A Continuous Improvement Plan, as required in 16 V.S.A. §165 , shall be developed and implemented in each public school district. The plan shall be designed to improve the performance of all students enrolled in the district. If a school district comprises more than one school building, a combined plan for some or all the buildings may be developed. The plan, however, may reflect the different needs of individual schools.

The plan should be the overall planning and implementation document for the school, incorporating other planning requirements (either from the state, the federal government, local requirements, or external grant requirements) into a single planning document.

The plan shall be developed with the involvement of school board members, students, teachers, administrators, parents and other community members. The plan shall be reviewed at least annually for effectiveness toward meeting the stated goals, and shall be revised as necessary.

The plan shall include indicators provided by the Vermont Agency of Education as well as additional indicators determined locally. These indicators will identify student performance data obtained from state and local assessments and other information related to student performance which may include, but is not limited to, dropout and retention rates, attendance, course enrollment patterns and graduation rates. Indicators may also include data on school practices and leadership.

Agency support shall be differentiated in accordance with school needs, and shall work to reduce interventions for schools where student performance data indicates growth and success.

The school board shall approve the plan, which at minimum shall contain

a. goals and objectives for improved student learning; b. educational strategies and activities specifically designed to achieve these goals, including professional learning of administrative and instructional staff; c. strategies and supports to ensure the school maintains a safe, orderly, civil and positive learning environment which is free from harassment, hazing and bullying; and d. required technical assistance from the Vermont Agency of Education as appropriate or determined by law.

(1) The school, through a process including parents, teachers, students, and community members, develops, implements, and annually updates a continuous improvement plan to improve student performance within the school. The plan shall include goals and objectives for improved student learning and educational strategies and activities to achieve its goals. The plan shall also address the effectiveness of efforts made since the previous continuous improvement plan to ensure the school maintains a safe, orderly, civil, and positive learning environment that is free from harassment, hazing, and bullying. The school shall assess student performance under the plan using a method or methods of assessment developed under subdivision 164(9) of this title.

(a) Purpose and findings. -- It is a goal of the General Assembly to promote quality education for every Vermont child and to create an opportunity for every Vermont student to achieve his or her personal best, while respecting divergent student goals and personal learning styles and abilities. The General Assembly finds that a school's climate for learning is improved when parents, community members, and business leaders actively participate in promoting educational opportunities for every student. Further, it is the compassion and innovation of individual teachers and school personnel that often create the impetus for students to achieve excellence in education. (b) The Secretary shall establish and implement a Challenge to Excellence Grant Program for the purpose of promoting quality education for Vermont students. Eligible applicants include Vermont public schools, including regional career technical centers, and Vermont supervisory unions on behalf of a school or schools. All proposals shall be to develop or carry out a comprehensive plan, which may be an action plan pursuant to subdivision 165(a)(1) of this title, to create educational opportunities for each student within the school. Any plan shall be developed with the involvement of parents and other community members, staff, and business representatives, and shall be designed to assist students in meeting State Board and school board Standard. Grants shall be for up to $ 50,000.00 and shall include a 1-1 match from other sources of funding, including grants from businesses, foundations, or other federal or local funding. Priority shall be given to schools that the Secretary finds are having difficulty meeting the quality Standard listed in subsection 165(a) of this title or are making insufficient progress in improving student performance in relation to the Standard set forth in subdivision 164(9) of this title. Eligible activities include: (1) a comprehensive planning and goal-setting process to promote a quality education for all students within the school; (2) activities to carry out a comprehensive plan to promote quality education for students within the school; and (3) innovative methods to create educational opportunities for students according to a comprehensive plan, including special classes and activities; mentorship; summer institutes on math, science, reading and language arts, social studies, service, the arts, or technology; partnerships for learning with businesses, postsecondary schools, and community organizations; tutorials; programs for at-risk or gifted students; and guidance, peer counseling, and career planning activities.