Richmond County Intermediate School AdvancED School Standards Assessment 2011-2012
RCI Overview Richmond County Intermediate School, founded in 1970, is the only middle school in the county. Its physical design represents many phases of additions. The campus is divided by open walkways into seven separate buildings the sixth grade building, seventh grade building, eighth grade building, the agriculture building, the cottage, and two mobile units. The grounds and buildings date from the 1930s to the 1990s. The sixth grade building houses regular classrooms for sixth and eighth graders, the teachers workroom, the library, the assistant principal s office, and the cafeteria. The seventh grade building is the oldest building on campus. Constructed in 1938, this building has four regular classrooms, the principal s office, the guidance office, the secretary s office, and an open area with a small stage in the center. The eighth grade building is one of the more modern buildings found on campus. The gymnasium/auditorium, two regular classrooms, and the music room are located in this building. The agriculture building has two classrooms and a workshop. The cottage now functions as a special education classroom and also houses the conference room. A regular classroom and health classes are held in the larger mobile unit. The mobile unit closest to the gym contains a resource center and our school clinic. RCI has 27 faculty and 8 staff members who provide services for approximately 300 students. The number of students is proportionally even among grades six, seven, and eight, and school demographics closely resemble those of the district. The student-teacher ratio is 11 to 1. MALE FEMALE WHITE BLACK HISPANIC ASIAN RCPS 56% 44% 65% 33% 2.% 0.5% RCI 54% 46% 56% 37% 5% 1% Richmond County Intermediate School takes pride in being fully accredited. Richmond County Intermediate received the 2010 Virginia Board of Education Competence to Excellence Award. This prestigious recognition is granted to those schools that meet all state and federal benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and are making progress toward the goals of the governor and the board.only 40 middle schools out of 335 in Virginia received this award in 2010. These labels do not come without hard work and efficient planning. A joint effort by a dedicated staff, conscientious students, and supportive parents has resulted in the success that our school community strives to build upon each year.
Not Evident Vision & Purpose I The degree to which the school believes they establish and communicate a shared purpose and direction for improving the performance of students and the effectiveness in their schools. 1.1 Establishes a vision for the school in collaboration with its stakeholders 1.2 Communicates the vision and purpose to build stakeholder understanding and support 1.3 Identifies goals to advance the vision 1.4 1.5 1.6 Develops and continuously maintains a profile of the school, its students, and the community Ensures that the school s vision and purpose guide the teaching and learning process Reviews its vision and purpose systematically and revises them when appropriate Focus Questions: What is the process for establishing and building understanding of and commitment to the vision statement among stakeholders? RCI has begun the never ending task of reinventing itself in many ways: with new administration,revisions to the school improvement plan, and the generation of new policies. The effort was positive and willingly supported by all participants. What is the school s process for developing a profile and systematically maintaining and using information that describes the school, its students, and their performances? The school collects data through student information forms,testing data and local governmental agencies. This information is updated as needed. The school uses the information to formulate class offerings and to form goals and objectives. How does the leadership ensure that the school s vision, purpose, and goals guide the teaching and learning process? RCI s participation and ownership, on the part of all stakeholders, is the key to guaranteeing that the school s vision, purpose, and goals are achieved satisfactorily in the daily efforts of teachers and students. What process is used to ensure that the vision and purpose of the school remain current and aligned with the school s expectations for student learning and school effectiveness? RCI incorporates all stakeholders in the process of reevaluation. Various committees are in place to assess and to serve as a checks and balances system. All stakeholders are committed to the periodic evaluation and assessment of the school s vision and goals.
