ConVal' s Local Education Improvement Plan Introduction (pdf)
The ConVal School Board recently approved a comprehensive, long-term local education improvement plan. With its roots in the Education Forum held a number of years ago, this plan' s focus is on the students of the ConVal School District - their growth and development - in grades K through 12 and beyond. The plan details six major goals, each having several key indicators to be used in evaluating its success.
Our Local Education Improvement Plan (LEIP) reflects the extensive and thoughtful work done by members of the ConVal community through the Education Forum as well as recent work done by district staff and administrators. We believe the LEIP provides for a consistent, district-wide approach to improving student growth, yet allows for each school to maintain its individuality and its own culture. The LEIP reinforces our commitment to make the necessary investments into the educational product that benefits not just our students, but the entire ConVal community, as well. We believe the LEIP will be a valuable tool to maintain and further improve our reputation for excellence in the state of New Hampshire.
The LEIP is a long-term plan that will require patience, resources and support. It will continue to evolve over a five-year cycle with involvement from students, parents, staff, community members, board and administrators. We will revisit it several times each year, check on our progress and make any necessary adjustments.
After you' ve read the ConVal Local Education Improvement Plan, please contact your school board representative or local school administrator with any comments or questions you have about it.
Thank you for your continued support of the children of the ConVal School District.
Sincerely,
ConVal School Board
Local Education Improvement Plan (PDF)
The ConVal School District, in partnership with its member communities, will support and cultivate a quality school system that prepares students for a rapidly, radically changing future. A ConVal student' s education experience will:
- Balance traditional knowledge and skills with innovative, real-world applications
- Foster critical thinking and problem solving, both individual and collaborative
- Draw the school, family and community together to instill student responsibility, respect and citizenship
- Inspire the development of strong internal standards of quality
The ConVal School District believes:
- All students have the ability and right to learn
- Learning is both an individual and collaborative endeavor
- Parents, teachers and the community must set high expectations for student growth and learning
- All schools must provide a positive, safe, caring environment for teaching and learning
- Community service is an integral component of students' educational experience
- All schools must be committed to continuous, on-going improvement
- Self-discipline, curiosity, intrinsic motivation plus social and academic skills are necessary for life long learning
- Students must be prepared for the possibility of many different careers in our ever-changing technological society
- All schools are responsible for fairness and freedom from bias in their programs and practices
Goal #1
The ConVal School District will maintain high-quality learning environments
1. The School District will maintain safe physical schools and grounds.
Indicators:
- School facilities adhere to all local, state and federal requirements for physical plant and grounds
- Emergency management plan that is continuously reviewed and improved
- Universal Precautions plan that is continuously reviewed and improved
- Long range maintenance master plan
2. The School District will create a culture that promotes innovation, healthy relationships and success.
Indicators:
- Increased level of attendance for students and staff
- Reduced student disciplinary referrals
- Increased academic success
- Student initiated learning
3. The School District will provide support for the physical, social and academic needs of students and communities.
Indicators:
- Appropriate level of staffing for a school' s student population and size of physical facility
- Increased parent and community involvement with the schools
- Expanded options that involve students in alternative learning opportunities
- Expanded social curriculum that promotes positive social skills
- Appropriate resources that support individual, small and large group learning opportunities
- School and community programs that support positive physical education and life long recreational activities
4. The School District will provide students with opportunities to enrich and extend their learning.
Indicators:
- Availability of enrichment programs at each school
5. The school district will supply resources and support necessary for quality education.
Indicators:
- Appropriate school budgets
Goal # 2
The ConVal School District will establish curricula that reflect essential knowledge, skills and values necessary for students to be successful life-long learners.
1. The School District will maintain an up-dated, clearly articulated, relevant, balanced curriculum.
Indicators:
- Current curriculum documents for each curriculum area
- Curricular policies and documents reviewed on a five year cycle
- Curriculum that reflects local community needs
- Curriculum aligned with state and national standards
2. The School District will assess student progress towards curriculum goals.
Indicators:
- Annual report on student assessment data
- Assessment data that measures individual student progress
3. The School District will revise curriculum and professional practices based on data analysis.
Indicators:
- School action plans that address strengths and weaknesses in programming and practices as identified through assessments
- Staff members' professional development plans that address district goals, school goals and individual growth plans
4. The ConVal School District will include integrated critical thinking, technology,
collaborative and real-world problem solving skills in all curricular areas.
Indicators:
- Students and staff demonstrate technological competence as identified in the district technology plan
- Curriculum and instruction make direct connections between classroom learning and " real world" applications
- Graduates surveyed at 1, 3, and 5 year intervals after graduation
Goal #3
The ConVal School District will hire, train and retain a highly competent, caring, effective staff.
