A school improvement plan is the product of careful planning and analysis. An approach which is known as the Plan Do Study Act Cycle is utilized to ensure that the final document is an accurate picture of the strengths and challenges of the school at the current time. The importance of using visual tools to aid team members in working together from the same data sources is stressed. This year-long process ensures that the final report is due to a team effort which will assist the following year’s team in implementing a viable school improvement plan for the new school year.
This paper discusses processes which will help develop an effective school improvement plan. The processes discussed are planning year round, team formation, developing measurable questions, collecting, disaggregating, and analyzing data, and finally developing a written plan which will be shared with the community. Several tools will also be shared which might aide in the consistent collection and analysis of data.