There are two ways in which a school might be considered a CT Vanguard School:
First, as a High Performing School. A High Performing School has at least 80% of its students at or above goal in all three areas on state assessments for two or more years.
Second, as a Significantly Improving School. A Significantly Improving School has a consistent trend toward increasing the percentage (%) of students at or above goal/proficiency in all three areas of state assessments for two or more consecutive years.
Why Apply?
Selection as a Connecticut Vanguard School is a prestigious honor that will be recognized publicly: locally, regionally, and state-wide. Research clearly indicates that improved student performance is always linked to very specific and sustained strategies that have been put into practice with broad-based planning, thorough implementation, on-going monitoring, evaluation and revision.
Benefits: Vanguard Schools will receive:
- $15,000 award for discretionary use to continue implementing best practices
- $5,000 to share best practices with schools in need of improvement
- Public recognition via state, regional and local media
- Formal recognition at a State Board of Education meeting
- Opportunity to present at a state-wide best-practice conference in Spring 2007
Connecticut Vanguard Schools Selection Process
All Connecticut public schools that meet the Vanguard criteria will be eligible to apply. The State Department of Education (SDE) will also encourage schools to apply that have shown significant improvement over time in student performance directly related to specific school improvement strategies.
- January 8, 2008 - Information Meeting (option 1), Qualidigm Conference Room, 100 Roscommon Drive, Middletown, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- January 17, 2008 - Information Meeting (option 2), Qualidigm Conference Room, 100 Roscommon Drive, Middletown, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- January 21, 2008- Intent to Apply forms are due to SERC
- February 5, 2008- Completed Vanguard School Applications are due to SERC
- February 28&29, 2008– Application Scoring
- April 1, 2008 - 2nd Annual Statewide Vanguard Schools Conference & Celebration
- April 2008 - Validation Site Visits to Selected Finalists
- May 2008 – Vanguard Schools Identified for 2008-2009
- May/June 2008- Vanguard Mentoring Partnerships Established
- November 2008 - 3rd Annual Statewide Vanguard Schools Conference & Celebration
Vanguard Schools
Application Packet 2008-2009
Downloadable Application Packet
Criteria:
There are two classifications of CT Vanguard Schools:
High Performing CT Vanguard School
A High Performing CT Vanguard School has at least 80% of students scoring at or above goal on state assessments in math, reading & writing for the last two or more years. The school community demonstrates that high student achievement is the result of specific, articulated, sustained strategies that target closing achievement gaps and is led by a leadership team.
Significantly Improving CT Vanguard School
A Significantly Improving CT Vanguard School demonstrates a consistent trend toward increasing the percentage (%) of students at or above proficiency on state assessments in math, reading & writing for the last two or more years. The school community demonstrates that improved student achievement is the result of specific, articulated, sustained strategies that target closing achievement gaps and is led by a leadership team.
School-based data should meet the above criteria for all grade levels participating in state assessments (CMT or CAPT) in the school. Schools not participating in state assessments should demonstrate similar growth trends in student performance data on multiple school or district common assessments. Strategies that target closing achievement gaps should address these subgroups: gender, race/ethnicity, free & reduced lunch, special education, and limited English proficiency.
Site visitation teams will examine evidence of systematic approaches to address additional data points, including but not limited to: Equity, attendance, disproportionality, subgroup performance on CMT/CAPT, discipline, suspension/expulsion, special education, etc…
For more information
For more information about the Connecticut Vanguard Schools Initiative, contact SERC Consultant Patrick Flynn at (860)632-1485 x393, or Senior Project Assistant Heather Penfield at (860) 632-1485, ext. 263.
