To receive School Improvement Funds, a State Educational Agency (SEA) must submit an application to the Department. These funds, along with funds reserved under section 1003(a), are intended to support high-quality, sustainable school improvement activities that increase the likelihood that students learn challenging academic content and achieve proficiency. Each SEA and Local Educational Agency (LEA) that receives funds must implement one or more of the school improvement strategies from the list below that are designed to build LEA and school capacity to improve student achievement and positively impact the following measurable outcomes.

MEASURABLE OUTCOMES

1. The number and percentage of students who score proficient in reading/language arts and mathematics, as measured by the SEA’s assessments given annually in grades 3-8 and once in high schools, increase in LEAs and schools receiving School Improvement Funds.
2. LEAs and schools receiving School Improvement Funds that make adequate yearly progress and move out of improvement status.
3. LEAs and schools receiving School Improvement Funds that make decisions regarding the use of these funds based on data and create systems of continuous feedback and improvement.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES

Each SEA and LEA that receives School Improvement Funds must implement one or more of the following strategies. Each SEA and LEA should select the strategy or strategies it determines will be the most effective, based on data that reflect their individual circumstances, in building LEA and school capacity to improve student achievement and move schools out of improvement.

1. Provide customized technical assistance and/or professional development that is designed to build the capacity of LEA and school staff to improve schools and is informed by student achievement and other outcome-related measures.
2. Utilize research-based strategies or practices to change instructional practice to address the academic achievement problems that caused the school to be identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring.
3. Create partnerships among the SEA, LEAs and other entities for the purpose of delivering technical assistance, professional development, and management advice.
4. Provide professional development to enhance the capacity of school support team members and other technical assistance providers who are part of the statewide system of support and that is informed by student achievement and other outcome-related measures.
5. Implement other strategies determined by the SEA or LEA, as appropriate, for which data indicate the strategy is likely to result in improved teaching and learning in schools identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring.