Organizational Improvement Plan Organizational Improvement Plan Dates: 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 Organization: Communities In Schools of the Lehigh Valley Project Manager: Members of Organizational Improvement Plan Team Vice President of Operations, Jennifer Danese Michael Raymond, School to Career Coordinator Directors of Operations, Wendy Seiffert and Jessica Baker Senior Site Coordinator, Nikki Wentz Compliance Analyst, Katie Makoski ReEngagement Center Program Manager, Jon Fenner Support Specialist, Melissa Horvath SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AREAS AND GOALS: The following must be addressed in all School Improvement Plans: Core Academic Learning: Academic performance and high school graduation Affiliate Goal: Affiliate outcomes for case managed students will match the average across the CIS National Network. Stretch Learning: Developing marketable skills to use upon graduation Affiliate Goal: All high schools served will offer comprehensive career services programming. Student Engagement: Supportive relationships, feelings of safety, and a sense of belonging Affiliate Goal: All schools will increase the percentage of its students, parents, and staff reporting satisfaction with the learning environment Personal Skill Development: Building and strengthening coping skills in order to manage stress, anxiety, and trauma Affiliate Goal: All schools will increase the percentage of students exercising healthy coping skills
CORE ACADEMIC LEARNING Increased Graduation Rates and Improved Academic Performance Affiliate Focus: Affiliate outcomes for case managed students will match the average across the CIS National Network Core Data Indicators Current Performance Interrogative Questions Organizational Performance Goals Graduation rate for CIS 2015 80% of case-managed - Are students and their 2016 86% case-managed students high school seniors graduated parent/guardians aware of the 2017 93% graduation requirements? - Are all students receiving the academic support they need to succeed? - Are students aware of alternatives to traditional high school? - Are students nonacademic needs being fully met by the school community? Benchmarking and Reporting Dates District Dropout Lists: Weekly ReEngagement Center Progress Reporting: Monthly Grade Point Average: Quarterly Graduation Rate: Rate of academic performance goal achievement among CIS case-managed students 2015 70% of case-managed students met their academic performance goals - Is truancy at the root of students academic failure? - Are stress and anxiety contributing to students academic failure? - Are case managers working closely with students teachers to ensure their needs are met? - Are varying intensity of academic supports being offered to students? 2016 77% 2017 85% Student Progress Monitoring: Monthly (at minimum) Grade Point Average: Quarterly Final Grades:
Action Plan for CORE LEARNING School Performance Goals Sequenced Action Steps Person Responsible 93% graduation rate - Hold multiple forums (in English and Spanish) for students and parents at varying times of day/week at which Site Coordinators can clearly communicate graduation requirements and answer questions - Network with local colleges and service organizations to recruit a larger base - VP and Directors of Operations of volunteers to serve as tutors both in and after school - Offer direct support to students completing graduation projects at designated times during the school day - Educate all teachers and guidance counselors about how to refer students - ReEngagement Center considering dropout to the alternative tracks (APEX, YouthBuild, GED) Program Manager offered through the ReEngagement Center - Collaborate with the Outreach Workers and Homeless Liaisons within the districts to identify and provide to support to families whose financial instability may trigger dropout 85% academic performance goal achievement rate - Expand the scope of truancy intervention plans beyond excused and unexcused absences so that they also target class-cutting and suspensions - Provide additional school-based, group-level supports for students with mental health issues, in addition to making referrals to outside resources as needed - Communicate to teachers what small accommodations can be made to ease students anxiety (e.g. seat changes, noise level, tone of voice) - Advocate to have teachers assign make-up work to students on an as-needed basis and assist students in completing work through development of academic and time-management skills - Implement school-wide programs to recognize and reward high-performing students and their parent/guardians on a quarterly basis - Coordinate targeted academic intervention programs for students in need of moderate-intensity academic assistance - Provide individualized coaching and tutoring for students in need of highintensity academic assistance, Support Specialists, Support Specialists - VP of Operations, Site Coordinators
Additional Resources Required (list items and costs): STRETCH LEARNING Development of marketable skills to use upon graduation Affiliate Focus: All high schools served will offer comprehensive career services programs Stretch Learning Data Indicators Percentage of students served through career services programming who attain part-time jobs Current Performance Interrogative Questions Organizational Performance Goals 2015 37% (double-check) - Are students familiar with 2016 44% employers near them? 2017 51% - Are students aware of job openings near them? - Is transportation an obstacle to employment? - Are CIS students not competitive in the job market? Benchmarking and Reporting Dates - CDBG Reporting: Monthly - EOY Reporting: Action Plan for STRETCH LEARNING School Performance Goals Sequenced Action Steps Person Responsible 51% of students participating in career services programs will attain a part-time job - Increase number of career exploration field trips available to students - Include skill development in the area of job-seeking in the career services program - Find sponsor for student employee bus vouchers and coordinate a carpool program among students employed within the same neighborhoods - Organize opportunities for students to earn certifications that may be valuable in the job market (e.g. First Aid, CPR/AED) - VP and Directors of Operations - School-to-Career Coordinator - VP of Operations, School-to-Career Coordinator - VP of Operations
Additional Resources Required (list items and costs):