Benchmark Planning:A New Way to Create

School Improvement Plans

KAAC October 2006

Dena Dossett, Ken Draut, Tamara LewisJefferson County Schools

Planning Activity

• Find a Partner

• Discuss

• What do I know about planning?• What work have I done in planning?• What would I like to learn about

planning?

Agenda

• Planning Overview

• SMART Goals

• Benchmarking• New Plan Format

• Web-Based Application

• Opportunities to Use Application

Planning Philosophy• Planning can be:

• A Globe

• An Atlas

• A Roadmap•A To-Do List for the School

S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Find a Partner• Write down what you think SMART stands for:

• S =

• M =

• A =

• R =

• T=

SMART Goals

• Specific and Strategic• Measurable• Attainable• Results-oriented• Timebound

Reference: Conzemius, A., O’Neill, J. (2001) Building

Shared Responsibility for Student Learning, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Alexandria: VA

SMART Goals

• Specific and Strategic• Think through the entire goal – who, what,

where, when, which, why – focus on priorities

• Measurable• Concrete criteria for measuring progress

• Attainable• Focus on most important

• Results-oriented• Set realistic goals based on trends

• Timebound• Set specific timelines for attaining goal.

SMART Goals• Goals should specify improvement targets by defining

the performance level (“end-result”) you would like to accomplish.

• In developing goals, you should think about the specific benchmarks you would look for as evidence of progress

• You should have in mind the specific tools or measures that you will use to monitor progress on each goal

SMART Goal: By when, who will do what as measured by what

SMART Goal Example: By June 2007, student attendance will increase to 94.7 as

reported in JCPS pupil monthly attendance report

SMART Goals

• By May 2007, our school’s Math Index will increase by 16.40 for a total Math Index of 79.51 as measured on the Kentucky Core Content Test.

• By 2007, the percentage of students scoring proficient or distinguished will increase to the total percentage of 32.14 scoring proficient or distinguished in Math as measured on the Kentucky Core Content Test.

SMART Goals

• By March 2007, decrease the number of African American males scoring novice to 25% and raise the African American males scoring above proficient to 30% as measured by math learning checks

* Adapted from KDE Instructional Support Network News.

Sample School CATS Scores

• Reading 2006• Index 75.0• Proficient/Distinguished 51%• Novice 21%• FRL Novice 36%• FRL Proficient 32%

Activity 1: Develop SMART goal

1. Review the Data from Sample School2. Identify the target group (Who)

• Choose Novice or FRL Novice for your group

3. Identify the attainable performance level (target) you would like to accomplish. (Calculation: Distance from 100 or 0; divide by 4; add to 2006 score) (What)

4. Identify timelines for measuring progress and attaining the target (When)

5. Write goal as a SMART goal

Things to Keep in Mind: Do’s and Don’ts for SMART Goals

Establishing Goals• Do begin by reviewing current data

trends before establishing goals• Do let your goal drive your activities.• Do ensure that all goals can be quantified

and have a date and a measure associated with them

• Do think through the number stated in the goal. Is it a realistic number? Does it follow the trend data?

• Is your goal a SMART goal?

Benchmarking

Definitions• A method to determine student

achievement throughout the year

• A method to take the pulse of student achievement throughout the year.

• A system of Learning Checks that occur throughout the year.

• A system of Continuous assessments that measure learning throughout the year.

Summative Assessments• How much a student has learned at the

end of course, semester, or unit.

• Assessments of Learning• Certify Performance• Sort Students

• Examples:• CATS ACT SAT Final Exams• Unit Exams Projects

Assessment Overview

Benchmarking

Formative Assessments• How much a student has learned at

different points within the learning unit.

