EPSS

Independent School District #2 (ISD2) is committed to providing high-quality educational opportunities, that meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the NM Content Standards and Benchmarks, to all students. To translate this commitment into a sustainable and meaningful strategic plan, students, parents, the staff, and the ISD#2 School Board members met at various times to discuss student performance and corresponding educational improvements. During these meetings, they revised the ISD2 Educational Plan for Student Success (EPSS). The revisions were designed to address student learning needs as demonstrated in the results of the SY 2006 – 2007 New Mexico Criterion Referenced Test (CRT).

ISD2 Strategic Planning

ISD2 consists of three schools, Datil Elementary School (DES), Quemado Elementary School (QES), Quemado High School (QHS). In 1995, these schools began developing their EPSS. A committee was formed. Community, student, and staff assessments and surveys were conducted. Initial focus areas were determined based on the information developed.

The committee revises the EPSS document regularly. Additional surveys are conducted annually. Regular student, staff, and community assessment is performed. Since the EPSS Committee consists of community members, staff, and students, the revision process consists of receiving direct input from a variety of stake holders. The results of these surveys, assessments, and discussions are made public through the school board, community, and EPSS meetings, and through electronic and print documents.

The Parent/Community Advisory Committee members (PCAC) have played a key role in the district decision making process. Members are selected from different parts of the district to

· review documents

· observe the teaching process

· make presentations to the local Board of Education.

The district continues its commitment to improving and offering students the best educational opportunities and learning environments possible. To ensure this, the district has completed detailed strategic plans in the Title I Program, the Student Assistance Team Process, and the School Safety Program. In essence, the goals of the local Title I Program are

1. To endeavor to have all students reading at or above grade level by the end of 6^th grade

2. To provide research based, quality programs to improve literacy in grades K – 6

3. To strengthen the partnership between home and school to improve student learning

4. To provide materials, curriculum, and teacher training necessary to ensure student learning

The goal of the Student Assistance Team is

Assist all students in succeeding within the regular educational setting with the standard curriculum and reduce unnecessary referrals to special education.

The goal of the School Safety Program is

Provide a safe learning environment to all students and emergency procedures.

ISD2 is committed to continuing the EPSS Process, the Title I Program, the Student Assistance Team Process, and the School Safety Program. In order to ensure that these are vibrant, living tools in our educational process, ISD2 will follow the Plan, Do, Study, Act model as described in the Baldridge Program. The district EPSS Committee is confident that through the cyclic evaluation and revision of the district EPSS, we can offer our students the best possible opportunities for success.

Goal 1	The percentage of students, who attend Independent School District #2, who score proficient or above in mathematics, will increase by at least 10%, based on results from the 2005 New Mexico Standard-Based Assessment (NMSBA), from 30% to 40%.
Strategy or Activity	The students will express mathematical thought in grade-level appropriate writing.
Person(s) Responsible	Students, teachers, administrators, school board, parents
Resources	Available	Local staff, school library, text books, local technologies (A+ LS, Math Type 4.0, etc., NCTM, NMCTM, Internet, ancillary services, peer tutors
	Needed	Inservice training, K - 12 writing rubrics
Implementation Timeline	Fall 05: Local staff will plan and deliver inservice training (completed Oct 05). Fall 05: Local staff will develop writing rubrics that will be used by all staff. Spring 06: The staff will review student writing in mathematics during an inservice day.
Evaluation Timeline	Spring 06: Inservice and writing rubrics will be completed. Spring 06: Staff will complete the review of student writing. Short-cycle assessment at the end of each quarter. Spring 06: Students will complete the CRT. Summer 06: Staff will review student performance on the CRT.
Professional Development	Local staff will plan and deliver inservice training. Local staff will research mathematics programs for ways to improve student writing.
Parent and Community Involvement	The staff will research and plan how to set up a Writing Fair modeled on Science Fair. HS student advisors will contact parents about student performance.
Evidence of Completion	The percentage of students who are proficient at mathematics will increase by 10%. Teachers will publish and implement the writing rubrics. Teachers will attend the Writing in Mathematics inservice programs.

Goal 1	The percentage of students, who attend Independent School District #2, who score proficient or above in mathematics, will increase by at least 10%, based on results from the 2005 New Mexico Standard-Based Assessment (NMSBA), from 30% to 40%.
Strategy or Activity	The students will practice grade-level mathematics skills daily.
Person(s) Responsible	Students, Teachers, Administrators, School Board, Parents
Resources	Available	Local staff, School library, Text books, Local technologies (A+ LS, Math Type 4.0, etc.), NCTM, NMCTM, Internet, Ancillary services
	Needed	None
Implementation Timeline	Teachers will immediately ensure that students practice mathematics skills daily. Fall 05: The HS math teacher will train all elementary teachers to use the A+ Learning System to deliver effective, standards-based mathematics instruction. Weekly: Administrators will review lesson plans weekly to ensure that meaningful mathematical activities are planned. Monthly: Administrators will observe teachers, during lesson delivery, to ensure that teachers are delivering effective mathematical instruction and exercises.
Evaluation Timeline	Fall 05: Teacher training in the use of the A+ LS will be complete. Short-cycle assessment at the end of each quarter Spring 06: Students will complete the CRT Summer 06: Staff will review student performance on the CRT.
Professional Development	The HS mathematics teacher will train all elementary teachers to use the A+ LS to deliver effective, standards-based mathematics instruction.
Parent and Community Involvement	HS student advisors will contact parents about student performance.
Evidence of Completion	The percentage of students who are proficient at mathematics will increase by 10%.

