The passage of Act 999 of 1999 and the implementation of the Arkansas Comprehensive Testing, Assessment, and Accountability Program (ACTAAP) have caused the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) to restructure and redirect many resources both human and financial. Consequently, modifications have been necessary in the annual application/plan submission process for federal funds (as described in Director's Memo SI-02-007) and the school plan evaluation procedure. These changes are effective as of the date of this memorandum.
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN REVIEW, 2001-2002
1. School Improvement Plan Review dates (previously known as ACSIP or COE team-visit dates) will now be the designated dates for school personnel to submit school improvement plans and committee minutes electronically to the School Improvement and Instructional Support Unit, ADE (ftp server and/or email). School Improvement Plan Review dates will be scheduled for individual schools at least every five years (i.e., the same schedule currently in use by the ADE).
2. Instructions for Copying an Arkansas Consolidated School Improvement Plan (ACSIP) into the ftp server of the Arkansas Department of Education. Note: Prior to using the ADE's ftp server, school improvement plans should be saved as "Word documents" in the "C drive" (which usually defaults to "My Documents Folder") of the school district's computer.
(a) From a computer connected to the Internet, open the Internet Explorer (Version 5.5) browser. If the computer does not have this version of Internet Explorer, it can be downloaded from www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.htm and click on the "Download Now" button. District or educational service cooperative technology specialists may be able to assist the user if help is needed.
(b) Type ftp://165.29.214.17/ in the Internet Explorer 5.5 Version browser "address blank."
(c) Press "Enter."
(d) When the ftp server opens, it is recommended that this ftp address be added to "Favorites" for future use. This is done by selecting the browser's "Favorites" in the pull-down tool bar at the top of the page. "Add" the ftp site to the user's "Favorites" to expedite future connections.
(e) The ftp server page will open to a "Login" screen. Enter the school district's user name and password in the appropriate blanks and press "Enter." (The school district password is being mailed to the principal of each school as well as the superintendent.) Contact the School Improvement & Instructional Support Unit, ADE, at 501-682-4231, regarding questions or problems related to school district ftp passwords.
(f) When the server appears, use the "Edit" pull down to "Copy" (not "Cut" or "Move") the Word document file (the school user's ACSIP plan) from its location or storage point in the school district user's computer (C drive, etc.) and ...
(g) "Paste" the Word document file into the district's folder on the ADE's ftp server.
(h) "Exit" the ADE's ftp server.
(i) School district personnel will be unable to read the file after it has been deposited in the ftp folder.
(j) ACSIP Plan Revisions: To revise a school/district plan, make changes or amendments to the plan at the school/district site, then resubmit the revised plan in its entirety with a new file name through the ftp server. "Rename" revised plans according to the version of the revision. For example, if the school district's Word file was named, "Smith Elementary" (original plan), the first revision of the plan would be named, "Smith Elementary Rev 1 for" . . . which area of the Arkansas Department of Education the plan was revised. For instance, "Title 1" or "Title 6" or "SIP" or name of unit for which the revision is required. * Sample revised plan complete file name: "Smith Elementary Rev 1 for Title 1."
(k) Once any plan or revised plan is deposited in the ADE's ftp server, the school user will be unable to access or read the file from the ftp server. A file (plan) deposited in the ftp server will be a copy of the file still held by the school user.
3. School improvement plans in the 2001-2002 academic year will conform to the Arkansas Consolidated School Plan (ACSIP) model and available software, notwithstanding court orders and other legal restrictions.
4. Contact with public school personnel for the purposes of the evaluation will be directed through on-site activities of representatives from the ADE and other educators invited by the ADE, prior to electronic submission of the plan to the ADE. Travel expenses incurred by individuals who have volunteered to assist as evaluators will be paid by their respective, consenting employers (e.g., school districts or institutions of higher education) unless other funding is made available. Information derived from these contacts will be used in the School Improvement Plan Review process.
5. The results of the School Improvement Plan Review will be reported to school district superintendents thirty days after the appropriate school improvement plans and committee minutes are provided to the ADE.