• Assessments for Learning• Helps focus student on a target• Helps teachers adjust instruction

• Examples:• Quiz Homework Observations• Checklists Student Work• Mini-CATS like tests Multiple Choice Checks• Learning Checks

Benchmarking

CATS Like Example

• Learning Check Assessment• Given in middle of unit• Focuses on taught curriculum

• Format:

• 10 Multiple Choice• 8 Multiple Choice and 2 Open Response• 2 Open Response Questions

Goal Focus Possible Benchmarks

Content Index (i.e. Reading, Math)

School developed scrimmage testsClassroom Assessment System (CAS & Spreadsheet)MAP /

% Novice or % Proficient/Distinguished

Classroom Assessment System Predictive Assessment Series (PAS)MAP / Classroom Middle of Unit checks/ End of Unit

% Proficient/Distinguished for Subgroups

Classroom Assessment System (CAS & Spreadsheet)Predictive Assessment Series (PAS)MAP Classroom Middle of Unit checks/ End of Unit

Attendance Monthly pupil attendance report

Parent Involvement Parent-teacher conferencesPTA membership Parent visits (school sign-in sheets)

Suspensions Monthly suspension report

Benchmarking Activity

• Form a small group of 3 or 4 or 5• Round Robin and share with the

group the Benchmarking assessments you use in your school/district.

• What data does the benchmark provide? (i.e. Novice levels, Index scores, percentiles, etc.)

New Plan Format

• Priority Need• Goal• Benchmarks for Year

• Measure and Date• Projected Data and Actual Data

• Strategy Area• Activity, Responsible Person, Dates• Funding• I & I (Built in for ongoing use)

New Plan Format

• What’s Not In Printed Plan

• Causes/Contributing Factor (moved to worksheet tool)

• Measurable Objectives/Goals streamlined to a SMART Goal

New Plan Format

Web-Based Application

• Change the content and format of the CSIP in order to make the plan:• Simple• Useful

• make it a “working” document from which schools can measure progress towards goals through benchmarks-make it a To-Do List

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Web-based Application Tools

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Sample School Plan – Main Goal

Sample School Plan – Subgroup Goal

Web-based Application Highlights

• Common, easy to use format for multiple

users.

• Allows for easy and continual updating• CSIP can become a To-Do List for School• I & I built in for continual monitoring/reporting

• Benchmarking becomes expectation

• Can create unique sorts or queries• Printouts by funding, responsible person

Web-based Application Tools

Comprehensive School Planning Tools:Revised or New Information CSIP Fact Sheet CSIP Web Application V2.0 Training Manual Goal calculator - fall planning cycle (JCPS) Goal calculator - spring planning cycle (JCPS)

Other Information:Blank CSIP template (JCPS) Causes and Contributing Factors worksheet (JCPS - optional)CSIP Review Rubric - JCPS Elementary Schools CSIP Review Rubric - JCPS Middle and High Schools

CSIP/SISI Connections Matrix (KDE) Mission Statement worksheet (KDE) School Plan Guide 2006 (KDE) School and District In Improvement Under NCLB Guidelines (KDE) State and Federal Planning Requirements (SB168 and NCLB)

KAAC Tools - CAS Spreadsheet for El/MS/HS and PowerPoint from KAAC Conference – Benchmark Planning: A New Way to Create School Improvement Plans

http://www.jefferson.k12.ky.us/Departments/Planning/SchoolPlanningSite/PlanningTools.html

Planning Tools – Word Template

Planning Tools – Goal Generator

Web-based Application Sample Sorts

Opportunities to Use Application

• Web-Application will be offered for use by Kentucky Schools

• Step 1 – Pilot Program – Fall 2006• 20 schools• No Cost

• Step 2 – Full Use – Spring 2007• Fee Structure per school

Opportunities to Use Application

• Pilot Program and Full Use Interest – Fill out attached form and turn in during meeting or email information to Ken Draut, Jefferson County Schools.

Contact Information

Please feel free to contact Ken Draut

work phone (502) 485-6254 e-mail ken.draut@jefferson.kyschools.us

with any questions or feedback.