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Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago - Warren Buffett
Planning is an integral part of our daily lives–we plan for vacations, special events, and even Sunday dinner. Without a cogent plan, success is difficult to achieve and sustain. As the school year draws to a close, educators will embark on a process of planning for the upcoming academic year by reflecting on successes and challenges and using the information to develop an actionable plan. Unlike school improvement plans from the past, actionable plans warrant the involvement of internal and external stakeholders in an iterative process entailing several steps, including:
- Setting the direction through the establishment of measurable goals;
- Assessing needs through a systematic process to identify strengths, weaknesses, and root causes;
- Creating a plan including effective practices, milestones, actions, outputs, and outcomes;
- Implementing the plan and examining progress on actions, outputs, and outcomes leading to completion of milestones; and
- Adjusting course based on implementation data to keep the work on track and determine if actions are positively impacting progress.
As noted in the May issue of Quality Quick Takes, data plays a significant role in school improvement, provided that it is used to inform decisions about subsequent steps. The collection of data rarely results in improved outcomes unless it is coupled with adjustments in practices. In other words, what modifications to actions resulted from an intensive analysis of the respective implementation data?
Improving school performance is largely a process of reducing the gap between actual practice and the most effective practice, which requires an actionable plan to make timely adjustments to improve outcomes. The plan functions as a road map because, in the immortal words of Yogi Berra, “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.”
Yvonne A. Holloman, Ph.D.
Special Projects Coordinator
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OSQ Launches NEW Webpage on June 1, 2022
Visit the Office of School Quality's webpage to find news and announcements relating to work of OSQ. The page provides information about the Virginia Continuous School Improvement Process, Academic Reviews, Systems of Support, Quick Takes Archived Publications, and School Improvement Grants (SIG). Divisions can request technical assistance delivered by OSQ through this site on the Systems of Support Page.
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Promotion of Quality Leadership
Leaders across the Commonwealth work diligently to promote quality in their schools. Please take some time to recognize those leaders.
The Office of School Quality (OSQ) is happy to announce the names of school leaders who were recognized for their role in promoting data-informed decisions. You can view the list of individuals on this document.
Based upon this month's theme of Introduction to Actionable Plans, please nominate a principal who has embodied this work as designated in the criteria below. Complete the nomination form by July 7, 2022, for consideration. The principal promotes effective, actionable plans by:
- Forming a diverse action planning team that builds action steps around major goals,
- Coordinating a team that defines action plans and the shared purpose of the group,
- Leading the goal-setting process and brainstorming sessions to formulate strategies,
- Facilitating the systems of rigorous data analysis for decision making,
- Encouraging stakeholder engagement throughout the development of any action plans,
- Clearly communicating the action plan to the school community, and
- Understanding the process of monitoring and evaluating action plans.
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Support for High-Quality Educational Environments
Successful and effective action plans should be rooted in improving student outcomes and ensuring a shared purpose for all stakeholders. Action plans that strive for continuous improvement results develop from a data-driven process that leads to constructing context-specific and impactful strategies. Instructional leaders that are dedicated to the achievement of all students in their school and division will facilitate the development of action plans that create a realistic and plausible method to achieve the best results for sustained growth and success.
This brief from Hanover Research comprises research and best practices for building effective action plans. It provides strategies to promote a culture of long-lasting improvement within the school and division. Instructional leaders can use this resource to take a more in-depth approach to building long-lasting change in their educational setting. Please use this supplement from Hanover Research to assist your work in creating effective action plans.
Q-Tip
Effective and methodical action plans assist instructional leaders in their drive to create a culture of successful and sustained improvement. As leaders begin to conduct comprehensive needs assessments for the upcoming school year, leaders must build diverse action planning teams to strategize the best path forward. In the upcoming technical assistance, Introduction to Actionable Plans, OSQ will identify ways to define action plans, establish goals, brainstorm strategies, understand the components of an effective action plan and the connection to rigorous data analysis, and stakeholder engagement, and how to form and facilitate a diverse action planning team, and to understand the elements of implementing and evaluating action plans.
On Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at 9 am., a technical assistance (TA) session will be held to discuss strategies for making data-informed decisions. If you are interested in learning more, register here, TA-Introduction to Actionable Plans. This training will include opportunities to reflect on your current practices, methods to enhance your planning process, and your methods to develop effective action plans.
OSQ Summer Summits for 2022!
The summit is an in-person, one-day technical assistance session designed to provide an overview and connection-building experience that supports division and school leaders in their understanding of the continuous improvement process.
