Schoolwide Plan for 2011-12 Approved

Attached is the final review of the Schoolwide Plan for Mary D. Mitchell, Ann Arbor.  The plan now meets all requirements of a Schoolwide Plan.  Be sure to refer to the comments in the review when you start to work on your SIP for the 2012-13 year.

Congratulations!!!!! 

Beating The Odds Schools

During the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years, several schools in Michigan were identified as schools that "beat the odds."  The schools were identified using information from two separate studies:

The first study looked at schools performing above their predicted levels based on risk factors 

• Percent economically disadvantaged 

• Percent students with disabilities 

• Percent English language learners 

• Percent minority 

The second study looked at schools performing above a comparison group of the most 

demographically similar schools in the state.

In looking at the information provided on the Michigan "Beating The Odds" Schools Website, there are a few schools that look demographically similar to Mitchell School.  They show below.

The information is being shared in case it might help the Mitchell School Improvement Team identify additional strategies for improving Mitchell.

2010-11:  
Iris Becker Elementary School, Dearborn, Wayne RESA
Top to Bottom Percentile Ranking:  85

• Small city K-5/6 schools 

• SFA around $8,350 

• Enrollment around 425 

• Minority at 15% 

• ED around 84% 

• SWD around 8% 

• LEP around 53% 

Identified Success Factors

• Extremely high ELL population; majority of teachers have ESL endorsements 

• Literacy coaches and extensive special education and resource instructors. 

• Very highly qualified and engaged teachers. 

• Extended day program; partnership with U of M Dearborn; multiple instructional programs to meet the needs of students. 

• Heavy parental involvement; school provides computer literacy classes to parents who need them; supportive PTA who helps parents understand how to be involved 

• “Effective and inspirational leadership”

North Godwin Elementary School, Kent ISD
Top to Bottom Percentile Rankings:  79

•K-5/6 schools in small cities 

•Enrollment around 425

•SFA around $7,550 

•Minority around 68% 

•ED around 80% 

•SWD around 14% 

•LEP around 24% 

Identified Success Factors

• “Amazing collaborative culture;” constant communication between classroom and specialized teachers; PLC 

• Community school; full-time community coordinator to help with attendance and organize parent involvement. 

• Analyze data “continuously” 

• Sense of community in the school where the staff focus on the student AND their whole family. 

• “They do whatever it takes to make students successful” (district quote). 

• Strong, caring staff; very collaborative with each other; innovative and willing to try new things. 

• Exhibit the essence of research practitioners (ISD quote)

2009-10:  
North Godwin Elementary School, Kent ISD
Reading: 95% proficient on MEAP
Math:  97% proficient on MEAP

• K-5/6 schools in small cities

• SFA around $7,600 

• Enrollment around 425 

• Minority around 66% 

• ED around 82% 

• SWD around 14% 

• LEP around 20% 

Identified Success Factors

•Instruction is modified based on state and local data. 

•Focus on literacy and the common core state standards. 

•Collaboration with other schools and ISD for school improvement. 

•“Failure is not an option.” 

•High population of English language learners (ELLs), exceptional collaboration of general education and ELL teachers. 

•Set goals for individual students and get data on student performance. Data are shared with students and used daily! 

•Strong ELL program & a “Parents as Teachers”program to help their bilingual parents. 

•Instructional specialists and literacy coaches available to work with teachers regularly. 

•Response to Intervention (RTI) progress with support from Kent ISD. 

Audit Update

Hello Mitchell School Improvement Team :-)

I think I am emailing the right group of people and you are interested in being a part of our team this year.  If I am not correct, please forgive my error and let me know.

As I think you know, Mitchell School was audited this week by the Michigan Department of Education.  In particular the audit covered the use of Title 1 and Title 3 funds in the school which are targeted to students who are not achieving and students who are English Language Learners (ELL).

Below is my update to staff about the audits:

What did they find?  Some pretty good stuff, with a few suggestions and a couple "changes required" including:

Good stuff:

- 98% glowing things to say about the school and the work we've done/been doing to use data to make decisions about appropriate interventions

- They saw very appropriate relationship building with students in classes as they walked around

- They appreciated the perspective of parents and what they shared about their experiences at Mitchell

- They felt we (as a school) have embraced the achievement goals, are focused on teaming, are working to improve communication, and that we have a handle on compliance issues around Title 1 and Title 3.

Their recommendations (which are different than "changes required"):

- Collect agenda documents for any parent workshops

- Collect agenda documents when we talk about student achievement needs and interventions at staff meetings (especially if these conversations/discussions are led by Title 1 teachers)

Their notes about CHANGES REQUIRED:

- Make Title 1 entrance and exit requirements clear as written documents.

note:  While I believe this is clearly defined by our use of achievement data and our actions, it has not been written down and so cannot be referenced.  It is fixable.

This is the gist of what I expect in the written report . . . although I could have missed a few details.  All in all, I anticipate the written report to be reflective of A LOT of good teaching and good practice at Mitchell.

As we go down the road to improving achievement at Mitchell, I hope you feel the same optimism I do about the possibilities.  If you don't, I would hope you'd feel comfortable enough to talk it over with me and share your perspective.

Next steps (from my brainstorming so subject to change):

- Start school improvement process at Mitchell

- Revise Schoolwide Improvement Plan as needed through the use of our achievement data

- Connect our professional development and parent education work with the revised plan

- Encourage connections between the plan and the work of the Mitchell Scarlett TLC.

SIT members:  I'll be in touch soon to schedule our first face to face School Improvement Team meeting.

If you have questions, please send them my way :-)

Sincerely,

Kevin