The district’s mission and vision closely align with the components of the school improvement plan suggested by Tomal, Schilling, and Trybus (2013). The first and second elements of the plan are probably most related to the district’s vision and mission since they presuppose analyzing the available data and establishing the main factors along with setting the mission, vision, and values of the district. The vision involves the assessment and monitoring of students’ progress, so it is viable to say that there is the alignment with the improvement plan’s components.
Other plan areas that are closely associated with the vision and goals include creating the action plan and monitoring its implementation, sharing the responsibilities, and obtaining the approval of the education board (Tomal et al., 2013). With the help of such a plan, it will be possible to keep a constant control over how the district copes with the set goals and mission. By allocating duties to various stakeholders, it will become easier to obtain feedback and monitor the achievement.
The faculty are well aware of the mission and vision as the guiding principles of the school improvement plan. All crucial information has been presented to the faculty in the form of a brief report so that they could become acquainted with it and make any remarks if needed. As a result of the improvement plan, several change initiatives have been suggested. The first one is aimed at increasing students’ achievement in reading. The second initiative is focused on boosting students’ performance in math. Finally, there is also an initiative to eliminate the knowledge gap in the two mentioned subjects by enhancing the achievement of trailing subgroups.
Commenting on the Peer’s Topic
I find your topic rather important since I also believe that ELL students require additional support due to the numerous challenges they experience when studying. I agree with you that school improvement plans can promote the academic progress of such learners. When preparing the transition to higher education, it is crucial to make all possible efforts for the enhancement of students’ opportunities so that they could eliminate the language barrier.
Explaining My Topic
The needs assessment topic is the improvement of students’ performance in math and reading and the elimination of the gap between conventional and trailing subgroups. The topic is rather significant since the successful realization of the goals that have been set will promote better education outcomes in the district. The first dimension that can help to design specific needs assessment statements is student-centered learning.
This aspect presupposes suggesting support to learners that have problems with adhering to the expected standards. The second dimension is resources and instruction, and it involves creating a clear plan of actions. Such a plan has the potential to communicate goals with strategies, which promotes the correspondence with the expectations of the district board. The third dimension is the involvement of parents and the community since their support is vital for students. The fourth dimension is the organizational climate, and it presupposes the arrangement of a solid leadership process among educators.
Needs Assessment Statements
- It is crucial to evaluate at what level the current school action plan adheres to the requirements set by the district board.
- It is necessary to assess the level of involvement of the school teachers in the mission and vision of the district.
Reference
Tomal, D. R., Schilling, C. A., & Trybus, M. A. (2013). Leading school change: Maximizing resources for school improvement. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education.