Request for Flexibility Proposal

Request for Flexibility 2015-16 Proposal INSTRUCTIONS: Please write your responses in the boxes below. SCHOOL NAME: CONCEPT NAME: Creek View Elementa...
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Request for Flexibility 2015-16 Proposal INSTRUCTIONS: Please write your responses in the boxes below. SCHOOL NAME: CONCEPT NAME:

Creek View Elementary School Four Full Release Days for Additional Professional Development 

STRATEGIC INITIATIVE: 

Focus Area #1 – Provide Professional development for the implementation of Higher Order Thinking Skills through Project Based Learning (PBL) and Technology Integration. Focus Area #2 – Integrate technology into our school curriculum and lesson plans.

Concept Summary 1) Describe the need/challenge that your school seeks to address.

2) Describe the proposed concept, and explain how it addresses the need/challenge identified above.

Through the strategic planning process, we identified the need to increase student achievement, critical thinking skills through project based learning and technology integration across all grades, content areas and levels of ability. These goals require a broad-based and innovative approach that will require additional professional development for our teachers. In order to implement transformative teaching methods centered around critical thinking through project based learning and technology integration, Creek View’s teachers will engage in specific professional development. To allow for this, our teachers will need additional training and time for collaborative team planning. We therefore are asking for four full days for professional development. We plan on having a third party provide training to give our teachers the skills and knowledge needed to design, assess, and manage rigorous, relevant, and standards-based projects. The program will integrate technology through workshops and sustained support visits. This concept is directly related to our School Strategic Plan and our purpose is to enhance teacher instruction that will provide all students with making real world connections, in depth inquiry, and technology integration.

3) Include any research or evidence that the concept will positively affect your school’s student population. If no research exists, please articulate the rationale for the likelihood of success of the concept, and describe your plans for risk mitigation.

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When teachers receive well-designed professional development, an average of 49 hours spread over six to 12 months, they can increase student achievement by as much as 21 percentile points (Yoon, Duncan, Lee, Scarloss, and Shapley, 2007). When compared with their peers taught using traditional methods, students taught via project-based learning show increases in the long-term retention of content, better results on high-stakes tests, improvements in collaboration and problem solving, and more positive attitudes towards learning (Strobel & van Barneveld, 2009; Walker & Leary, 2009).

Request for Flexibility 2015-16 Proposal Research suggests that effective use of problem-based learning methods can prepare students to be flexible thinkers who can work productively with others to solve problems (Hmelo-Silver, 2004; Kain, 2003). Properly used, technology will help students acquire the skills they need to survive in a complex, highly technological knowledge-based economy (Edutopia. N.p., n.d Web. 16 March 2008). Used to support both teaching and learning, technology infuses classrooms with digital learning tools, such as computers and hand held devices; expands course offerings, experiences, and learning materials; supports learning 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; builds 21st century skills; increases student engagement and motivation; and accelerates learning (www.ed.gov/ oii-news/use-technology-teaching-and-learning. Use of Technology in Teaching and Learning, N.p., n.d. Web.). 4) Outline the expected results in the columns to the right. Add additional rows as necessary.

Project Outcomes Short-Term Goals Long-Term Outcomes  Increased time to  Increase teacher  Improved academic collaborate with knowledge of higher growth for all colleagues on order instruction students curriculum strategies  Improved use of integration in order  Expand teacher Critical Thinking to improve knowledge and use Skills across all instructional delivery of PBL content areas  Increased  Increase teachers’  Improved integration understanding of the and students and use of essential elements of effective use of technology by staff effective PBL technology and students in all  Increased use of subject areas Technology Instruction

Waiver(s) Requested 5) List any waivers from state law, regulation, and/or rule required to implement the concept. (Facilitators will identify the specific laws, regulations, and/or rules requiring exemption.)

6) List any flexibility from Fulton

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Fulton County has already waived the number of instructional days and minutes required by the state of Georgia. However, should Fulton County cease its waiver, Creek View Elementary School is requesting the following waiver from the State. State Board of Education Rule 160-5-1-.02 SCHOOL DAY AND SCHOOLYEAR FOR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES. GA State Law – Code sections: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-151(b) which sets the number of hours of instructional time for educational programs. O.C.G.A. § 20-2-168(c) which sets the number of instructional days per year. Creek View Elementary is seeking flexibility from Fulton County Board Policy

Request for Flexibility 2015-16 Proposal County Schools’ policy required AE (Applicable School Year), which states: “The school year shall consist of 180 to implement the concept. teaching days or the equivalent, except in the event of emergency school (Facilitators will identify the closures.” specific Fulton County Schools policies requiring exemptions.) Impact on Students and Families, Personnel, Departments, Processes, and Schools 7) List any impact of the concept on the following:  Students and families;  Personnel;  The school schedule;  Transportation;  School nutrition;  Teaching, learning, and assessment;  Other schools; and  Any other area not addressed above.

