1.1 School Improvement

1. School improvement planning is a process through which schools set goals for improvement, and make decisions about how and when these goals will be achieved.
2. The ultimate objective of the process is to improve student achievement levels

1.2 What is a school improvement plan?

1. A school improvement plan is a road map that sets out the changes a school needs to make to improve the level of student achievement and shows how and when these changes will be made.
2. School improvement plans help principals, teachers, and school councils answer the questions “What will we focus on now?” and “What will we leave until later?”

1.3 What Areas Should Be Considered for Improvement?

1. The overall objective of school improvement planning is an enhanced level of student achievement.
2. Student performance improves when
   1. teachers use curriculum-delivery strategies that specifically address the needs of their students,
   2. when the school environment is positive, and
   3. when parents are involved in their children’s education.
3. In planning improvements, therefore, schools should establish one priority in each of these three areas—
   1. curriculum delivery,
   2. school environment, and
   3. parental involvement.
4. In effect, the planning process involves answering the important questions: “What will we focus on now?” and “What will we leave until later?”

A: Curriculum delivery

1. The curriculum is the foundation of the education system.
2. The Ministry of Education has published curriculum policy documents that set out expectations for student learning in each grade and subject area.
3. The expectations describe the knowledge and skills that students are expected to develop and to demonstrate in their classwork, on tests, and in various other activities on which their achievement is assessed.
4. Achievement charts (“rubrics”) that help teachers assess the level of each student’s achievement in relation to the expectations.

B: School environment

1. Effective schools share a set of characteristics that add up to an environment that fosters student achievement.
2. By setting goals to improve a school’s environment, principals, teachers, school councils, parents, and other community members can make their schools more effective places in which to learn.

1. Highly effective schools share the following characteristics:

1. a clear and focused vision
2. a safe and orderly environment
3. a climate of high expectations for student success
4. a focus on high levels of student achievement that emphasizes activities related to learning
5. a principal who provides instructional leadership
6. frequent monitoring of student progress
7. Strong home-school relations.

C: Parental involvement

1. Research tells us that parental involvement is one of the most significant factors contributing to a child’s success in school.
2. When parents are involved in their children’s education, the level of student achievement increases.
3. Students attend school more regularly, complete more homework in a consistent manner, and demonstrate more positive attitudes towards school. They also are more likely to complete high school.
4. Parental involvement helps a child succeed in school and later in life.
5. To ensure parents are informed about and involved in their children’s education, schools must foster partnerships with parents.
6. Parental involvement is one of the most significant factors in a child’s success,
7. It is crucial that all schools set a goal in their improvement plans for increasing it.