District explains SLIP cycle and high school goals as preliminary ATLAS results arrive

District leaders reviewed the School Level Improvement Plan cycle and presented the high school's plan and how student data drives goals.

A district staff member explained that SLIPs are required components of school accountability and must be approved by the board and posted publicly. The process begins with a district-level RAPP tool that consolidates program approvals and requires district goals; one required district goal is a literacy goal that must include a dyslexia component. School leadership teams, typically composed of administrators, counselors, instructional coaches and teachers, develop SLIPs aligned with district goals, set measurable outcomes and update the documents at least quarterly.

The high schools vice principal, Kelly Meeker, presented the school-level plan. Meeker said the high-school SLIP focuses on student proficiency and growth in English (reading and writing), mathematics (algebra and geometry) and biology; the plan also incorporates Marzanos High Reliability Schools elements and requires teachers to set professional-growth-plan (PGP) goals tied to SLIP priorities and to emphasize student engagement. Meeker noted the high school revised its SLIP in 2023 and used that document to apply successfully for a highly effective schools accreditation for the 2024-25 year.

Administrators also reported that preliminary ATLAS achievement scores from May were posted to the parent portal and to the state portal in the past 24 to 30 hours; those are achievement figures, not growth measures. The district said growth scores will arrive in August and will be combined with achievement results to determine school letter grades and other accountability measures. The administrators said some buildings showed gains in areas while others will require targeted attention.

The board approved school-level improvement plans for six buildings that were included in the meeting packet.