Academic achievement is the highest priority of the Iowa City Community School District. As the District's Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP) declares, the District will "ensure that students become responsible, independent, lifelong learners capable of making informed decisions in a democratic society as well as in the dynamic global community."
The District will adopt goals designed to improve students' achievement. Progress toward those goals will be monitored, reviewed and assessed in accordance with the District's Comprehensive School Improvement Plan, as mandated by the State of Iowa. The results will be reported to the community; they will be reported to the Board as part of the District's management information reporting system.
- Measurable goals, and action plans designed to achieve the goals, will be established annually for the District and each school. The goals will be recommended by the CSIP Advisory Committee, approved by the Superintendent, presented to the Board and reported to the community. Progress toward the goals will be reported to the community no less often than annually.
- Progress toward the action plans for the District, and each of its schools, will be reviewed periodically by the Superintendent and provided to the Board. The focus of the Board's action plan reviews will be on the successful completion of the District and schools' action plans.
- The progress toward the goals and other key measures will be assessed no less often than annually by the Board, Superintendent, and such other District units as the Superintendent may designate, such as the CSIP Advisory Committee and Curriculum Review teams. The results of the assessments may determine if changes are necessary in policy, curriculum or standards.
The Superintendent will direct staff to implement academic programs and district resources that reflect best practices related to the following areas:
The Superintendent will direct staff to monitor student academic achievement.
The Superintendent will report the percentage of students exceeding average growth, by grade level.
The Superintendent will utilize means of his/her choice to evaluate and identify those students whose academic achievement is below proficient or are not making average growth.
The Superintendent will direct staff to provide appropriate interventions to assist students who are in need of additional academic support.
The Superintendent will direct staff to monitor students needing academic interventions; he/she will annually report to the Board the data collected regarding the monitoring of student academic interventions.
The Superintendent will propose shifts or additional provision of the District resources if necessary to achieve academic goals.
The Superintendent will direct staff to review academic achievement data with parent(s) or guardians(s). The review shall include students’ level of performance, the academic achievement support and interventions identified if needed, and if any recommendations for parental participation are needed.
The Superintendent (or designee) will select the instruments and methods for measuring academic achievement. The measurements will be quantifiable; there will be multiple measures, one of which will be a national standardized test; achievement will be measured at various grade levels. The measurement will provide data that enables the Board to evaluate trends.
Reading
Students will over time independently read increasingly complex text with understanding.
- There will be an annual increase in the percentage of students who make more than average growth.
- There will be an annual increase in the number of students
(a)whose reading comprehension is above the level of proficient.- There will be an annual increase in the number of students who make average growth.
Writing
Students will over time independently write increasingly complex text with meaning, clarity, purpose and application of standard conventions.
- There will be an annual increase in the percentage of students whose writing quality shows improvement from year to year.
- There will be an annual increase in the percentage of students who make more than average growth in their mastery of standard conventions in writing as they progress from one grade to the next.
- There will be an annual increase in the number of students whose writing quality improves over the course of a year.
- There will be an annual increase in the number of students who mastery of writing conventions is above the level of proficient.
- There will be an annual increase in the number of students who make average growth.
Math
Students will over time independently solve increasingly complex mathematical problems.
- There will be an annual increase in the percentage of students who make more than average growth in mathematical problem solving as they progress from one grade to the next.
- There will be an annual increase in the number of students whose mathematical problem solving skills are above the level of proficient.
- There will be an annual increase in the number of students who make average growth.
Science
Students will over time independently use increasingly complex scientific information and the processes of inquiry to construct scientific knowledge.
- There will be a continued high level of student academic achievement.
Approved: June 13, 2000
Revised: March 11, 2003
