School Improvement Plan
What is a School Improvement Plan?
A School Improvement Plan (SIP) is a strategic blueprint that schools use to enhance student learning and improve educational practices. It outlines specific goals for improvement, actions to achieve those goals, and methods for measuring progress.
Key Points of a SIP:
- Goals: Clear objectives the school aims to achieve to enhance student outcomes.
- Actions: Steps and strategies the school will implement to reach its goals, based on research and effective practices.
- Monitoring: Regular review of progress with adjustments made to ensure the school stays on track toward its improvement objectives.
The purpose of a SIP is to provide a clear roadmap for schools to improve educational outcomes for all students, particularly focusing on eliminating disparities and ensuring equitable opportunities for every student.
Every school in Washington State is required to have a School Improvement Plan.
Monitoring and Adjusting:
A SIP is not set in stone. It's reviewed regularly, with progress monitored against the set goals and activities adjusted as needed to stay on track toward improvement.
Visit the Issaquah School District SIP website to learn more about SIPs.
District - School Improvement Plans
Achievement Goals
- Improve overall regular attendance from 82% in 21/22 school year to 85% in the 22/23 school year. Improve the overall percentage of classes attended from 88% in the 21/22 school year to 90% in the 22/23 school year.
- Increase the average pass rate of freshmen in core classes (Math, ELA, Social Studies, Biology) during Semester 2 from 84.3% in the 2021/22 school year to 88% by the end of the 2023/24 school year.
- Improve the math proficiency rate of students with disabilities on the 2022 state assessment (SBA) from 10.3% to a >20% proficiency rate in 2024.
- Improve the ELA proficiency rate of students with disabilities on the 2022 state assessment (SBA) from a 24.1% proficiency rate to a >30% proficiency rate in 2024.
Reflecting on Previous Year School Improvement Plan
- Why were the previous SIP plan goals discontinued and new focus areas chosen?
- What led to the increase in graduation rates, and why shift focus away from it?
- What are this year's strategies for student success and learning recovery?
- What will be the change in disproportionality focus?
- How were last year's interventions evaluated and what changes were made?
Why were the previous SIP plan goals discontinued and new focus areas chosen?
What led to the increase in graduation rates, and why shift focus away from it?
What are this year's strategies for student success and learning recovery?
What will be the change in disproportionality focus?
How were last year's interventions evaluated and what changes were made?
Backed by Data
Schools use multiple data sources to inform their planning. Progress toward school improvement in overall achievement and disproportionality is monitored using state and district measures using a common School Improvement Data Dashboard.
School-Based Action Plan
Action | Implementation | Impact: Evidence/Monitoring |
---|---|---|
AP’s implement attendance interventions/T3 meetings in December for 9th grade students Addresses Goal #1 |
Individual parent conferences were held in August, as well as in December. The December conferences were held in conjunction with our school’s family liaison. |
Academic and attendance metrics for those students. |
School-wide emphasis on relationships (Jedi Padawan Program)/Enhance Issaquah Scholars Program to go throughout the year/ Encourage creation of affinity groups or student unions/ Establishment of homeroom/flex committee Addresses Goal #1 |
Students with one or more F’s were identified after quarter 1 grade checks. Grad specialist sent names to each student’s homeroom teacher. Teachers were asked to serve as “Jedi’s” and check in often and build relationships with these students. Teachers wrote postcards that were mailed to students over break. This will happen again in May before finals. Flex/Homeroom committee created to determine how to better implement this coming year. |
Decrease in the number of total F’s from Quarter 1 to Semester 1. Flex committee recommendations for 2023/24. |
Dedicate building-directed staff time in the spring to strengthening Tier 1/UDL systems or developing more effective recovery opportunities Addresses Goal #1 and #2 |
August time and non-student days devoted to professional development and collaboration. In January, staff was asked to decide on a professional development focus for the remainder of the year: UDL or Continuing to refine learning recovery practices and alignment. |
Increase in course pass rates for all students. Common syllabus for like courses (if staff choose to focus on learning recovery/alignment). |
Share discrepancy in Semester 1 and 2 pass rates (Algebra 1) with math department and have them try to identify barriers and solutions Addresses Goal #2 |
Meeting held with math and special education department chairs to share this finding. Math team encouraged to discuss and examine root causes for that and potential changes to mitigate this discrepancy. |
Increase in the pass rate for Algebra 1 during Semester 2. |
Assign students failing math at Qtr. 1 to attend math support during flex time until grades are improved Addresses Goal #2 |
December- students failing Algebra 1 courses (not already in Special Education or a math lab) were assigned to flex time with their math teacher. |
Increase in pass rate for this group of students. |
Use anchor schedule/ co-teaching /and redesign Learning Strategies to increase inclusion Addresses Goal #3 and #4 |
Use this process to increase co-teaching (specifically math) and examine how to restructure Guided Studies to allow for SDI to occur at this time. |
Increase in our overall percentage of inclusion. |
Prioritize SBA and emphasize its importance. Dedicate time to include test questions in instruction and teach test-taking strategies in the 9th and 10th grade Addresses Goal #3 and #4 |
Sophomore teachers will be asked to have students take a practice test to familiarize themselves. Math and ELA teachers will be asked to integrate SBA questions into the curriculum to support learning. |
Increase in student performance on the SBA. |
SIP Team & Final Review
- Principal: Andrew Brownson
- Site Council/PTSA Review Date: December 13, 2022
- Supervisor Review: Andrea Zier
- School Board Review Date: March 15, 2023
Leadership Team:
- Erin Armstrong – Assistant Principal
- Loren Krogstad – Assistant Principal
- Danielle Zelinski – Assistant Principal
- Donna Abbey – Department Chair
- Wes Benjamin – Department Chair
- Amy Cooke – Department Chair
- Annie Cooper – Department Chair
- Kristi Hafferty – Department Chair
- Mike Hasenfluck – Department Chair
- Alisa Jeremica – Department Chair
- Robin Klym – Counselor
- Sherry Leake – Department Chair
- Henry Level – Department Chair
- Kori Malone – Department Chair
- Michelle Braillard – Activity Coordinator
- Sheryl Ostrander – Department Chair
- Erick Price – Department Chair
- Darren Tremblay – Department Chair