1. The School District will establish a fair, efficient process for hiring highly qualified staff.
Indicators:
- Administrators trained in current interviewing and hiring practices
- Clear, articulated, measurable job descriptions for all positions.
- Multiple recruitment methods utilized
2. The School District will support continuous professional development that improves teacher effectiveness and student learning.
Indicators:
- An approved staff development master plan that includes methods to measure the effectiveness of the plan
- An evaluation system that identifies best practices and supports each staff members attainment of district standards
- District mentoring programs that support new staff
- Readily accessible technology equipment and training for all staff
- Competitive, creative compensation packages for all district staff
- Opportunities for professional growth within the school district
- Recognition and appreciation of excellence
3. The ConVal School District will collaborate with businesses and institutions of higher education to promote teacher preparation and opportunities for professional growth
Indicators:
- Quality student teacher and practicum programs
- Participation in fellowship and sabbatical programs
- Appropriate staff externship programs with local companies
Goal #4
The ConVal School District will provide programs that meet the needs of all learners.
1. The school district will establish programs that provide all students with the skills necessary to enjoy full membership in the school community and the community at large.
Indicators:
- Programs to prepare students to enter school " ready to learn"
- Pre-K literacy program available
2. The school district will provide educational programs that set high expectations and provide learners with life long knowledge and skills.
Indicators:
At levels as provided in the district curriculum, students will:
- Demonstrate basic knowledge
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills
- Demonstrate problem solving skills (Analysis, synthesis and evaluation of information)
- Demonstrate communications skills
- Demonstrate interpersonal skills
- Demonstrate self discipline
- Demonstrate life long physical activity skills
3. The school district will collaborate with other organizations to meet the ever-changing educational needs of all students.
Indicators:
- Articulation agreements with other institutions
- Local post graduate education opportunities
- Mentoring programs
- Business internships
- Adult education opportunities
- Distance learning programs
4. The school district will provide programs that meet the ever-changing professional needs of all teachers and staff.
Indicators:
- Locally created professional development programs
- Aide certification program
- Staff development opportunities that enhance student learning
Goal #5
The ConVal School District will collaborate with families, businesses and community organizations to support the developmental, social, and academic needs of all students and the effective use of community resources.
1. The school district will work with community organizations and town governments to maximize the effective use of community resources.
Indicators:
- Joint purchases/contracts
- Parents and non-parents involved in school activities
- District web site links to town resources
- Service learning activities are focused on the greater community
- School district voting data shows broad community support
2. The school district will provide a variety of opportunities to advance communication necessary to improve student learning
Indicators:
- Clear, realistic goals for learning and high standards of behavior and academic work.
- Parents participate in identifying academic and personal goals for students
- Students build and implement personalized plans for success
- Students work in collaboration with peers, teachers, and community
- Parent meetings to establish 4 year high school education plan
- Parent curriculum nights
- Wider distribution of committee minutes
3. The school district will provide electronic communication necessary to engage and inform parents and community members of the districts' goals and accomplishments.
Indicators:
- Current web pages.
- Electronic newsletter for distribution.
- School/District web sites linked to community, state and regional sites
- Parents access to their student' s work electronically
- Assignments and student progress records available electronically
4. The school district will work with local companies to advance educational opportunities.
Indicators:
- Encourage local business to develop employment practices that will allow parents to participate in their child' s school activities without penalty.
- Written acknowledgement of local business support
- Community employee recognition programs
- Assist local companies in meeting their training needs
5. The school district will provide parents information to assist in helping their students be successful.
Indicators:
- Provide parents with course syllabus and expectations
- Provide guidelines for assisting students in school
- Provide updated Parent Handbooks
Goal #6
The ConVal School District will maintain an ongoing assessment system that measures individual student growth, the effectiveness of district programs and the level of community satisfaction.
1. The school district will utilize a variety of assessments to measure student growth.
Indicators:
- Curriculum-based assessment systems measure student academic growth.
- Consistent scoring, evaluation and reporting systems established
- Published assessment rubrics
- Electronic portfolios
- Senior Projects
2. The school district will assess the effectiveness of district program.
Indicators:
- Utilize New Hampshire Educational Improvement Assessment Program data
- Monitor student selection of programs
- New program proposals will contain an assessment component
- A realistic cycle and process for program review and revision
3. The school district will engage the community in determining and assessing district and school goals
Indicators:
- Survey of parents and community members will show levels of satisfaction
- Community feedback circles will show high levels of familiarity of programs and goals
- Community members serve on appropriate district and school based committees
