The school improvement plan for John H. Castle Elementary School outlines key components such as descriptions of the school, curriculum, assessments, vision and mission statements, goals, parent participation, technology use, safety, cultural competency, student achievement objectives, benchmarks, professional development, and a three-year timeline. The principal and assistant principal authored the plan with input from the PL221 committee. The plan is working well as student test scores have remained above state averages. If she were principal, the reviewer would encourage more faculty involvement in the PL221 committee to strengthen understanding and implementation of the school improvement plan.

1. Talisha Keith’s School Improvement Plan Review for John H. Castle Elementary School
1. What are the key components of the plan?
 Description of School, Community, and Educational Programs
 Description and Location of Curriculum
 Titles and Descriptions of Assessment Instruments to be used in addition to ISTEP+ and
IREAD (Norm Referenced)
 Criterion Referenced Tests
 Authentic Assessments
 Vision Statement
 Mission Statement
 Corporation Goals
 Parent Participation within the school
 Technology as a learning tool
 Safety and Disciplined environment
 Cultural Competency
 Student achievement objectives
 Specific areas where improvement is needed immediately
 Benchmarks for progress that specify how and to what extent the school expects to make
continuous improvement in all areas of the education system
 Professional Development
 Statuses and rules to be waived (N/A)
 Three-year time line (2008-2011) for implementation vision

2. 2. Who were the key authors?
The principal and assistant principal were key authors, with input and revision from the PL221
committee.
3. How is the plan working?
I personally believe the plan at John H. Castle Elementary is well-designed and implemented
equally among Kindergarten through fifth grades. The success rate and test scores of our
students have remained above the average state level over that past several years. Additional
services and programs that are used through out our school have proven successful with the
percentage break down within our grade level and school wide ISTEP scores. John H. Castle
Elementary is known for upholding its reputation as a Four Star School and upholding an clear,
rigorous academic plan.
4. If you were the principal what would you be doing differently?
If I were principal, I would encourage more faculty members to take part in the PL221
committee in order to build a stronger foundation that supports the school improvement plan.
While we are all working toward a common goal and know the basis school improvement plan,
it is imperative for all staff members to have a deeply rooted understand of what our
documentation states in order to successfully play out our vision. Our plan would be more
visible through out the school.
5. Describe how you used this project to initiate the Vision for Learning project.