Colorado's Unified Improvement Plan for Schools

Sierra Elementary School UIP 2024-25

      
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Content


  • Document icons and definitions

  • Priority Performance Challenges
  • Root Cause
  • Major Improvement Strategies
  • Action Steps
  • Progress Monitoring
  • Trend Direction

Executive Summary


Priority Performance Challenges Root Cause Major Improvement Strategies
  • Improve CMAS Math Growth Scores
    		•
  • Systemic practices aligned to CAS
    		•
  • Monitor and strengthen instructional core- math
    		•
  • Reduce Number of K-3 Students Scoring Red on DIBELS 8
    		•
  • Foundational skill instruction
    		•
  • Monitor and strengthen instructional core- reading
    		•


    Access the School Performance Framework here: http://www.cde.state.co.us/schoolview/performance

    Access the Literacy Curriculum Transparency Dashboard here: https://www.cde.state.co.us/code/literacycurriculumtransparency-dashboard

    Improvement Plan Information


    Additional Information about the school


    As a four-time John Irwin Award recipient, Sierra is a high achieving school nestled in the Ralston Valley articulation area of Arvada. Our state of the art facility offers a variety of learning environments and opportunities to meet the needs of all learners that include preschool and an SSN program, along with other supports and opportunities for all students. Sierra is committed to small class sizes and ensuring that all students have highly qualified teachers in every classroom. Throughout the school day, Sierra focuses on educating the whole child by incorporating SEL based activities, providing structured brain breaks, offering regular specials (Art, Music, and P.E.), and preparing students to be responsible citizens in the 21st century. Each classroom is equipped with interactive projectors/Mimio Boards, audio enhancement, as well as 1-to-1 devices in all K-5 classes. All grades incorporate technology into daily lessons including Digital Portfolios, SeeSaw, and Google Apps for Education. Our Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports program and Restorative Circles focuses on building community, empathy, and teaching positive behaviors. In partnership with our families and community, we take pride in ensuring success of the whole child.

    Improvement Plan Information

    The school/district is submitting this improvement plan to satisfy requirements for (check all that apply):


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    Narrative on Data Analysis and Root Cause Identification


    Prior Year Targets

    Provide a summary of your progress in implementing the Major Improvement Strategies and if they had the intended effect on systems, adult actions, and student outcomes (e.g. targets).


    Based on your reflection and evaluation, provide a summary of the adjustments that you will make for this year's plan.

    Current Performance

    CMAS math median growth percentile for the 2023-24 school year was 55%. In 2022-23, Sierra's math median growth percentile was 61%. Sierra has demonstrated a 6% decline in MGP in 1 year. We continue to score in the ''meets'' category while slowly declining.

    K-3 students scoring red on DIBELS 8 on 2024-25 BOY testing is 17%, which is 49 out of 285 students. We believe this will have a direct impact/reduction on the total number of students on READ Plans at Sierra.

    Priority Performance Challenge and Associated Root Cause

    Priority Performance Challenge:  Improve CMAS Math Growth Scores

    Area of Focus: Math growth


    Root Cause: Systemic practices aligned to CAS

    Sierra is starting it's third year of Illustrative Math implementation. As part of cohort 1, key components of the resource were not understood until last year (2023-24).

    Root Cause Category: Curriculum


    Priority Performance Challenge:  Reduce Number of K-3 Students Scoring Red on DIBELS 8

    Area of Focus: English/Language Arts achievement


    Root Cause: Foundational skill instruction

    Sierra implemented OG (Orton Gillingham) as core K-3 last school year (2023-24).

    Root Cause Category: Instruction

    Action and Progress Monitoring Plans

    Major Improvement Strategy and Action Plan

    > >

    Monitor and strengthen instructional core

    Describe the research/evidence base supporting the strategy:

    		Through unit internalization teachers will know and understand the end goals of the unit as it aligns to CAS. Using assessment data, teachers will move into lesson internalization to ensure that instruction, concepts, and objectives meet end of unit expectations and grade level standards. Unit/lesson internalization provides clarity around student outcomes for which teachers are held accountable. Facilitates deep understanding of curriculum resources and encourages collaboration among grade level teachers and beyond.

