Chester County Board Of Education

Five-year Improvement Plan

2003-2008

Mission Statement

To insure that all Chester County Schools are among the best in the State and Nation.

 Vision: 

To provide a positive school environment with challenging programs that will equip all students with the necessary skills to successfully compete in a challenging and complex world. 

 Beliefs:

1.  Continuous improvement in planning, delivery, and evaluation of all services is expected

2.  Teachers should be excited about their job and dedicated to providing the best possible education for students.

3.  Students should accept responsibility for their behavior and academic progress.

4.  Students should become creative thinkers.

5.  Students should become problem solvers.

6.  Students should participate in extra curricular activities.

7.  Students should learn and develop citizenship.

8.  Students should receive training for entry into the workforce.

9.  Every student should have the opportunity to progress academically to his or her fullest potential.

10.  Students should be in regular attendance.

11.  It is important to graduate each student.

12.  Students need a safe and healthy learning environment.

13.  Technology skills are essential for tomorrow’s workforce.

14.  Teaching and learning are enhanced in a clean, well-maintained building.

 The Chester County Board of Education has established goals for improvement during the next five years (2003-2008).  The Board expects the entire school system to make notable annual progress toward the accomplishment of the following goals:

 Goal I. Recruit, Retain, and Develop Competent Personnel.

Objective I

Chester County professional and nonprofessional personnel will meet all state and licensure requirements.

 S-1 Conduct joint interviews with the Superintendent and Principals and verify the qualifications of prospective professional personnel.

 S-2 Solicit assistance from colleges and universities in seeking qualified applicants.

 S-3 Attend university job fairs in order to attract job applicants.

 S-4 Advertise job openings and vacancies throughout the system and in local media.

 S-5 Meet the Highly Qualified definition of NCLB with all new hires. Existing teachers and paraprofessionals hired prior to 2002-2003 will meet the Highly Qualified definition by the end of 2005-2006.

 S-6 Recruit minority teachers.

 Objective 2

The Board will provide ongoing training opportunities for all personnel.

 S-1 Conduct orientation sessions for all new employees annually.

 S-2 Develop and Distribute a Handbook to all personnel by August 1, 2004.

 S-3 Conduct in-service training and staff development for all personnel based on analysis of data and school improvement planning.     

 S-4 Evaluate all personnel annually.

 S-5 Establish a partnership with local postsecondary institutions to provide training in areas directly related to improvement of student performance.

 Objective 3

The Board will provide incentives for retaining personnel who meet expectations.

 S-1 Continue to upgrade salaries and benefits.

 S-2 Provide release time for personnel to participate in workshops, conferences, etc.

 S-3 Provide recognition for outstanding performance in the form of letters of commendation, certificates, and awards.

 S-4 Provide a forum for faculty input through the Faculty Advisory Committee in each school.

 S-5 Establish a pay scale for paraprofessionals based on their level of education.

 Goal II. Improve Student Academic Progress.

Objective I

All primary and middle grades students will achieve world-class standards and enter the next level ready for rigorous study.

 S-1 Implement Tennessee curriculum standards in reading, language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.

 S-2 Review, revise, and update school improvement plans using current student data.

 S-3 Provide research-based intervention for middle school students who have difficulty meeting the standards.

S-4 Provide intervention services to eligible special education students and English language learners to help them succeed in the general curriculum.

Objective 2

All high school students will achieve world-class standards and leave school prepared for postsecondary education, work, and citizenship.

S-1 Implement Tennessee curriculum standards in the core courses.

S-2 Increase opportunities for students to enroll in dual enrollment with higher education and tech prep programs, and advanced placement courses.

S-3 Provide research based intervention to ensure that all students succeed in all subject areas and on gateway examinations in mathematics, science, and English language arts.

Objective 3

All students will meet or exceed the Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) targets established by the department of education for each subgroup.

S-1 Review assessment data to determine areas to strengthen.

S-2 Use partnerships with business, industry, postsecondary, and the community to help teachers and students connect knowledge with application.

S-3 Provide teacher training on the use of assessment data for instructional improvement.

S-4 Provide training on strategies for teaching diverse learners.

S-5 Provide extended day services for students not making AYP.

Goal III. Improve Student Attitude and Behavior.

Objective 1

All students will be made aware of and demonstrate appropriate behavior as evidenced by a reduction in discipline referrals.

S-1 Maintain updated student handbooks.

S-2 Provide orientation to each student at the beginning of each school year.

S-3 Provide incentives to reward appropriate behavior.

S-4 Develop a behavioral plan for those students who do not demonstrate appropriate behavior.

Objective 2

Students will become active participants in setting realistic and suitable goals for lifelong learning.

