Albany presents new DCIP template and school improvement plans with focus on equity and resource alignment

Instructional leaders Jasmine Brown and Jennifer Houlihan presented the district’s revised District Comprehensive Improvement Plan (DCIP) and school comprehensive education plans to the board, emphasizing a theory of action grounded in the collective student experience and equity. Houlihan said the state requires differentiated improvement plan types (CSI, ATSI/TSI, DSI/LSI) and a set of five required activities for identified schools; schools must identify 1–2 instructional strategies and 2–5 non-instructional strategies driven by needs assessments and community input.

Administrators described operational changes this year: a systems-level DCIP template to improve cohesion between district and school plans, assignment of a district liaison to each building to act as a thought partner, and an expectation that identified schools will connect their plans directly to expenditure plans. Houlihan said the district contracted Education Elements and is standardizing research-based instructional methods and MTSS across schools. "We are really holding ourselves to high expectations this year in the implementation of those plans with fidelity," one presenter said, noting monitoring through classroom visits, coaching, and common planning time.

Board members asked how parents and students were engaged in plan development, whether all schools completed the interview/listening activities, and how funding differs across CSI/TSI/LSI statuses. Administrators said identified schools must link plans to expenditures and that district-level funds can be allocated to support implementation in LSI schools; SEP closeout meetings are used to review outcomes and course-correct.