FAQ School Improvement Plan

Key:  SAC = school advisory council     SIP = school improvement plan     SI = school improvement

1. Does our school need a SIP?
2. What needs to be in a SIP?
3. Does the SIP need to contain performance indicators which are measurable?
4. How do we start writing a school improvement plan (SIP)?
5. Who approves of the SIP?
6. Can SAC vote to have a two-year SIP & do we vote on it again next year?
7. Where can I find new ideas or review on various educational strategies? 
8. What does the law say about waivers and local decision-making? 
9. How do I access my school's School Improvement Plan?
10. DOE Evaluating you School Improvement Plan technical assistance document
11. FAQ regarding School Improvement Funds
12. School Improvement Plan in simplified terms!
13. SIP Database - FL Education Improvement Plans Database - FL school's SIPs

Yes!  
Title IV  24.121 Allocation of revenues & expenditure of funds for public education.-- 
(5.d)  "No funds shall be released for any purpose from the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund to any school district in which one or more schools do not have an approved school improvement plan pursuant to s. 1001.42(16) or do not comply with school advisory council membership composition requirements pursuant to" s1001.452 (replacing 229.58(1)).

Back   

Title XLVIII - 1001.42
(16)(a) "Each plan shall also address issues relative to budget, training, instructional materials, technology, staffing, student support services, specific school safety and discipline strategies, and other matters of resource allocation, as determined by district school board policy, and shall be based on an analysis of student achievement and other school performance data." and....(General Appropriations Act) Section 1 - Education Enhancement "Lottery" Trust

Back   

You start by gathering data. Test scores, FCAT scores, grades, absentee records, discipline data, NCLB SPAR (No Child Left Behind AYP Report) School Advisory Reports, SPAR reports (see definitions web page for the meaning of these terms) are all examples of data you may include and you may use other forms of data. This is a school based decision that your SAC may decide upon. The SAC comes up with a needs assessment. Once a needs assessment is made, direction on how to address those needs is your school improvement plan. Reports: http://www.firn.edu/doe/evaluation/home0018.htm

Back   

You start by gathering data. Test scores, FCAT scores, grades, absentee records, discipline data, School Advisory Reports, SPAR reports (see definitions web page for the meaning of these terms) are all examples of data you may include and you may use other forms of data. This is a school based decision that your SAC may decide upon. The SAC comes up with a needs assessment. Once a needs assessment is made, direction on how to address those needs is your school improvement plan.

Back 

1001.452 (replacing 229.58) Title XLVIII District And School Advisory Councils.-
(1)(a) "The school advisory council shall be the sole body responsible for final decisionmaking at the school relating to implementation of the provisions of ss. 1001.42(16) and 1008.345.

1001.42 (16)(b) "Approval process.--Develop a process for approval of a school improvement plan presented by an individual school and its advisory council.."

Back 

1001.42 (16)(a) requires school boards to  "Annually approve and require implementation of a new, amended, or continuation school improvement plan for each school in the district,..."

"Because student performance and budgets change annually, your board may approve continuation plans in June and expect amended plans by August, September, or some other fixed date to ensure that the school always has an active plan in place that moves students forward. Some districts have five-year plans or three-year plans with annual "updates". Long range planning certainly makes sense to me personally when we are talking about student performance; and using the most current data would mean that some activities might need modification on an annual (or sooner) basis. Check your local policies for exact directions on this." ---Andrea Willett, DOE, Office of School Improvement

Back 

1001.42  Powers and Duties of the School Board: 
(17.a.) "Adopt policies that clearly encourage and enhance maximum decisionmaking appropriate to the school site. Such policies must include guidelines for schools in the adoption and purchase of district and school site instructional materials and technology, staff training, school advisory council member training, student support services, budgeting, and the allocation of staff resources."
(17b.)  "Adopt waiver process policies to enable all schools to exercise maximum flexibility and notify advisory councils of processes to waive school district and state policies."