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PROGRAMS & SERVICES:
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

(Updated 1/17/12)

   
OVERVIEW
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The Integrated Support for Learning Divisions at the Department of Education provide support for supervisory union school improvement teams as they work toward continuous school improvement. ISL staff will help supervisory unions and schools ensure that the educational programs students receive provide the content, knowledge and skills to meet rigorous academic standards.

DOE School support coordinators emphasize best practice implementation and monitoring of implementation, high quality instruction, and high expectations for all students as well as continuous progress monitoring of student achievement goals.

Through the use of a continuous school improvement model the number of students meeting or exceeding the standard can be improved and gaps in performance between the various sub groups of students can be decreased.

   
LINKS TO CURRENTLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION
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Request for Proposals for Vermont Secondary Schools for the 21st Century: Innovative Practices
The grant will cover work focused development of sustainable models in two priority policy areas. The first policy area is in moving towards proficiency-based graduation decisions, and the second is in developing flexible pathways for all students. Grant funding is available as of August 1st, 2011 for the 2011-2012 school year.

   
 

A Guide for Increasing the Effectiveness of Professional Development in Schools and Districts
This guide is for superintendents, principals, staff developers, teachers and professional development providers-in short for anyone who has a stake in ensuring that professional learning has greater impact on improving practice and increasing student learning.

 
   
 

List of School Improvement Coordinators PDF
This is a list of assigned School Improvement Coordinators. Coordinators are assigned to Supervisory Unions or Districts.

   
 

Required Actions
These are the Commissioner's required actions for 2011 - 2012 for each level of AYP determination. The cover letter that went with these required actions as well as the Assurance form for schools in Year 1 Corrective Action can also be found here.

 
   
  Local Education Agency (LEA) Responsibilities and Requirements for Supplemental Educational Services (SES) PDF
This document provides a summary of the revised LEA responsibilities for SES and contains a link to the SES Non-Regulatory Guidance. The document includes sections on:
  • Identifying Eligible Students,
  • Maximum Per Pupil Amount,
  • Providing Information to Parents,
  • Arranging for SES,
  • Monitoring of SES Program, and
  • Funding for SES.
   
  Supplemental Educational Services Non-Regulatory Guidance (Revised 1/14/09) WORD
This January 14, 2009 guidance updates and expands upon the former supplemental educational services (SES) guidance released by U.S. Department of Education on June 13, 2005 and represents the current thinking on SES requirements. It is written in a question and answer format and includes a number of new and modified questions that address issues related to SES. Responses to other questions have been revised to make them clearer. NOTE: Clicking this link will open a Microsoft Word document on the U.S. Department of Education's Web site.
   
 

Guidance for VT LEAs with Schools in Year 1 School Improvement
This webinar was presented on April 28, 2011 and covered the requirements and timeline for schools in Year 1 School Improvement, the role of the LEA and provided guidance on the components of the plan LEAs will submit.

   
 

Guidance for VT LEAs with Schools in Restructuring
This webinar was conducted on March 16, 2011 and covered the definition of restructuring, the role of the LEA, described changes in the role the VT DOE will play for the restructuring school, and finally provided guidance on the components of the plan LEAs will submit.

   
  School Improvement Grant Resources
The School Improvement Grants (SIG) program is authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). The grants are given to states for the purpose of providing assistance for school improvement through grants for Local Education Agencies (LEAs), or districts. The state must “give priority to the LEAs with the lowest-achieving schools that demonstrate — (A) the greatest need for such funds; and (B) the strongest commitment to ensuring that such funds are used to provide adequate resources to enable the lowest-achieving schools to meet the goals under school and local educational improvement, corrective action, and restructuring plans under section 1116.”
   
 

Student Performance Data
The Vermont Department of Education collects and reports on a wide range of data related to public schools in the state. Categories of data currently available include: accountability data (state), assessment data (state and national), public school and district reports, school finance data reports and special education data.

Resources

   
 

School Coach Webinar - Professional Development to Support School Improvement
This webinar was conducted on October 13, 2011 and covered initial steps Vermont school improvement coaches are taking in their schools, recommendations and resources included in the Vermont guide, effectiveness of professional development at the school and district levels, options for an online community workspace, and offered suggestions for coaching evaluation criteria.

   
 

School Coach Webinar - Professional Development to Support School Improvement
This webinar was conducted on November 17, 2011 and presented work done by three Vermont school improvement coaches in their schools including work on the coaching standards.

   
 

School Coach Webinar - Professional Development to Support School Improvement
This webinar was conducted on December 12, 2011 and focused on a dilemma presented by one school coach.

   
 

Academy of Pacesetting Districts
On January 11 and 12, 2012 the Academy of Pacesetting Districts was held at Lake Morey Resort. This Academy was held to build the capacity of LEAs to support school improvement work. Participants included leadership teams from Addison Rutland Supervisory Union, Springfield School District and Windham Southeast Supervisory Union. Materials from this Academy shared below include PowerPoint presentations and materials.

Presentations:

Resources:

   
CONTACT INFORMATION
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  Ken Remsen, School Improvement Coordinator
(802) 828-5142 (P)
(802) 828-3146 (F)
ken.remsen@state.vt.us
   
   

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