S-1 Provide activities for career awareness and exploration.

S-2 Assist students in setting realistic academic goals in grades K-8.

S-3 Assist students in developing and implementing 6-year plans.  Review plans annually.

Goal IV. Develop and Deliver Programs, which Focus on the Needs                    of the Students.      

Objective: The administration, teachers and staff will establish and evaluate programs for students based on sound data.

S-1 Administer surveys to determine student interests.

S-2 Provide opportunities for parent/community input through surveys and meetings.

S-3 Use student data as the basis for adding/deleting programs.

S-4 Implement programs that address student needs.

S-5 Evaluate and upgrade programs.

Goal V. Meet the State Requirements for Attendance, Promotion, and Graduation.

Objective 1

The attendance rate will be at least 95% in grades K-6 and 93% in grades 7-12 each year.

S-1 Provide certificates for perfect attendance each year.

S-2 Provide semester exam exemptions for students based on attendance.

Objective 2

The promotion rate will be at least 97%.

S-1 Establish peer tutoring.

S-2 Communicate student progress to parents.

S-3 Provide extended day programs and summer school.

S-4 Provide parent-involvement programs.

Objective 3

The graduation rate will be at least 90%.

S-1 Establish a peer-tutoring program.

S-2 Provide counseling through the guidance department and other available resources.

S-3 Provide extended day programs and summer school remediation.

Goal VI.  Provide Technology to Enhance Student Learning.

Objective 1

The teachers and staff will integrate technology in the classroom to enhance student learning.

S-1 Provide each student and teacher access to current instructional technology.

S-2 Provide students and teachers with Internet access that will allow for learning opportunities outside the classroom.

S-3 Integrate technology with curriculum in the tech labs.

S-4 Provide student access to the computer labs before and after school.

Objective 2

The administration will provide instructional technology training for teachers and administrators.

S-1 Use the system-wide tech team to provide training.

S-2 Send teachers to technology conferences and workshops.

Objective 3

The administration will require teachers to use technology in instruction and system communication.

S-1 Include a technology component in teacher evaluations.

S-2 Use e-mail as one method of communicating with system-wide personnel.

S-3 Use electronic transfer to send reports, documents, and surveys.

Objective 4

The administration will create a system-wide website, http://chestercountyschools.org/

S-1 Train educators from each school to post information on the website.

S-2 Update system website weekly.

S-3 Post information for students, teachers, parents, and community access.

Goal VII. Provide a Safe and Healthy Environment.

Objective 1

The administration will coordinate efforts to ensure that all students are educated in an environment that is safe, drug free and conducive to learning.

S-1 Continue the Safe and Drug Free counseling program.

S-2 Provide assemblies that promote safe and drug free schools.

S-3 Train teachers and students to use conflict resolution and anger management strategies.

S-4 Review, revise and practice the school safety plan on a regular basis.

S-5 Coordinate with government and community agencies to ensure safety of all students in times of natural disaster and other public emergencies.

S-6 Provide alternative education programs for students with chronic discipline problems and violent offenses.

Objective 2

The administration will improve access for all students and staff to school health services.

S-1 Implement procedures for health care and medications in all schools supervised by the school nurse.

S-2 Implement infectious disease plan.

S-3 Offer hepatitis B and influenza vaccines to staff.

S-4 Provide training and updates to staff on health related issues.

Goal VIII.  Facilities will be Upgraded and Maintained.

Objective l

The administration will develop a comprehensive maintenance program.

S-1 Provide adequate maintenance personnel and funds.

S-2 Submit maintenance requests promptly.

S-3 Establish a preventive maintenance program.

Objective 2

The administration will develop a plan that will provide for a clean and safe school environment.

S-1 Provide adequate janitorial staff and cleaning supplies for each school.

S-2 Assist the janitors in keeping the buildings and grounds free of litter.

S-3 Train maintenance staff to test air quality.

S-4 Train janitorial and maintenance on new products and procedures.

Goal IX. Promote Parent and Community Involvement in Education Programs.

Objective

The administration will establish an information network.

S-1 Send information to parents by the students.

S-2 Publish school news in the local paper.

S-3 Use local radio and cable TV for school announcements.

S-4 Disseminate information through parent involvement programs, PTO, and parent-teacher conferences.

S-5 Conduct open forums for collecting parent and community input on various issues.

S-6 Establish partnerships between schools and business/industry.

S-7 Conduct parent/community surveys to assist with the planning and implementation of educational programs.

S-8 Inform the public that the system wide website is a source for communication and information.  http://chestercountyschools.org/

S-9 Encourage stakeholders to participate on advisory boards, committees, and various other areas of school improvement planning.