Board Improvement Planning
Board Improvement Planning
Since the close of the 2009 academic year, the mandate of the Student Achievement Division of the Ministry of Education has been for districts to develop a comprehensive Improvement Plan for Student Achievement that aligns all educational priorities from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
The core priorities of the Superior-Greenstone Distinct School Board form the foundation of the Board improvement Plan for Student Achievement, 2010-2011. This document acts as a filter through which all decisions are made, and therefore, the core priorities are being addressed. School Improvement Plans are crafted based upon this document thus ensuring a high degree of alignment throughout the district. Schools will determine goals that reflect their specific areas of greatest student learning need; the Board Improvement Plan is written to provide multiple entry points for schools to set goals that are within the parameters of the Board Improvement Plan.
A high level of student achievement is our district’s first priority. To accomplish this, specific high yield strategies have been outlined in the plan that direct the areas of focus and action for school leaders and teachers to foster improvement in student achievement. These high yield strategies include professional learning communities and networks for teachers and school leaders; in an effort to not only provide job-embedded professional learning and collaboration, but also to develop leadership throughout the entire system. The goal of our system is to have leaders functioning at all levels towards increasing student achievement.
The closing of the gap in achievement for equity groups such as boys, Aboriginal students and students who possess special needs is another priority. Instructional practices that address the learning needs of these groups continue to be a focus and have been embedded into the plan. This would include strategies such as using descriptive feedback, embedding cultural awareness, developing student leaders, increasing parental involvement, offering specialized programming, and improving student engagement.
As we continue to collaborate with stakeholders (i.e. community partners, parents, First Nation communities, etc.) in increasing student achievement and closing the gap for our learners, it is our belief that public confidence will continue to grow. We recognize the need to continue to expand upon these partnerships as with this communication, high expectations for student achievement will continue to grow.
The School Effectiveness Framework, the tool which schools and the district use to measure their progress in school improvement, has expanded to include the secondary schools. This means that these schools are going to be engaged in increasingly strategic school improvement planning and adopting the strategies necessary to increase student achievement. As a result of the School Effectiveness Framework becoming a Kindergarten to Grade 12 documents, the secondary schools will be supported by both the Student Success Lead and the School Effectiveness Lead.
Board Improvement Plan 2010-2011 Summary
