Liberty High School
School Improvement Plan
2015-2016
School Vision / Mission“Strive for Excellence”
Academics, Arts, Athletics, Community, Service
Carroll County Public Schools Vision 2018: Focus on Excellence Objectives
Prepare Globally Competitive Students
Ø Fully implement a CCPS curriculum aligned with the Maryland State Standards.
Ø Partner with local institutions of higher education to ensure college readiness.
Ø Enhance programs to ensure career readiness for all students.
Meet Each Student’s Instructional Needs
Ø Close the achievement gap between highest achieving and most struggling students.
Ø Provide appropriate education services for students identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Ø Enhance alternative programs responsive to the needs of at-risk students.
Ø Implement a Gifted and Talented Program aligned with COMAR requirements.
Ø Enhance alternative learning opportunities through the use of digital resources.
Develop and Maintain an Effective Workforce
Ø Attract and retain highly qualified, effective, and diverse employees.
Ø Promote a culture of diversity in the workplace.
Ø Develop an electronic observation, evaluation, feedback, and professional development system.
Ø Continuously monitor the organizational structure to support the Vision 2018 Plan.
Provide a Secure, Orderly, Modern Environment
Ø Reduce incidents of bullying, violence, intolerance, and behavioral disruptions.
Ø Improve and modernize the environment within our school facilities and school buses.
Ø Enhance security for all CCPS students, staff, volunteers, and visitors.
School Needs Assessment
Liberty High School continues a long history of academic success and college placement. There is still a need to ensure that students are ready for life after high school in college and career readiness. The AP Program remains one of the strongest in the county, yet there are opportunities for growth in student enrollment and success in both AP classes and completer programs. Even though there is an increasing value (2013- 0.09735, 2014-1.0160) in the College & Career Readiness portion of the School Progress Index (specifically the College and Career Preparation Value), programs associated with career readiness should continue to be a point of emphasis.
The staff at Liberty HS continues a successful transition to Common Core State Standards and other state standards as many staff members have been involved in curriculum writing, updating, and implementation. A highlighted need for improvement in this area is in reducing the gap between the highest performing student group (White Students) and the lowest performing student groups (FARMS) on the English HSA (Gap Reduction Values for 2013- 0.7348, 2014-.8504). While the assessment tool is transitioning from the English HSA to PARCC Assessments, an area of anticipated need remains in content area literacy.
Using technology to enhance student achievement and communication throughout the school community remains a need. Addressing this need will allow students to be better equipped to meet the needs of a changing global job-climate with success.
School Improvement Goals to Target Areas from Needs Assessment
1. Increase student enrollment in courses and completer programs that provide opportunities related to college and career readiness.
2. Decrease the achievement gap between all student groups in the area of content literacy.
3. Increase technology supported learning opportunities for all stakeholder groups. (Stakeholders defined as: students, staff, parents, community)
School Improvement Goal
1. Increase student enrollment in courses and programs that provide opportunities related to college and career readiness.
Strategic Actions / Time Line / Measures of Success / Desired Performance Level
1.1 Educate parents, students, and advisors about CCCTC and other completer programs ( i.e. Dual Completers), through updated advisory lessons in grades 9-11 / 2015-2016 School Year (Focus on Department Meetings leading up to Scheduling) / - Number of students enrolled in coursework connected to completer programs, Career and Tech, concurrent enrollment students, number of dual completer graduates
-Number of AP tests given and Number of students enrolled in AP classes
1.2 Provide opportunities for college students, CCCTC and Internship students to present about their experiences / 2015-2016 School Year (10th graders End of MP2; 9th graders End of MP4) / - Number of students enrolled in Internships and CCCTC
1.3 Provide opportunities for students to examine their career interests and assess their career skills through career inventories and career speakers / - 2015-2016 School Year
(Date determined by grade; specific time allotted during PSAT/CAP day, and time in the spring) / - Number of students completing career inventories
- Student feedback after career series about which courses are necessary for particular fields
-Data collected by Guidance and Career Connections Coordinator
School Improvement Goal
2. Decrease the achievement gap between all student groups in the area of content literacy.
Strategic Actions / Time Line / Measures of Success / Desired Performance Level
2.1 Utilize assessments to identify students who are underperforming in reading. (identify assessments) / 2015-2016 School Year (Meetings determined jointly between reading specialist and ILT) / - Focus on English 9, English 10, and English 11 Level 1 and Level 6 SRI, PSAT, and HSA/PARCC scores for FARMS, Special Ed and other at-risk sub groups
- Data for achievement gap gathered from this timeline:
Start with 8th grade SRI
9th Grade SRI given twice
10th Grade PSAT
10th Grade SRI
11th Grade PSAT
11th Grade SRI
2.2 Provide intervention for those identified students and show growth in their reading performance through identified assessments. / 2015-2016 School Year / - Departments will review data, with identified students and identify specific content literacy strategies.
2.2 Expand use of IXL and other support programs to support Farms, Special Ed, and other at-risk sub groups, using Level1 and Level 6 English and Math as focus classes / 2015-2016 School Year / - Increase in Accuplacer use for FARMS, Special Ed and other at-risk sub groups
- Writing Samples from all content areas that demonstrate content-area literacy
School Improvement Goal
3. Increase technology supported learning opportunities for all stakeholder groups. (Stakeholders defined as: students, staff, parents, community)
Strategic Actions / Time Line / Measures of Success / Desired Performance Level
3.1 Increase support for using technology as a tool for learning / 2015-2016 School Year / - Stakeholders can identify important pieces of Technology vision and utilize technologies such as Office 365, Edmodo, etc., and identify where to get information and support
- Measure student opportunities to use Office 365, Onenote via staff survey.
3.2 Provide professional development opportunities for staff that are individualized to meet staff needs regarding technology / 2015-2016 School Year / - Amount of credits that staff accrue through the PD Model