Not Evident Not Evident School Governance & Leadership II The degree to which the school believes the Richmond County School District provides governance and leadership to promote student performance and school effectiveness. 2.1 2.2 2.3 Establishes policies and procedures that provide for the effective operation of the school Recognizes and preserves the executive, administrative, and leadership prerogatives of the administrative head of the school Ensures compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws, standards, and regulations Standard 2b School Governance & Leadership(continued) The degree to whichthe school believes they provide governance and leadership to promote student performance and school effectiveness. 2.4 Employs a system that provides for analysis and review of student performance and school effectiveness 2.5 Fosters a learning community 2.6 Provides teachers and students opportunities to lead 2.7 2.8 Provides stakeholders meaningful roles in the decision-making process that promote a culture of participation, responsibility, and ownership Controls curricular and extracurricular activities that are sponsored by the school 2.9 Responds to community expectations and stakeholder satisfaction 2.10 Implements an evaluation system that provides for the professional growth of all personnel
Focus Questions: What is the process for establishing, communicating, and implementing policies and procedures for the effective operation of the school? The School Improvement Team develops policies and procedures through the collection of data and needs assessment. The School Improvement Plan is given to the school board office. It is also made available during student schedule pick-up, Open House, at faculty meetings, during student classes, and on the school website. Faculty meetings, school-wide assemblies, team meetings, letters, memos, etc. are a number of ways RCI communicates and implements its policies and procedures. What process does the school s leadership use to evaluate school effectiveness and student performance? The school uses data from standardized tests, benchmarks, attendance and discipline reports, teacher and parental input, and other information to evaluate school effectiveness. Teachers are provided with ongoing professional development focused on using data to improve instruction:how to use formative as well as summative assessments, and how to read, interpret, and make data work for student achievement. The data enable teachers to better assess student performance and classroom effectiveness, adjusting instructional strategies. Team meetings are held once a week with administration to discuss student performance. In what ways are stakeholders, including staff, given the opportunities to provide leadership and to contribute to the decision-making process? Representatives from all stakeholder groups serve on the School Improvement Team. In addition, every member of the staff is on a standards committee for AdvancEd. Faculty meetings allow for staff to contribute to procedures and policies. Students are provided opportunities to engage in school leadership through a variety of clubs, where the students are encouraged to serve as officers and conduct meetings. What policies and process are in place to ensure equity of learning opportunities and support for innovation? Teachers develop annual goals and are observed and evaluated periodically. Professional development is made available to meet needs for growth. Faculty members are given the opportunity to attend workshops and conferences as well. Teachers are encouraged to share the information learned through in-service training with other staff members in faculty meetings.
Not Evident Teaching & Learning III The degree to whichthe school believes they provide research-based curriculum and instructional methods that facilitate achievement for all students. 3.1 Develops and implements curriculum based on clearly defined expectations for student learning 3.2 Promotes active involvement of students in the learning process, including opportunities for them to explore application of higher-order thinking skills and investigate new approaches to applying their learning 3.3 Gathers, analyzes, and uses data and research in making curricular and instructional choices 3.4 Designs and uses instructional strategies, innovations, and activities that are research-based and reflective of best practice 3.5 Offers a curriculum that challenges each student to excel, reflects a commitment to equity, and demonstrates an appreciation of diversity 3.6 Allocates and protects instructional time to support student learning 3.7 Provides for articulation and alignment between and among all levels of schools 3.8 Implements interventions to help students meet expectations for student learning 3.9 Monitors school climate and takes appropriate steps to ensure that it is conducive to student learning 3.10 Provides comprehensive information and media services that support the curricular and instructional programs 3.11 Ensures that all students and staff members have regular and ready access to instructional technology and a comprehensive materials collection that supports the curricular and instructional program
Focus Questions: How does the school ensure that the curriculum, instructional strategies, and assessments are aligned and articulated across grade levels in support of the expectations for student learning? The school uses the VDOE school report card, testing data, pacing guides, observations, mentors, department meetings, grade level meetings, vertical content meetings and a selection of materials to support the expectations for learning. Teachers analyze testing information for each SOL standard and strand to enhance student performance and realign the curriculum or adjust pacing as necessary. In what ways does the school ensure the implementation of research-based instructional strategies, innovations, and activities that facilitate achievement for all students? Each department evaluates instructional strategies and activities using student assessmentinformation. RCI faculty is being trained in interpreting data from SOLs and other standardized tests. Teacher observation, faculty meetings and departmental meetings allow open dialogue about instructional strategies to be implemented and practiced. Teachers are encouraged to observe peers, work collaboratively, attend workshops, conferences and in-service training to implement instructional strategies for increasing student achievement. What processes are implemented to ensure that teachers are well prepared and effectively implementing the curriculum? Lesson plans, pacing guides, goal sheets and the SOLs are the controlling forces for implementing the curriculum. Teacher observations during the school year are used for evaluating and increasing the effectiveness of instruction. Provisional Licensure Teachers are assigned a mentor for their threeyear tenure period. The mentor works with the teacher, offering support and guidance in effectively implementing the curriculum. Staff development is provided for all teachers. How does the school provide access to comprehensive information, instructional technology, and media services? RCI has five computer labs. Two of these labs are located in separate rooms each containing desktop computers. The other three labs are mobile carts with laptops. The media center, available to all students, provides books, journals, and educational software. Teachers are encouraged to use the media center and computer labs. Smart boards are located in many classrooms. Every classroom has access to a television for audiovisual presentations. Announcements are made every morning and afternoon over the intercom system and information is posted on the school website and the school calendar.