    Strategy Category:

    		Continuous Improvement

    Associated Root Causes:

    Systemic practices aligned to CAS: Sierra is starting it's third year of Illustrative Math implementation. As part of cohort 1, key components of the resource were not understood until last year (2023-24).

    Implementation Benchmarks Associated with Major Improvement Strategy

    Benchmark Name Description Start/End/Repeats Key Personnel Status

    Action Steps Associated with Major Improvement Strategy

    Name Description Start/End Date Resource Key Personnel Status
    > >

    Monitor and strengthen instructional core- math

    Describe the research/evidence base supporting the strategy:

    		Through unit internalization teachers will know and understand the end goals of the unit as it aligns to CAS. Using assessment data, teachers will move into lesson internalization to ensure that instruction, concepts, and objectives meet end of unit expectations and grade level standards. Unit/lesson internalization provides clarity around student outcomes for which teachers are held accountable. Facilitates deep understanding of curriculum resources and encourages collaboration among grade level teachers and beyond.

    Strategy Category:

    		Continuous Improvement

    Associated Root Causes:

    Systemic practices aligned to CAS: Sierra is starting it's third year of Illustrative Math implementation. As part of cohort 1, key components of the resource were not understood until last year (2023-24).

    Implementation Benchmarks Associated with Major Improvement Strategy

    Benchmark Name Description Start/End/Repeats Key Personnel Status
    All grade level teachers will participate in weekly math internalization

    		IC and admin

    Action Steps Associated with Major Improvement Strategy

    Name Description Start/End Date Resource Key Personnel Status
    Weekly math internalizations
    		08/13/2024
    05/23/2025     		Classroom teachers, IC, admin
    Regular math professional development
    		09/11/2024
    05/23/2025     		IC, district math leaders, admin
    > >

    Monitor and strengthen instructional core- reading

    Describe the research/evidence base supporting the strategy:

    		Based on data, our students continue to show a need for basic reading foundational skill instruction. OG is a research-based program that will target the areas of phonics and phonemic awareness.

    Strategy Category:

    		Continuous Improvement

    Associated Root Causes:

    Foundational skill instruction: Sierra implemented OG (Orton Gillingham) as core K-3 last school year (2023-24).

    Implementation Benchmarks Associated with Major Improvement Strategy

    Benchmark Name Description Start/End/Repeats Key Personnel Status
    EOY decrease of # of students scoring red on DIBELS 8

    		Classroom teachers

    Action Steps Associated with Major Improvement Strategy

    Name Description Start/End Date Resource Key Personnel Status
    OG instruction occurs daily for 30 minutes in grades K-3
    		09/03/2024
    05/23/2025     		Classroom teachers
    Small groups for phonics/phonemic awareness
    		09/03/2024
    05/23/2025     		Classroom teachers, SERS, instructional paras
    > >

    Monitor and strengthen instructional core- reading

    Describe the research/evidence base supporting the strategy:

    		Based on data, our students continue to show a need for basic reading foundational skill instruction. OG is a research-based program that will target the areas of phonics and phonemic awareness.

    Strategy Category:

    		Continuous Improvement

    Associated Root Causes:

    Foundational skill instruction: Sierra implemented OG (Orton Gillingham) as core K-3 last school year (2023-24).

    Implementation Benchmarks Associated with Major Improvement Strategy

    Benchmark Name Description Start/End/Repeats Key Personnel Status

    Action Steps Associated with Major Improvement Strategy

    Name Description Start/End Date Resource Key Personnel Status

    Progress Monitoring: Student Target Setting

    Priority Performance Challenge : Improve CMAS Math Growth Scores

    Performance Indicator:

    Measures / Metrics:
    ANNUAL
    PERFORMANCE
    TARGETS
    2024-2025: The end target for the 2024-25 school year is in increase of math MGP at least 2%.
    2025-2026:

    INTERIM MEASURES FOR 2024-2025:

    Priority Performance Challenge : Reduce Number of K-3 Students Scoring Red on DIBELS 8

    Performance Indicator:

    Measures / Metrics:
    ANNUAL
    PERFORMANCE
    TARGETS
    2024-2025: Reduce the number of K-3 students scoring red from BOY to EOY on DIBELS 8 by at least 5%.
    2025-2026:

    INTERIM MEASURES FOR 2024-2025:

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