Our School :::

School District Goal 2007-2008

TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Develop and utilize a K-12 database. Create a proactive plan to diagnose and make positive changes linked to improvement of student achievement.     
--Finalize guidelines for the Lyons Township Data Consortium (LTDC) for collecting, analyzing & disseminating data.
--Develop criteria for the prioritization of requests for reports of student academic achievement. 
--Present guidelines and procedures for the LTDC to LTHS Board, Township Superintendents and Township Boards.
--Establish agreed-upon test and demographic items to include in the Township-wide database.  
--Select electronic data tools for improving teaching and learning to help school districts, administrators, and teachers analyze their own data. 
--Provide Staff Development on the use of data at LTHS for administrators, data coaches, staff and teachers. 
--Begin the process of creating Township School District Portfolios for each LTDC school by hiring a consultant.
 
Increase opportunities for all students to maximize their performance on high stakes tests (ACT, PSAE, AP, PSAT/NMSQT).
PSAE/ACT Preparation Goals
--Improve current academic courses in content areas measured on the ACT.
--Find and implement ACT test-prep software designed to give students interactive, individualized test-prep.
--Evaluate and maximize the effectiveness of our evening ACT Prep program and make recommendations for change to BOE.       
--Develop a program to better prepare juniors to take the PSAE tests with a minimum of 80% of students meeting or exceeding state standards by 2010 and a minimum of 85% of students meeting or exceeding state standards by 2012.
--Increase by 10% the number of low-income and students with IEPs taking ACT prep classes. 
--Increase by 10% the number of juniors whose PLAN scores indicate they are not likely to make AYP to take an ACT prep class free-of-charge.
--Investigate ways to offer additional ACT prep class or comparable experiences.
--Using data from Explore and PLAN, target staff development to create classroom activities (ACT/Work Keys) and assessments to better meet student academic needs.
--Integrate Key Train software for Work Keys test preparation in support courses where students can use the self-paced, mastery learning software to improve their test familiarity and improve their skills (Seminar, Reading, Study Hall, Driver’s Ed, CSR, IDW, etc.).

PSAT/NMSQT Preparation Goals
--Increase by 20% the number of juniors who have demonstrated high levels of academic potential for National Merit recognition taking a specially-designed experience to prepare them for the PSAT/NMSQT.

Advanced Placement  Preparation Goals
--Based on student AP test performance, review and refocus curriculum maps of courses that lead up to AP tests. 
--Develop and implement plans of increasing the number of students who take the AP test in AP courses. 
           
Align the curriculum in academic classes to emphasize the mastery of skills students need to improve their performance on major state and federal tests. 
--Update curriculum maps and set up a three-year plan to align and connect them to essential mastery skills that can be measured
--Provide professional development for teachers to assist them to create a system of formative assessment to improve their teaching and student learning.            
--Investigate the feasibility of Professional Learning Communities (PLC) by developing a needs assessment and a timeline for implementation of the PLCs.

Improve the academic achievement for minority and immigrant students.    
--Convene a planning team to develop specific strategies to increase student attendance, reduce suspension rates, improve overall unweighted GPA and increase the graduation rate.
--Increase the number of minority/immigrant students attending college by providing them, beginning in freshman year, sequenced activities to coordinate interests with possible career paths and colleges.
--Increase the level of co-curricular participation by 10% by identifying non-participating students.  
--Increase the level(s) of parental involvement by 10% through direct contact through letters and phone calls inviting parents to specific school activities. 
--Have a minimum of 75% of our minority and immigrant students participate in the Mental Karate™ program by Mawi Asgedom.

Review the effectiveness of the Transition Program and make recommendations to the Board of Education for improvements.   
--Increase the number of students in the summer reading and math initiatives by 10% and track their academic performance throughout freshman year.

Create an Adult English Language Learner program in the LT community.    
--Offer English language classes free-of-charge to all non-English speaking parents and guardians in Lyons Township schools K-12.

Improve school climate and student behavior.       
--Administer a school climate survey, identify areas of concern from the survey results, and make recommendations for improvements in areas of concern found in the survey results.