WASC Visiting Committee Final Presentation for Overseas Schools

1. WASC Visiting Committee Final Presentation for Overseas Schools International School Myanmar October 3, 2013

2. Focus on Learning asks… • How do you know that all students are achieving based on our schoolwide student goals and academic standards? • Is the school doing everything possible to support high achievement for all its students?

3. Organization for Student Learning: School Purpose, Governance, School Leadership, Staff, School Environment, Reporting Student Progress, and School Improvement Process Areas of Strength forStudent Learning • The school’s mission and guiding documents, ESLRs implementation development, and drafting of new Progress Reports are to be commended. • Board’s passion for education and the new Elementary School facility are to be celebrated. • The school’s targeting of needs with PD has been an area of strength. Corresponding common assessment rubric usage has been an example of strong follow through. • The cultural and personal orientation to Myanmar has been a valuable asset for new teachers. • The positive school environment nurtures respect for teaching and learning – both in classroom academics and in after school activities. • The school is to be commended for their well-developed and active community service program. • There is evidence of a positive culture for teacher collaboration.

4. Organization for Student Learning: School Purpose, Governance, School Leadership, Staff, School Environment, Reporting Student Progress, and School Improvement Process Key Issues forSupport of Student Learning Review new teacher induction, to ensure new teachers are able to implement curricular initiatives at the beginning of the school year. Consider school wide organization and implementation of UbD unit development, planned ESLRs inclusion, and vertical alignment of standards. Ensure school wide improved communication of management and WASC processes. Develop Board policy manual including job descriptions and communication protocols. Consider re-establishing the Faculty Advisory Committee. Ensure maintenance of PD across time for continued school growth. Implement a standard supervision and evaluation process school wide. Review and determine organization and implementation of instructional agreements. Develop a research and develop standards-based reporting system.

5. Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Areas of Strength for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment • Students are proud to be studying at ISM, are engaged in learning, and their work samples indicate higher order learning skills are addressed throughout the curriculum and instruction. • The faculty is collaborative, supportive, and eager to integrate technology into student learning. • Curriculum work that is on-going is the move toward standard-based units using UbD format and incorporating a variety of assessment strategies. • School’s “Weeks Without Walls” and community service programs provide outstanding exposure and opportunities for ISM students

6. Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Key Issues for Support of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment A more focused individual Professional Development program needs to be implemented providing support in the areas of UbD units, implementing ESLRs in units and assessments, Reader/Writer workshops, AP etc. More time for teacher collaboration needs to be provided Curriculum Review Cycle needs to be reviewed and implemented No evidence that ISA data are being used to drive learning improvement.

7. Support for Student Personal and Academic Growth Areas of Strength for Support for Student Personal and Academic Growth • The middle school progress in integrating the ESLRs into the planning, assessment and reporting of student learning. • There is high student participation and interest in curricular and co-curricular activities across the school. • Systems are in places that allow students access to health clinic and nurse and counseling office.

8. Support for Student Personal and Academic Growth Key Issues for Support of Support for Student Personal and Academic Growth Review the role of the current school counselors and develop a staffing plan to meet the needs of the current and future student population with consideration to gender and student demographics Consideration should be given to creating a learning support program to meet the needs to students pre-K through 12. Special emphasis should be given to creating Individual Education Plans as necessary with accompanying support. Review staffing and qualifications of ESOL teachers to insure the needs of high school students are being met with special consideration for newly enrolled students.

9. Parent and Community Involvement Areas of Strength for Parent and Community Involvement • There is a well-developed culture and programs of community and service throughout the school including microloan programs, Community Service English Program and Week Without Walls. • The PTA organization of events which increase parent involvement and communication with the school.

10. Parent and Community Involvement Key Issues forParent and Community Involvement • Review the protocols for parent-school communication to insure that information is received and understood regardless of language, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

11. Resource Management and Development Areas of Strength for Resource Management and Development • Funds are available, on an ad hoc basis, to continue the school’s development. • New facilities have been built to relieve the overcrowding of the past two years. • The elementary school building is new and accommodates 600 students.

12. Resource Management and Development Key Areas of Support of Resource Management and Development • The teacher salary and benefits package should be reviewed and modified to improve teacher retention. • The Board of Directors and the Director need to develop a budget process with procedures to identify real needs and the usefulness of items requested with improved communication back to the initiating teacher. • A Master Resource Plan must be developed and communicated to the ISM staff and parent body. This plan should be reviewed on an annual basis. • A marketing plan should be developed that would support the continued growth of the student enrollment at ISM.

13. Schoolwide Areas of Strength There is adequate available financial resources for the continued growth and improvement of ISM.

14. Schoolwide Areas of Strength ISM has a community service program that is aligned to the mission and ESLRs with involvement of the whole school community.

15. Schoolwide Areas of Strength There are initiatives underway at ISM in the areas of: common assessments, ESLRs, portfolios and student led conferences.

16. Schoolwide Areas of Strength ISM has passionate and qualified faculty, dedicated and capable assistant teachers and local staff, an emerging ASA program, and an engaged elementary school PTA.

17. Schoolwide Critical Areas for Concern There is a need for governance structures, a strategic plan, policies and procedures in all areas of the school, including: • Clear roles and responsibilities of the Board of Directors and Administrators, • Well-defined, transparent and easily understood budget and procurement process, clear school-wide policies and practices for admissions, learning support, assessment, communication and student support, • Development of long-range planning including resourcing and strategic plans.

18. Schoolwide Critical Areas for Concern • Develop a unified whole school plan for common instructional practices and curriculum design including: agreed upon best practice pedagogy, vertical K-12 standards and ESLRs, UbD units for all subjects and levels, standards-based assessment with professional development and dedicated collaborative time to support teachers in this work.

19. Schoolwide Critical Areas for Concern • There is a need to increase the level of support available for all students which should include: an increase in social emotional counselors at all three levels, development of a program to identify and support students with learning needs and insure adequate ESOL support for students at all levels.

20. Schoolwide Critical Areas for Concern There is a need to increase the retention of qualified teachers and administrators through: competitive benefits package and effective, transparent management of resources, open and clear communication and involvement in the decision making process.

21. Additional Findings • There is a need to identify, collect and analyze key assessment data to track student progress, evaluate program effectiveness and make resource decisions. • There is a need to develop technology resources for effective learning, teaching and data management. • It is recommended that the school commit to using the WASC school improvement process and the ISM guiding documents (Mission, ESLRs, Principles of Learning and Assessment Philosophy) as a vehicle for meaningful and unifying whole school reform adequacy of the schoolwide action plan in addressing the critical areas for follow-up

22. The Visiting Committee found ISM to be a school that has great potential. With more openness among stakeholders and a strategic plan for improvement, ISM will continue to grow and improve in all areas, along with the development in Myanmar.