Participants will actively link the continuous improvement process in Modules I-IV, inclusive of the Academic Review/Evidence-based Intervention components, in the application of the Comprehensive School Improvement Process (CSIP). [Note: Sessions are optional.] Click this link to register. Dates and locations are indicated below:
- Roanoke - June 30 2022 - 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Williamsburg - July 14, 2022 - 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Richmond - July 21, 2022 - 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Data Connections
Using data strategically to guide decisions and actions can have a positive effect on education practices and processes. The U.S. Department of Education (2013) provides a facilitation guide showing education data teams how to move beyond simply reporting data to applying data to direct strategic action. Using guiding questions, suggested activities, and activity forms, this guide provides education data teams with a framework, and the tools and vocabulary needed to support an informed conversation around the data they generate or acquire. The guide walks data teams through five key steps in using data for informed decision-making and strategic action: setting the stage, examining the data, understanding the findings, developing an action plan, monitoring progress, and measuring success.
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Collaboration Corner
SPOTLIGHT: Summer Fun with Professional Opportunities!
Elementary Engineering Workshop: The National Association and Space Administration (NASA) eClips Team is offering a face-to-face, hands-on workshop sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Learn how to access and use the free Engineering by Design curriculum and related NASA resources available to educators in Virginia. The workshop will be held in Hampton:
- June 28, 2022, for fourth and fifth grade teachers
- June 29, 2022, for second and third grade teachers; and
- June 30, 2022, for kindergarten, first, and second grade teachers.
Professional Development Opportunities to Support Best Practices for English Learner Instruction for All Educators: Multiple professional development opportunities for division and school staff (including general educators, English Learner (EL) teachers, leaders, and counselors) who support ELs will be offered from June through December 2022. Superintendent Memo 073-22 (revised link) provides session descriptions, recommended audiences, registration links, and registration deadlines for the professional development opportunities. All sessions will be delivered virtually using the Zoom platform. The Office of Humanities will manage registration, coordinate delivery of materials, and provide confirmation. Find out more information today!
Special Education Teacher Support Academy (SETSA), June 27-30, 2022: The goal of SETSA is to build the capacity and efficacy of early-career special education teachers by improving teacher effectiveness and reducing teacher attrition in K-12 classrooms. It will enhance the knowledge and ability to successfully meet the needs of students with disabilities. After the Academy, ongoing support will be available for teachers and coaches through VDOE’s Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC). Find out more information today!
World Languages Summer Professional Learning Opportunities: Registration is now open for three opportunities for summer professional learning in world languages. You may register for more than one event; however, spaces are limited, and acceptance is not guaranteed for all events. Registration and workshop material costs are paid by VDOE. Also, some meals and lodging are provided.
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Event 1 - July 20, 2022: Addressing the Needs of Students with Disabilities as World Language Learners (Richmond)
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Event 2 - July 21-22, 2022: Using the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) to Guide Your World Language Program (Richmond)
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Event 3 - July 28-29, 2022: Modified Oral Proficiency Interview (MOPI) Workshop (Leesburg, Loudoun County)
Relevant Research and Best Practice Highlights
Best Practice Highlights - Shared below are a few links to research reports designed to provide school leaders information that supports monitoring systems for professional development, professional learning communities, and using assessments to drive decisions to support improvement efforts.
Did you know?
2022 Virginia Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (VASCD) Annual Conference: The theme this year is Level Up: Learn-Love-Lead. Join your peers for the Pre-Conference on November 29, 2022, and/or the annual conference to be held November 30 – December 1, 2022, in Williamsburg. Early Bird pricing is available until May 27. See VASCD for cost, details, and registration. Submit a proposal by June 15, 2022!
Website Update - Credit Accommodations for the Advanced Studies Diploma
The VDOE Credit Accommodations Website has been updated to include information regarding the world language credit accommodation for the Advanced Studies Diploma. The webpage has a sample eligibility form and a list of computer science courses accepted for use as a world language credit when this accommodation(s) has been approved by the individualized education program (IEP) team.
The VDOE Division of Early Childcare and Education recently shared many resources to assist in supporting stakeholders in these difficult times:
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Reminders
OSQ Upcoming Virtual Training Webinars
Conducting the Academic Review
Virtual Training Options:
This full VIRTUAL training will equip participants with an understanding of the process, the tools, how to prepare for and conduct the Academic Review, and completion of the Academic Review Report.
In-Person Training Options
- August 2 and 3, 2022
- September 27 and 28, 2022
The in-person training will include activities and the opportunity to collaborate. For registration information click here
For additional summer learning opportunities review OSQ Spring and Summer Catalog
Upcoming Quick Takes Topics
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July 2022 - Yearly Planning for Continuous Improvement
- August 2022 - Walkthrough Process
School Improvement Grant (SIG) Applications
Divisions are reminded that SIG reimbursements must be submitted to OMEGA at least once a month as this allows the Office of School Quality (OSQ) and the division to monitor the spend-down of the SIG funds.
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Any feedback about this communication is greatly appreciated. If you have a topic you would like to see in a future monthly edition of Quality Quick Takes, contact OSQ at OSQ@doe.virginia.gov.
This monthly communication is intended for school and division leadership throughout the Commonwealth.
Don't ever miss a Quick Takes, sign up to join our mailing list.
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