An Overview of SIFI Requirements

1. An Overview of SIFI Requirements Nancy B. Booth, CESA #2 Title I Network Consultant Fall, 2010

2. Agenda NCLB Requirements for Title I Schools Identified for Improvement (SIFI) • Definition of SIFI • SIFI Level 1-5 • Title I Supplemental Grants • SIFI Resources

3. AYP and Schools Identified for Improvement (SIFIs) Quick Reminders • School Identified for Improvement (SIFI) identification results from missing adequate yearly progress (AYP) in the same indicator for two consecutive years • NCLB sanctions apply only to Title I SIFIs • District = LEA or chartering authority

4. Current SIFI Status: Based on 2009-10 data, in the 2010-11 school year there are: • 89 schools in 14 districts that are identified for improvement (SIFI).

5. Current Missed AYP Status: Based on 2009-10 data, in the 2010-11 school year there are: • 101 Title I schools in 20 districts that missed AYP for the first time • If these schools miss AYP in 2010-11, they will be SIFI in 2011-12 • Preliminary AYP results are typically shared with districts in late May

6. Title I SIFI Requirements

7. Title I SIFI – LEVEL 1 • School Improvement Plans and Peer Review Process • Title I Allocation Set-Asides • Parental Notification • School Choice • LEA Technical Assistance

8. School Improvement Plans(SIFI Level 1 - 2) • Two year plan to be completed by the SIFI within three months of identification • Can be revision of existing plan • Developed in consultation with parents, staff, district, and outside experts • Applies to SIFI Level 1-2 only

9. School Improvement Plan Requirements: • Incorporates strategies based on scientifically-based research to strengthen core academic subjects and address specific core concerns; • Adopts policies and practices that have the greatest likelihood of ensuring all groups of students will meet the state’s proficiency levels of achievement; • Incorporates strategies to promote high quality professional development that directly address the academic achievement area that caused the school to be identified for improvement;

10. School Improvement Plan Requirements: • Specifies how Title I, Part A funds set aside for professional development will be used to remove the school from school improvement status; • Establishes specific, annual, measurable objectives for continuous and substantial progress by indicators; • Describes how the school will provide written notice about the identification of school improvement status to parents in a format that parents can understand;

11. School Improvement Plan Requirements: • Specifies the responsibilities of the school, the district, and the State educational agency serving the school under the plan including the technical assistance to be provided by the district; • Includes strategies to promote effective parental involvement in the school; • Incorporates, as appropriate, activities before school, after school, during the summer, and during any extension of the school year; and • Incorporates a teacher mentoring program

12. Peer Review Process(SIFI Level 1 - 2) • District must establish a peer review process to assist with the review of the school improvement plan • Must include staff (admin and teachers) with demonstrated effectiveness in school improvement • Peer review must take place within 45 days of plan’s submission • Applies to SIFI Level 1-2 only

13. Questions to Consider: • Does your school have a current school improvement plan that could be modified/edited/ revised to be used as part of their SIFI school improvement plan? • What additional resources and supports does your school need as they develop and revise their School Improvement Plan?

14. Title I Allocation Set-Asides(SIFI Level 1 – 5) • 20% set-aside of district’s Title I allocation to fund school choice and SES • 1% of the 20% can be used to offset district cost for parent outreach • 10% set-aside of each Title I SIFI’s school budget for professional development activities • Applies to SIFI Level 1-2 only

15. Parental Notification of SIFI Status (SIFI Level 1 - 5) The SIFI must inform parents of improvement status and include the following items: • What identification means including how the school compares with other schools in the district and state in terms of academic achievement • Reasons for identification • What the school is doing to address low achievement • What the LEA is doing to address low achievement • Explanation of opportunities for parent involvement • School choice option

16. Parental Notification of SIFI Status(SIFI Level 1 - 5) The district must ensure that the parent notification letters are: • Provided at least 14 days prior to the start of the school year • In a format/language understandable to parents

17. School Choice(SIFI Level 1 - 5) • Option for parents to transfer their child to another school in the district that is not a SIFI • School Choice option not valid in districts with one school per grade level • Priority must be given to the lowest achieving students from low income families • Notice of school choice option must be provided to parents no later than 14 days prior to the first day of the school year

18. School Choice (SIFI Level 1- 5) • The district must prominently display on their website: • Beginning with the 2007-08 school year and for each subsequent year the number of students who are eligible for and participated in school choice • A list of the available schools to which students may transfer in the current year

19. LEA Technical Assistance(SIFI Level 1 - 3) District is required to provide TA to the Title I-SIFI in three areas: • Data Analysis: Utilize student data to identify and address issues regarding: • Instruction • Implementing parent involvement • Professional development offerings

20. LEA Technical Assistance (SIFI Level 1 - 3) • Identification and implementation of effective strategies that address the specific instructional issues that caused the SIFI status. Focus on: • Professional development • Instructional strategies • Methods of instruction • Budget analysis and revision to fund activities for increased student achievement

21. Questions to Consider: • In what ways has your district been able to provide technical assistance to your school regarding data, instructional strategies and professional development? • What additional resource and supports does your district need to provide quality technical assistance (regarding the topics above) to its schools?

