|  | Saint Paul Schools complete review of academic probation schools, make recommendations for improvement
12/6/1999 10:35 AMSaint Paul Public Schools have taken a major step forward in efforts to improve schools on academic probation with the completion of school intervention reports. The reports, prepared by the Office of Accountability following intensive team visits to each school, outline the strengths and weaknesses of each school and make recommendations for improvement.
“The intervention reports give these 11 schools a specific direction for improvement,” said Margo Baines, chief accountability officer for Saint Paul Public Schools. “Now, they will know where they need to focus their improvement efforts and what it will take to move their schools and students forward.”
The intervention reports are based on observations of teams that included members of the Office of Accountability, curriculum specialists, district staffing specialists, staff development experts, special education staff, English Language Learner staff, guidance and counseling staff, facilities and operations experts, finance and budget managers and other district specialists.
The teams were assigned to review, in depth, each school’s operation from the time students get on the bus until the time students completed after-schools programs. The teams interviewed school leaders, teachers and other school staff, students, parents, site council members and school volunteers. The reports reflect the comments from parents, staff and other school stakeholders.
“We know what it takes to improve schools,” Baines added. “Our strategic plan outlines the areas of school improvement very clearly — leadership, a focus on students, quality instructional programs, staff development, family and community partnerships, and a system to support and monitor improvement. That is what we have focused on in these reports and in our recommendations.”
School principals shared their reports with their school communities last week. A summary of the reports is attached.
The intervention reports are a key element in the development of corrective action plans that address specific problems at each school. The corrective action plans will be developed by each school with help from the school district’s Office of Accountability. Other elements of the corrective action plans include the assignment of coaches/critical friends to each school and the selection of a school improvement design model that matches each school’s needs. Each school’s coach/critical friend will be named in the next three weeks.
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