Goal 1	The percentage of students, who attend Independent School District #2, who score proficient or above in mathematics, will increase by at least 10%, based on results from the 2005 New Mexico Standards-Based Assessment (NMSBA), from 30% to 40%.
Strategy or Activity	The students will use current educational technology in the mathematics curriculum.
Person(s) Responsible	Students, Teachers, Administrators, School Board, Parents
Resources	Available	Local staff, School library, Text books, Local technologies (A+ LS, Math Type 4.0, etc.), NCTM, NMCTM, Internet
	Needed	Teacher training
Implementation Timeline	Fall 05: The HS math teacher will train all elementary teachers to use the A+ Learning System to deliver effective, standards-based mathematics instruction. Spring 06: The HS math teacher will show case various mathematics related software (e.g. equation editors, simulations, math games like Math Blaster.)
Evaluation Timeline	Fall 05: Teacher training in the use of the A+ LS will be complete. Short-cycle assessment at the end of each quarter Spring 06: Students will complete the CRT Summer 06: Staff will review student performance on the CRT.
Professional Development	The HS mathematics teacher will train all elementary teachers to use the A+ LS to deliver effective, standards-based mathematics instruction.
Parent and Community Involvement	HS student advisors will contact parents about student performance.
Evidence of Completion	The percentage of students who are proficient at mathematics will increase by 10%.

Goal 2	The percentage of students, who attend Independent School District #2, who score proficient or above in reading, will increase by at least 10%, based on results from the 2005 New Mexico Standards-Based Assessment (NMSBA), from 47% to 57%.
Strategy or Activity	Teachers will provide educational opportunities to students to help them develop reading strategies to improve comprehension.
Person(s) Responsible	Students, Teachers, Administrators, School Board, Parents
Resources	Available	Local staff, School library, Text books, Local technologies , Title I, Reading First, Harcourt, Internet, Ancillary services
	Needed	Volunteers, Additional staff, Training for staff and volunteers, Time for collaboration and joint planning
Implementation Timeline	Immediate
Evaluation Timeline	Spring 06: Students will complete the CRT Short-cycle assessment at the end of each quarter Summer 06: Staff will review student performance on the CRT.
Professional Development	Spring 06: Teachers will attend a workshop about writing and using rubrics.
Parent and Community Involvement	HS student advisors will contact parents about student performance. Parents ensure that K-6 students read nightly, and send a note to the teachers
Evidence of Completion	The percentage of students who are proficient at reading will increase by 10%.

Goal 2	The percentage of students, who attend Independent School District #2, who score proficient or above in reading, will increase by at least 10%, based on results from the 2005 New Mexico Standards-Based Assessment (NMSBA), from 47% to 57%.
Strategy or Activity	Teachers will provide educational opportunities to students to help them learn to summarize, orally and in writing, what they have read.
Person(s) Responsible	Students, Teachers, Administrators, School Board, Parents
Resources	Available	Local staff, School library, Text books, Local technologies, Title I, Reading First, Harcourt, Internet, Ancillary services
	Needed	Volunteers, Additional staff, Training for staff and volunteers, Time for collaboration and joint planning
Implementation Timeline	Immediate.
Evaluation Timeline	Spring 06: Students will complete the CRT Short-cycle assessment at the end of each quarter Summer 06: Staff will review student performance on the CRT.
Professional Development	Spring 06: Teachers will attend a workshop about writing and using rubrics.
Parent and Community Involvement	The staff will research and plan how to set up a Writing Fair modeled on Science Fair. HS student advisors will contact parents about student performance.
Evidence of Completion	The percentage of students who are proficient at reading will increase by 10%.

Goal 2	The percentage of students, who attend Independent School District #2, who score proficient or above in reading, will increase by at least 10%, based on results from the 2005 New Mexico Standards-Based Assessment (NMSBA), from 47% to 57%.
Strategy or Activity	Teachers will provide educational opportunities to students to help them develop grammar, structure, punctuation, and word usage skills.
Person(s) Responsible	Students, Teachers, Administrators, School Board, Parents
Resources	Available	Local staff, School library, Text books, Local technologies , Title I, Reading First, Harcourt, Internet, Ancillary services
	Needed	Volunteers, Additional staff, Training for staff and volunteers, Time for collaboration and joint planning
Implementation Timeline	Immediate
Evaluation Timeline	Spring 06: Students will complete the CRT Short-cycle assessment at the end of each quarter Summer 06: Staff will review student performance on the CRT.
Professional Development	Spring 06: Teachers will attend a workshop about writing and using rubrics.
Parent and Community Involvement	HS student advisors will contact parents about student performance.
Evidence of Completion	The percentage of students who are proficient at reading will increase by 10%.

During SY 2006 – 2007, staff attempted to use A+ Learning System resources for short-cycle assessment materials. The experiment failed. Major causes of the failure were the cumbersomeness of the system and the lengthiness of the assessments. Additionally, problems arose as teachers tried to access the resulting assessment data. Therefore, ISD#2 discontinued this experiment.

Subsequently, the administration and staff discussed what would constitute valid short-cycle assessment. They identified the following characteristics:

· Short-cycle assessment must be aligned to the New Mexico Standards and Benchmarks.

The administration will review progress toward the ISD2 goals at least semi-annually. The review will be based on local short-cycle assessment results and student performance on the CRT. The purposes of the review will be to

These reviews will be documented by the administration on each EPSS goal sheet. This documentation will be maintained in the administrative offices.

The District EPSS Committee will review progress toward the ISD2 goals at least annually during the 1^st quarter of each school year after CRT data are available. The review will be based on student performance on the CRT. The purpose of the review will be to revise the EPSS to ensure continued student improvement. These reviews will be documented in district EPSS document.