22. Title I SIFI – LEVEL 1 Improved Continue with: • School Improvement Plans and Peer Review Process • Title I Allocation Set-Asides • Parental Notification • School Choice • LEA Technical Assistance

23. Title I SIFI – LEVEL 2 Continue with: • School Improvement Plans and Peer Review Process • Title I Allocation Set-Asides • Parental Notification • School Choice • LEA Technical Assistance ADD: • Supplemental Educational Services

24. Supplemental Education Services (SES)(SIFI LEVEL 2 – 5) • Designed to help students receive extra academic support in reading and math • DPI maintains list of approved providers • District contracts with providers to serve eligible students

25. SES Parental Notification (SIFI Level 2 - 5) • Annual notice of availability of SES option • Provide enough time for parents to select provider • Must include: • How to obtain SES for their child • List of approved providers • Specify those providers that can serve students with disabilities • Brief description of services and its benefits • Dates of the two available enrollment windows

26. SES Parental Notification (SIFI Level 2 - 5) The LEA website must prominently display: • Beginning with data from the 2007-08 school year, and for each subsequent year, the number of students who were eligible for and the number of students who participated in SES • For the current school year, a list of SES providers approved by the State to serve the LEA and the locations where services are provided

27. Title I SIFI – LEVEL 3 Continue with: • Title I Allocation Set-Asides • Parental Notification • School Choice • LEA Technical Assistance • SES ADD: • Corrective Action

28. Corrective Action (SIFI Level 3) • District must implement one of the following: • Institute new curriculum • Extend the school day or school year • Replace school staff • Decrease management authority of the school • Restructure internal organization of the school • Appoint outside experts to advise the school

29. Corrective Action (SIFI Level 3) Publication & Dissemination: • The LEA must publish and disseminate information regarding the corrective action: • To the public and the parents of each student enrolled at the SIFI • In an understandable and uniform format • Through such means as the Internet, media and public agencies

30. Title I SIFI – LEVEL 4 Continue with: • Title I Allocation Set-Asides • Parental Notification • School Choice • SES ADD: Develop Restructuring Plan

31. Restructuring Plan (SIFI Level 4) Restructuring – Year 1 (Planning) • District must plan for a major reorganization of a school’s governance structure • Possible alternative governance options include: • Reopen as a charter school • Replace all or most staff • Contract with an entity to operate the school • Other, as consistent with the principles of restructuring

32. Restructuring Notification (SIFI Level 4 - 5) Prompt Notice: The LEA shall provide prompt notice to teachers and parents regarding the restructuring plan (level 4) and the restructuring implementation (level 5) as well as give the opportunity to: • Comment before taking any restructuring action • Participate in the development of the restructuring plan

33. Title I SIFI – LEVEL 5 Continue with: • Title I Allocation Set-Asides • Parental Notification • School Choice • SES ADD: • Implement Restructuring Plan

34. Restructuring Implementation (SIFI Level 5) Implementation of the Restructuring Plan • District must provide technical assistance as necessary to ensure successful implementation • Note: Prompt notice regarding the restructuring plan also applies to implementation

35. Title I Supplemental Grants In 2010-11 eligible applicants are public Title I schools that have: • Been identified for improvement (SIFI) • Missed AYP in reading, math and/or attendance/graduation • Have 40 students or more and have been identified as high need as a result of a three year average of Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam (WKCE) in reading and/or mathematics.

36. Use of Supplemental Grants (10-11) Supplemental grant activities: • enhance and work with existing Title I programming • focus on addressing areas of need identified by the school’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) reports and local data • provide funds with which to create a school support team (if SIFI)

37. School Support Teams Composition: • Distinguished educators • Pupil services staff • Members of IHEs, CESAs, etc. Function: • Analyze school functioning • Monitor implementation of the SIP • Provide feedback to district about effectiveness of school’s current school improvement efforts

38. SIFI Resources: • Sanctions for Title I schools not making AYP (school & district responsibilities): http:www.dpi.wi.gov/esea/doc/sanctions-schools.doc • SIFI Requirements (DPI websites): Level I: http://dpi.wi.gov/titleone/sifi_level1.html Level 2: http://dpi.wi.gov/titleone/sifi_level2.html

39. SIFI Resources: Parent Letter Templates: • Parent Notification Letter: http://dpi.wi.gov/esea/doc/sample-sifi_level_1_parent_notif.doc • School Choice Letter: http://dpi.wi.gov/esea/doc/sample-sifi_school_choice_parent_notif.doc

40. SIFI Resources: Supplemental Educational Services (SES): • DPI SES Website: http://dpi.wi.gov/esea/ses_index.html • Required information for SES letter: http://dpi.wi.gov/esea/doc/sample-ss.doc • SES in action: A toolkit for parents and community leaders: http://www.tutorsforkids.org/ToolkitDownload2.asp

41. SIFI Resources: Department of Ed Non-Regulatory Guidance: • LEA and School Improvement: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/schoolimprovementguid.doc • Public School Choice: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/schoolchoiceguid.doc • Supplemental Educational Services: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/suppsvcsguid.doc

42. Wrapping Up: Do you have any… • follow up questions regarding SES, supplemental grants or school support teams? • OR, any other additional questions regarding SIFI requirements and support?

43. SIFI Support Contacts • Statewide Title I Network Consultant Nancy Booth, CESA#2 nbooth@cesa2.k12.wi.us 608-931-2930 448 E. High Street, Milton, WI 53563 • Title I Consultant (DPI) for CESA#2: • Mary Jo Ziegler mary.ziegler@dpi.wi.gov 608-267-1281 125 E Webster Street, Madison, WI 53507

44. Thanks to: Title I & School Support Team Naomi Gray, Education Consultant naomi.gray@dpi.wi.gov; (608) 266-4499 Kim Jenkins, Education Consultant kimberly.jenkins@dpi.wi.gov; (608) 267-9216