Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (ACSIP) Monitoring

1. Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (ACSIP) Monitoring Arkansas Department of Education Division of Academic Accountability

2. Overview of the Presentation • Act 807 & ESEA • Purpose • Protocol • On-site monitoring • Monitoring Guide Review

3. ACT 807 State of Arkansas - 86th General Assembly Regular Session, 2007 To expand monitoring and implementation of school improvement plans (i.e., ACSIP) by the Department of Education.

4. Purpose of ACT 807 State of Arkansas - 86th General Assembly Regular Session, 2007 • To monitor the use of “Instructional Facilitators” • To ensure statutory compliance • To Provide technical assistance

5. Monitoring Purpose The Department will periodically monitor each LEA (district) and selected schools to determine if the district is in compliance regarding the implementation of ACSIP. A team of monitors shall conduct a site visit to:

6. Monitoring Purpose(continued) • Determine whether the evaluation conducted by the public school/LEA was conducted properly; • Assess the areas in which the school or LEA needs to revise its plan; • Review the school/LEA’s performance during the preceding two years, including the documented academic performance of its students; • Review the use of public school funding under the Public School Funding Act of 2003, Ark. Code §§6-20-2301 et. seq. (i.e., Categorical Funding) • Will follow a six year revolving schedule for on site visits.

7. Prior to the On-site Visit • The ADE will contact the LEA to schedule the monitoring visit. • The LEA will receive the following: • An e-mail/phone call announcing the visit • Letter of Notification • ACSIP Monitoring Guide for Increasing Student Achievement • Confirmation of dates and schedule of events • The LEA (Superintendent or designee) will ensure that all documentation is organized and readily available.

8. On-site Monitoring Protocol • Conduct entrance conference with LEA by the monitoring team • Interview LEA staff • Review evidence to verify Federal/State compliance • Conduct school visits (as applicable) • Interview building staff • Review evidence to verify Federal/State compliance

9. On-site Monitoring Protocol • Classroom observations • Visit selected classrooms • Determine the level of implementation of the written plan (i.e., ACSIP plan) • Conduct exit conference • Informal meeting with LEA designees that will summarize: • Monitoring activities • Potential findings • Recommendations • Timelines for developing the monitoring report

10. Organization of Evidence • The LEA and each building must organize as follows: • Evidence is organized and aligned to the ACSIP Monitoring Guide • Suggested documents for inclusion • Bell/building schedule • Map of designated buildings • Master Schedule • Workroom large enough for the monitoring team and designated building personnel

11. Protocol after the On-site Visit • Written Preliminary Monitoring Report • LEA will receive preliminary findings within twenty (20) business days of the exit conference • If the LEA incurred no findings of noncompliance, the preliminary report will serve as the final report and no further action is necessary.

12. Written Preliminary Monitoring Report Upon receipt of the Preliminary Report • The LEA (Superintendent or designee) should review the report and send to the ADE any additional documents that provide evidence that the district was in compliance at the time of thevisit. • This may include financial reports, data, minutes, etc. that for some reason were not available at the time of the monitoring.

13. Final Report from ADE • The LEA will receive the Final Report within sixty (60) days of the exit conference. • The LEA must provide a formal response regarding Corrective Action within thirty (30) days upon receipt of the final report unless there were no findings. • The response must provide an outline and timeline of the implementation of any corrective actions. • Technical Assistance Plans – State Support Specialist will provide technical assistance at the request of the district.

14. ADE’s Response to LEA Upon receipt of the LEA’s Corrective Actions • The ADE verifies the Implementation and/or Completion of the Corrective Actions. • The ADE sends an official letter to acknowledge the resolution of noncompliance.

15. State Programs ACT 807 of 2007 State Categorical Funds that require monitoring are:

16. Federal Programs Federal entitlements that require monitoring are:

17. ACSIP Monitoring Guide Legal Requirement(s) (Rules, Laws and Statutes)

18. ACSIP Monitoring Guide Compliance Indicator(s) (The answers to these questions will determine the level of compliance)

19. ACSIP Monitoring Guide Monitoring Guide Key Implemented(Compliance with all indicators) Implementation in Progress(Scholastic Audit and New Interventions/Actions) PartiallyImplemented (Recommendations) Not Implemented (Findings) Not Applicable

20. ACSIP Monitoring Guide Potential Evidence (Documentation of the Compliance Indicators)

21. ACSIP Monitoring Guide Section The ACSIP Monitoring Guide for Increasing Student Achievement has fourteen (14) Sections.

22. ACSIP Monitoring Guide District, School or State Agency (Designates where the records must be kept on file)

23. Common Errors • Incomplete Planning Meeting Evidence Include for each meeting • Sign in Sheets with attendee name and position • Agenda • Minutes or Note • Adequate evidence that parents have been involved in program planning. • Complete equitable services documentation.

24. Resources Arkansas ACT 807 http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2007/R/Acts/Act807.pdf ACT 807 Rules and Regulations http://www.arkansased.org/rules/pdf/current/ade_285_acsip_1207_current.pdf Center for Innovation and Improvement http://www.centerii.org/ National Assessment of Title I: Final Report http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs/20084012/

25. Resources U.S. Department of Education LEA and School Improvement Guidance http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/schoolimprovementguid.pdf Title I Program Monitoring http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/monitoring/index.html U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO Report) http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d071035.pdf