Not Evident Documenting & Using Results IV The degree to which the school believes they monitor and document practices for improving student performanceand school effectiveness. 4.1 Establishes performance measures for student learning that yield information that is reliable, valid, and bias free 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Develops and implements a comprehensive assessment system for assessing progress toward meeting the expectations for student learning Uses student assessment data for making decisions for continuous improvement of teaching and learning processes Conducts a systematic analysis of instructional and organizational effectiveness and uses the results to improve student performance Communicates the results of student performance and school effectiveness to all stakeholders Uses comparison and trend data of student performance from comparable schools in evaluating its effectiveness 4.7 Demonstrates verifiable growth in student performance 4.8 Maintains a secure, accurate, and complete student record system in accordance with state and federal regulations
Focus Questions: How is the assessment system currently used in your school to analyze changes in student performance? SOL scores, benchmark results, and teacher assessments are used to determine mastery of content. The assessment information is used to identify remediation and acceleration needs, adjust pacing, and realign the curriculum. What are you doing to ensure that assessment results are timely, relevant, and communicated in a way that can be used by teachers, students, parents, and external stakeholders to aid the performance of individual students? Scores are returned as soon as possible. During the school year all stakeholders are provided information on the importance of assessments. Information about assessments, in general, can be found on the county website, letters, memos, and parent/teacher conferences. How are data used to understand and improve overall school effectiveness? Weaknesses are analyzed to help realign the curriculum. The information is reported to the appropriate committee, which uses the information to develop an improvement plan. Summative data are evaluated by the administration during the summer to influence the school focus of the upcoming year. How are teachers trained to understand and use data in the classroom? The administration and the School Improvement Team determined that understanding and using data effectively would be a focus of the current school year. Teachers will participate in training on data analysis, and each department will analyze testing data to improve instructional weaknesses and achievement gaps. We believe that this training is imperative for student and professional growth.
Not Evident Resource & Support Systems V The degree to which the school believes they have resources and services in place to support their school s vision and purpose and to ensure achievement for all students. 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Recruits, employs, and mentors qualified professional staff that are capable of fulfilling assigned roles and responsibilities Assigns professional staff responsibilities based on their qualifications (i.e., professional preparation, ability, knowledge, and experience) Ensures that all staff participate in a continuous program of professional development Provides and assigns staff that are sufficient in number to meet the vision and purpose of the school Budgets sufficient resources to support its educational programs and to implement its plans for improvement Monitors all financial transactions through a recognized, regularly audited accounting system 5.7 5.8 5.9 Maintains the site, facilities, services, and equipment to provide an environment that is safe and orderly for all occupants Possesses a written security and crisis management plan with appropriate training for stakeholders Ensures that each student has access to guidance services that include, but are not limited to, counseling, appraisal, mentoring, staff consulting, referral, and educational and career planning 5.10 Provides appropriate support for students with special needs
Focus Questions: What is the process for recruitment, induction, placement, development, evaluation, and retention of qualified teachers, administrators, and support staff? The administration of RCI combined with central office administration interviews and recommends staff that could make a significant difference in our students education. All initially licensed teachers must complete a three year probationary period. All provisionally licensed teachers have a mentor during this process. Administrators use observations to guide staff toward professional growth. The administration encourages teachers to be involved on committees to create a culture of distributive leadership and school ownership. How does the leadership ensure that the allocation of financial resources is supportive of the school s vision, educational programs, and its plans for school improvement? RCI s larger educational programs are budgeted through the central office at their discretion; however, smaller programs or teacher-based programs are funded through school fundraising or the general school account. The leadership looks at the demands for the program, the outreach, and the school s goals and visions to help see that the programs are supported. Central Office considers the breadth of effectiveness for fiscal allocations as they impact student achievement before releasing funding. How does the leadership ensure a safe and orderly environment for students and staff? All staff members attend an annual workshop on the school procedures of the safe schools plan. Crisis management, teacher lockdown procedures, and first aid procedures are located in every classroom. Crisis management plans and updates are reviewed annually and made readily available for and by all staff. The school system s maintenance department is responsible for the repairs of the school. Contracted custodians service the school on a daily basis. What process is used to ensure and monitor that each student has access to guidance and resource services that meet the needs of the student? Students receive individual and group counseling with a school counselor or behavioral specialist through self-referral, teacher referral, administrative referral, parent referral and other agency referrals. The Counseling Department offers information to students, parents, and teachers about preparation for post-secondary plans. All seventh graders conference individually with the counselor in order to receive advice pertaining to their secondary academic program choices.
Not Evident Stakeholder Communications & Relationships VI The degree to which the school believes they foster effective communications and relationships with their stakeholders. Fosters collaboration with community stakeholders to support student 6.1 learning 6.2 Has formal channels to listen to and communicate with stakeholders 6.3 6.4 6.5 Solicits the knowledge and skills of stakeholders to enhance the work of the school Communicates the expectations for student learning and goals for improvement to all stakeholders Provides information about students, their performance, and school effectiveness that is meaningful and useful to stakeholders Focus Questions: How does school s leadership ensure that the school is responsive to community expectations and stakeholder satisfaction? Open House, Parent Nights, dances, athletic events, Beta meetings, newspaper articles, school calendars, daily bulletins, and the school website are tools utilized by leadership to affect communication. Community stakeholders participate on the School Improvement Team. These devices give our community opportunity to respond to and interact with the school. How does the school s leadership foster a learning community? Educators are lifelong learners. We encourage our students to be lifelong learners as well. Teachers are encouraged to go to workshops and participate in staff development, continue education, become mentors, and use innovative strategies in the classroom. Students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities, high school credited classes and online classes. The school uses various means of communication to inform the stakeholders of the accomplishments of students. Volunteers are invited to be involved in the school: PTO, tutors, sponsors of organizations, and mentors help foster a learning community. What avenues are used to communicate information to stakeholders about students, their performance, and school effectiveness? The school maintains a website and an online newsletter to provide information to all stakeholders. The school calendar and school newspaper cover a variety of activities including sporting events, club activities, curriculum activities, progress reports, and report cards. Daily announcements are broadcasted on the intercom each morning and afternoon. The marquee sign is outside the building for announcements to the community. Annual banquets are held to reward and celebrate our students accomplishments at school and in the community.
Not Evident Commitment to Continuous Improvement VII The degree to which the school believes they establish, implement, and monitor a continuous process of improvement that focuses on student performance. 7.1 Engages in a continuous process of improvement that articulates the vision and purpose the school is pursuing (Vision); maintains a rich and current description of students, their performance, school effectiveness, and the school community (Profile); employs goals and interventions to improve student performance (Plan); and documents and uses the results to inform what happens next (Results) 7.2 Engages stakeholders in the processes of continuous improvement 7.3 Ensures that plans for continuous improvement are aligned with the vision and purpose of the school and expectations for student learning 7.4 7.5 7.6 Provides professional development for school personnel to help them implement improvement interventions to achieve improvement goals Monitors and communicates the results of improvement efforts to stakeholders Evaluates and documents the effectiveness and impact of its continuous process of improvement
Focus Questions: What is the process for continuous improvement used by the school and what are the results that this process is delivering for student performance and school effectiveness? School-wide data on student performance and the school s effectiveness are analyzed through quarterly benchmarks and at the end of each school year; formative assessments are used on a daily basis in classrooms. Goals and objectives in the School Improvement Plan are compared to these data to ensure alignment. Monthly content and faculty meetings and weekly team meetings are held to exchange information and (if necessary) to make adjustments to uphold the school vision. What steps are taken to ensure that the improvement goals reflect student-learning needs that are aligned with the vision and purpose of the school? Each department and grade level reviews test data and assessment information. This information is reported to the committee, which reviews objectives for possible changes and plans for staff development. What process is used to ensure that the school personnel are provided professional development and technical assistance to implement interventions and achieve improvement goals? The faculty s Annual Goals and teacher observations are utilized to assess professional growth. Workshops, conferences and in-service training provide staff development forschool personnel. The faculty and administration request the areas needed for improvement and the resources are made available to provide in-service training. How does the leadership ensure that the improvement plan is implemented, monitored, achieved, and communicated to stakeholders? The administration observes the faculty to ensure that the plan is being implemented. Tests results, attendance reports and discipline reports are analyzed for assurance offorward progress. Department and grade level meetings are utilized to optimize data to improve student achievement. The school website, on-line newspaper, newsletter, faculty meetings and student and parent meetings are used for communication of school improvement progress and innovations.
Open Ended Questions: 8.1 Using your responses to the seven standards describe any major trends, themes, or areas of emphasis at your school. Operates with an active School Improvement Plan, approved by faculty/staff Positive Climate as identified by the parents, teachers, staff and students Parent Communication: school newsletters, school website, AR webpages, report cards, progress alerts, daily planners, school calendar Remediation programs for struggling students: before and after school tutoring program, remedial reading and math programs Active PTO: partnership with parents and business partners Vertical and Horizontal curriculum meetings 8.2 Based on the seven standards, describe your school s greatest strengths and practices. High performing students and committed administration/faculty/staff Research based curriculum On going progress monitoring in reading, writing, math, history& science Staff development/mentoring Active PTO Annual goals using SOL data Remediation Programs Academic enrichment: activities for high performing students (Beta, Math counts) Special events: concerts, Spelling Bee, guest speakers, assemblies, etc. 8.3 What do you see as your school s greatest challenges? Funds and resources for new building and technology Continuous academic improvement 8.4 What actions/practices should you adopt to overcome the challenges your school faces? Continue to search for and find funds to provide resources Train the teachers: using differentiated instruction and brain research to close achievement gaps 8.5 How will you use the information gained from this survey to improve the quality assurance and continuous improvement efforts at your school? As an assessment of information that will assist with the enhancement of the School Improvement Plan