The Creek View Elementary community will be impacted by the full release days in the following ways: Student and families – Families will have to coordinate childcare on the professional development days. Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) – Since all students will not be in school, there is no affect on student’s with an IEP because no student will be receiving services on the full release days. Personnel – All teachers, administration, and para-professionals will participate in Professional Learning Days. Other non-exempt staff will remain on FCS contract. Nutrition workers will not need to report to work on the professional development days. School schedule – Four less instructional days, but no impact to daily schedule. Transportation – Bus drivers will not need to run Creek View’s bus route in the morning or afternoon on the full release professional development days. Teaching, learning and assessment – Teachers will receive training in Instructional best practices that target higher order thinking skills through project based learning and technology integration. Other Schools – Creek View will coordinate, if possible, our full release days with any full release days also provided by our feeder middle and high school, Alpharetta HS and Webb Bridge MS. Budget

8) Please use the budget template on the next page to provide the estimated costs of the proposed concept. In the space to the right, please identify, to the extent possible, how you plan to modify your school budget to cover additional costs. If applicable, identify external funding sources.

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Creek View Elementary will be requesting SEED Funds to cover the cost associated with PBL and technology training.

Request for Flexibility 2015-16 Proposal Other Details 9) Targeted dates for RFF Professional development

The CVES Administration and SGC have already established a dialog with the 2 feeder schools (Alpharetta HS and Webb Bridge MS) to facilitate the coordination of these full release days when and where possible. CVES Targeted Dates for RFF Professional Development: Friday, September 2nd (Labor Day weekend)  Collaboration / Training for staff Monday, November 7th (Election day is Nov. 8th)  Sustained Site Visit by Buck Institute Friday, January 31st  Collaboration / Training for staff Friday, March 31st (Friday before Spring Break)  Sustained Site Visit by Buck Institute Once CVES finalizes the 4 full release dates, the dates will posted on our website so that our community has ample time to prepare. Detailed Professional Development Plan

10) Collaboration / Training for staff (Sept. 2 and Jan. 31)

7:30 – 30 min - Leadership & Coaches PBL timeline & initiatives 8:00 – 10:00 - Break into Grade level Teams for collaboration PBL 30 min – Break 10:30 – 12:00 – Vertical Teams Collaboration on projects PBL 45 min - Lunch 12:45 – 3:00 – Curriculum Technology Development Training

11) Sustained Support Visit by Buck Institute staff November 7 – mid-year review March 31 – end of launch review

ALL Day PBL Training lead by Buck Institute Staff: CVES PBL Leadership team & Coaching team will lead this program and ensure that the schedule is comprehensive. The detailed schedule will be established during our PB 101 training in July. BIE conducts a survey of participating teachers and administrators and uses that data to develop a tailored 1 day sustained site visit session to support teachers in areas related to project design, assessment, and management. This is done in collaboration with the onsite PBL Leadership to ensure goals and needs of the school are met.

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Request for Flexibility 2015-16 Proposal SCHOOL NAME: Budget Item

Creek View Elementary School Item Description (Include quantities if applicable)

Teacher(s) Paraprofessional(s) Support Staff

FY2017 Amount Proposed Budgeted* Funding Source(s)** 0 0

PBL Coach with focus on Integrated Technology

Additional Pay (certified)/Overtime (non-certified) Equipment

FY2018 Amount Proposed Budgeted* Funding Source(s)** 0

FY2019 Amount Proposed Budgeted* Funding Source(s)** 0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

79,047

FCS Seed Fund

Notes

Supplies/Materials

PBL project supplies

35,000

FCS Seed Fund

0

0

Projected start up supply costs for 2 projects per teacher

Professional Development

Buck Institute PBL 101 / Leadership & Coaching Academy

49,600

FCS Seed Fund

0

0

2 admin to attend Leadership Academy; 2 staff to attend Coaches Academy, 70 staff to attend onsite PBL101

0

0

Independent Contractor(s) Transportation Supplements Other Professional Services Other (Nutritional) GRAND TOTALS

0 Attend PBL World Leadership & Coaching Academy PBL101 Supplements for summer workshops Substitutes for Professional Level Nutritional costs for 4 Professional Development Days

4 Staff to participate in PBL World Napa, CA June 22-26, 2016 Leadership & Coaches Academy $100 per day stipend for off contract training days

10,000

FCS Seed Fund

0

0

21,000

FCS Seed Fund

0

0

6,400

FCS Seed Fund

0

0

$100 per day substitutes for professional leave for 2 half days for each teacher

3474.76

FCS Seed Fund

0

0

4 days of staff development, lack of nutritional needs

$ 0.00

$ 0.00

$204,521.76

*When determining the Amount Budgeted for personnel costs, the principal should consult with the Learning Community Human Resources Director. **For the Proposed Funding Source(s), please indicate which of the following funding sources you intend to use: General Fund, Student Activities Fund, School Foundation/PTA, FCS Seed Fund, Grants, or Other (please specify the source).

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