.
S-4 Evaluate all personnel annually.
S-5 Establish a partnership with local
postsecondary institutions to provide training in areas directly related to
improvement of student performance.
S-6 Provide an instructional coach to train and
assist all new and non-tenured teachers.
Objective 3
The Board will provide
incentives for retaining personnel who meet expectations.
S-1 Continue to upgrade salaries and benefits.
S-2 Provide release time for personnel to
participate in workshops, conferences, etc.
S-3 Provide recognition for outstanding
performance in the form of letters of commendation, certificates, and awards.
S-4 Provide a forum for faculty input through
the Faculty Advisory Committee in each school.
S-5 Provide a pay scale for paraprofessionals
based on their level of education.
Goal II. Improve Student Academic Progress.
All primary and middle grades students will achieve world-class standards and enter the next level ready for rigorous study.
S-3
Provide research-based intervention for students who have difficulty meeting
the standards.
All high school students will achieve world-class standards and leave school prepared for postsecondary education, work, and citizenship.
S-1 Implement Tennessee curriculum standards in
the core courses.
S-2 Increase opportunities for students to
enroll in dual enrollment with higher education and tech prep programs, online
courses, and advanced placement courses.
S-3 Provide research based intervention to
ensure that all students succeed in all subject areas and on gateway
examinations in mathematics, science, and English language arts.
All students will meet or exceed the Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) targets established by the department of education for each subgroup.
S-1 Review assessment data to determine areas
to strengthen.
S-2 Use partnerships with business, industry,
postsecondary, and the community to help teachers and students connect
knowledge with application.
S-4
Provide training on strategies for teaching diverse learners.
S-6
Provide transportation to students in the lower grades to
extended day programs.
Objective
4
The
administration, teachers and staff will establish and evaluate programs for
students based on sound data.
S-1 Administer surveys to determine student
interests.
S-2 Provide opportunities for parent/community
input through surveys and meetings.
S-3 Use student data as the basis for
adding/deleting programs.
S-4 Implement programs that address student
needs.
S-5 Evaluate and upgrade programs.
Goal III. Improve Student Attitude and Behavior.
All students will be made aware of and demonstrate appropriate behavior as evidenced by a reduction in discipline referrals.
S-1
Maintain updated student handbooks.
S-2
Provide orientation to each student at the beginning of each school year.
S-3
Provide incentives to reward appropriate behavior.
S-4
Develop a behavioral plan for those students who do not demonstrate appropriate
behavior.
S-5
Provide training to teachers and staff on implementing
research-based strategies for improving student’s behavior, attitude, and
motivation.
S-6
Provide additional counseling/mentoring for targeted students.
Students will become active participants in
setting realistic and suitable goals for lifelong learning.
S-1
Provide activities for career awareness and exploration.
S-2
Assist students in setting realistic academic goals in grades
K-8.
S-3
Assist students in developing and implementing 6-year
plans. Review plans annually.
S-4
Provide an opportunity for student participation in a diverse array of
extracurricular activities that include academics, sports, clubs, and school
and community service.
Goal IV. Meet the State Requirements for Attendance,
Promotion, and Graduation.
Objective 1
The attendance rate will
be at least 95% in grades K-6 and 93% in grades 7-12 each year.
S-1 Provide certificates for perfect attendance
each year.
S-2 Provide semester exam exemptions for
students based on attendance.
Objective 2
The promotion rate will
be at least 97%.
S-1 Communicate student progress to parents.
S-2 Provide extended day programs and summer
school.
S-3 Provide parent-involvement programs
The graduation rate will be at least 90%.
S-1 Provide counseling through the guidance
department and other available resources.
S-2 Provide extended day programs, summer school
remediation, and remediation time during the school day.
Ø Freshman
Academy
Ø Credit
Recovery
Ø Thursday
School
Ø Peer
Tutoring
Goal V. Provide
Technology to Enhance Student Learning.
Objective 1
The teachers and staff
will integrate technology in the classroom to enhance student learning.
S-1 Provide each student and teacher access to
current instructional technology.
S-2 Provide students and teachers with Internet
access that will allow for learning opportunities outside the classroom.
S-3 Integrate technology with the curriculum.
S-4 Provide student access to the computer labs
before and after school.
The administration will
provide instructional technology training for teachers and administrators.
S-1 Use the system-wide tech team to provide
training.
S-2 Send teachers to technology conferences and
workshops.
Objective 3
The administration will
require teachers to use technology in instruction and system communication.
S-1 Include a technology component in teacher
evaluations.
S-2 Use e-mail as one method of communicating
with system-wide personnel.
S-3 Use electronic transfer to send reports,
documents, and surveys.
Goal VI. Provide a Safe and Healthy Environment.
Objective 1
The administration will
coordinate efforts to ensure that all students are educated in an environment
that is safe, drug free and conducive to learning.
S-1 Continue the Safe and Drug Free counseling
program.
S-2 Provide assemblies, counseling, and
mentoring activities for groups and individuals that promote safe and drug free
schools.
S-3 Train teachers and students to use conflict
resolution and anger management strategies.
S-4 Review, revise and practice the school
safety plan on a regular basis.
S-6
Institute calling system, Global
Connect, to communicate with parents, staff and students in emergency
situations.
S-7
Provide alternative education programs for students with
chronic discipline problems and violent offenses.
S-8
Provide a school safety director to coordinate and communicate safety
issues/plans with staff, students, parents, and community.
Objective 2
The administration will
improve access for all students and staff to school health services.
S-1 Implement procedures for health care and
medications in all schools supervised by the school nurse.
S-2 Implement infectious disease plan.
S-3 Offer hepatitis B and influenza vaccines
to staff.
S-4 Provide training and updates to staff on
health related issues.
S-5 Implement and follow guidelines on
nutrition and physical activity established by the Coordinated School Health
Council.
S-6 Provide a school health coordinator.
Goal VII. Facilities
will be Upgraded and Maintained.
Objective l
The administration will
develop a comprehensive maintenance program.
S-1 Provide adequate maintenance personnel and
funds.
S-2 Attend to maintenance requests promptly.
S-3 Establish a preventive maintenance program.
Objective 2
The administration will
develop a plan that will provide for a clean and safe school environment.
S-1 Provide adequate janitorial staff and
cleaning supplies for each school.
S-2 Assist the janitors in keeping the
buildings and grounds free of litter.
S-4 Update and practice school
safety plans annually.
The administration will provide facilities that meet
the needs of students.
S-1
Collect input on needs and upgrades from various sources.
S-2
Evaluate facilities on an ongoing basis.
S-3
Provide funds for upgrades as needed.
Goal VIII. Promote Parent and Community Involvement in
Education Programs.
Objective
The administration will establish an information network.
S-1 Send information to parents by the
students.
S-2 Publish school news in the local paper.
S-3 Use mass communication system via phone
line, Global Connect, to provide
information that warrants immediate dissemination.
S-4 Use local radio and cable TV for school
announcements.
S-5 Disseminate information through parent
involvement programs, PTO, and parent-teacher conferences.
S-6 Conduct open forums for collecting parent
and community input on various issues.
S-7 Establish partnerships between schools and
business/industry.
S-8 Conduct parent/community surveys to assist
with the planning and implementation of educational programs.
S-9 Inform the public that the system wide
website is a source for communication and information. http://chestercountyschools.org
S-10 Encourage stakeholders to participate on
advisory boards, committees, and various other areas of school improvement
planning.