2007 Commonwealth Pilot Schools Application Requirements
Districts seeking to convert an Underperforming School into a Commonwealth Pilot School are required to complete a proposal in accordance with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Guidelines for Commonwealth Pilot Schools and the instructions set forth below. The proposal narrative must contain the following elements:
*Please note that the proposal narrative should be a maximum of 20 pages, 12-point size, and one-inch margins.
Overview of the Proposed Co-Pilot School
Provide an overview of the school that includes:
The name of the school; The proposed grade span of the school; the school's total enrollment at full capacity; and a summary of the key characteristics of the school and a statement of how the autonomies described in the Department's Commonwealth Pilot Schools Guidelines are expected to lead to improved student performance at the school.
School Vision
Describe the school vision/mission and the guiding philosophy that undergird the design for the proposed Commonwealth Pilot School. State what you expect your students to be prepared for upon completing their course of study at the school.
Key Characteristics and Innovations
Describe and explain your rationale/intent for the key characteristics and innovations of the school being proposed, including the following:
How the school will be organized and structured; The school calendar and daily schedule for both faculty and students, including the proposed allocation of time within the school day/week, to ensure ample time for instruction and individualized student support in math and English language arts; The proposed class sizes and teacher-student loads; and How students and faculty will be grouped for instruction.
School Governance and Management Structures
Describe how the school will be governed and managed, including:
Who will be on the governing board (e.g. staff, parents, students, community members, partners, etc.); The responsibilities and authorities that will rest with the governing board and the principal; and The process for gaining faculty, parent, student and community partners' input into decisions.
Learning Environment/School Culture
Describe how the school will create a learning environment where:
Every child is well known; Students participate in the evaluation of their progress toward personal achievement goals; Interactions between and among students, teachers and administrators evidence mutual respect, promote collaborative effort and foster the development of enduring relationships; and Adults and students rally support for improvement efforts and difficult challenges are met with energy, resolve and persistence.
Curriculum and Instruction
Describe the following:
The school's instructional philosophy and methodology; the core academic curriculum and electives; The steps you will take to ensure that the planned and implemented curricula are fully aligned to state curricular frameworks and student learning standards; How you will involve community resources to enhance the curriculum; How your school will address the needs of English Language Learners, students with special needs and economically disadvantaged students; and How parents/guardians and family members will be involved in their child's learning.
Student Assessment and Graduation Requirements.
Describe your school's philosophy for student assessment and explain the proposed plan to assess student performance beyond the MCAS, including:
The mathematics and English assessments you will administer to students; The alignment with the curriculum and the State frameworks; the frequency of these assessments per year; and Proposed graduation requirements (whether middle or high school).
Use of Data
Describe how the school will track student progress across a range of student engagement (including attendance, suspension, transfer, dropout and attrition) and achievement (e.g., Honor Roll, enrollment in AP courses, MCAS, course failures, graduation, college-going) indicators, including:
How these data will be used to assess school and student progress, and make improvements; and How student assessment results in English language arts and math will be tracked in order to inform curriculum, instruction, and individual student support.
Administrative Structure and Staffing Plan
Describe the proposed staffing plan for the school and explain your rationale for that staffing pattern. Describe the process for faculty hiring. Describe the proposed administrative structure including how it will lead to strong instructional leadership in the school.
Work Conditions
Describe the work conditions that will be included in the school's election-to-work agreement for local teacher union faculty, including:
The length of the school day and school year; The amount of required time beyond the regular school day; Any additional required time during the summer or school vacations; and Any other duties or obligations beyond the requirements of the local teacher union contract.
Describe the dispute resolution process that will be in place for teachers.
Professional Development and Support
Describe the proposed professional development plan for faculty, including:
The frequency and organization of collaborative planning for interdisciplinary or grade-level teams, departments, and full faculty; The schedule in which this professional development and collaborative planning time will occur; The individuals engaged in collaborative planning; and The focus of this time.
Describe the plan for academic coaching in math and English language arts including:
Who will provide the coaching; What the coaching will entail; and Who will receive the coaching
Describe the proposed plan for ongoing teacher support, including supervision and evaluation. Describe how faculty evaluation will be focused on effective instruction to improve student learning.
Student Support
Describe how you will provide appropriate before-, during, and after-school support services such as advisory, tutoring, learning centers and homework centers, including:
Specific strategies for the needs of English Language Learners, students with special needs and economically disadvantaged students; When these services will be provided to students and how students will be targeted for these services; and How you will work with every student on developing college plans and applying to college.
Family and Community Involvement
Describe how you will ensure family engagement in the school, particularly in support of student learning. Describe the types of community and university partnerships you will form to enrich the school's curriculum, instruction, assessment, and student support.
Design Team Profile and Planning Process
Identify the members of the Design Team proposing to establish the Pilot School. Describe the scope of school and community interest and participation in your proposed Pilot school. Provide evidence of community support. Attach any letters of support.
last updated: May 3, 2007
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