Staff Development - STEP UP
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SPS Acronyms
ACT or SAT-
These are tests taken by high school students to be used for college placements. The district does not administer the tests to students, the specific testing company does. Results are provided to the district.
APR- Annual Performance Report
The district receives a yearly measure from DESE on a 100 point scale; measurements include student performance data on the MAP, graduation rate/persistence to graduation, attendance, etc.
AYP- Annual Yearly Progress
Student achievement as related to annual benchmarks for proficiency in communication arts and math
CQI- Continuous Quality Improvement
Refers to the Systems Approach to Improving Learning Results being deployed by the district
CSIP- Comprehensive School Improvement Plan
A written document, derived from the needs of the district and the results of a school improvement planning process, that outlines a district’s goals, objectives, and activities with respect to the overall goal of helping all students achieve high standards.
CWT- Classroom Walk Throughs
Refers to brief focused classroom visits by the principal or another educator followed by a reflection regarding observed teaching and learning in a classroom.
DESE- Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
DRA- Developmental Reading Assessment
Individual reading tests given to primary age students to determine the text level at which they are reading.
ECSE- Early Childhood Special Education
Serves students prior to kindergarten who have been identified with disabilities
ELL- English Language Learners
Refers to speakers of other languages in the process of learning English This abbreviation may be used to indicate LEP or ESOL Students.
ELP- Extended Learning Program
Refers to a district program that provides extra learning time for students who are struggling in reading/literacy or math; this program includes summer and afterschool tutoring.
ELS- Emerging Literacy Survey
Individual literacy skills test given to Kindergarten students in the district
ESOL- English for Speakers of Other Languages
The currently accepted term for English-language programs that teach language skills to speakers from non-English language background, replaces the term ESL, or English as a Second Language.
FTE- Full Time Equivalency
The amount of time that an employee spends in fulfilling his/her assignment one FTE is a full-time employee. If not full-time, the FTE is usually expressed as a decimal fraction to the nearest tenth.
GED- General Education Diploma
GLE- Grade Level Expectations
Refers to a list of skills and abilities that students are expected to demonstrate at each specific grade for each content area. This list was developed by DESE educators from across the state.
HQT- Highly Qualified Teacher
This term is used by NCLB (No Child Left Behind) for a teacher who has a degree and is certified in the areas that he/ she is teaching.
IB- International Baccalaureate
Refers to a program at Central High School that provides a rigorous college preparatory curriculum for interested Springfield residents
IDEA- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act-
Refers to a plan written specifically for a special education student that describes he educational program designed to meet that child’s unique needs
IS- Instruction Specialist
(Formerly Curriculum and Instructional Accountability Assistant) Refers to district, who supports the principal and staff from each zone in improving instruction in district schools.
ISSI- Instructional support Specialist for School Improvement
Refers to district personnel from each zone, who support the school principal and staff in planning for improvement in teaching and learning.
LEA- Local Education Agency
Refers to the school district
LEP- Limited English Proficiency
Refers to speakers of other languages in the process of learning English This abbreviation may be used synonymously with ELL or ESOL.
LIFT- Leadership for Teachers
Refers to a program to develop community awareness and leadership skills for educators.
LND- Level Not Determined
Refers to the percent of students taking the yearly MAP tests for which an achievement level could not be assigned, either because the student did not respond to enough questions on the state test or did not take the MAP tests for their grade level. Schools are expected to by NCLB to have more than 95% of the students take each of the assigned MAP tests for their grade level.
MAP- Missouri Assessment Program
Refers to the yearly testing required for students in the state of Missouri. The results are used to determine whether school districts and schools are making progress in student learning.
MIGs- Major Instructional Goals
Refers to a list of academic knowledge goals that district students are expected to learn at each specific grade for each content area. This list was developed by Springfield educators to align with state and national standards.
MPP- Math Performance Plan
A method that the district uses to refer students to Extended Learning Program for math
MSIP- Missouri School Improvement Plan
A process through which school districts are evaluated based on classification standards.
MYP- Middle Years Program
Refers to the program at Pipkin Middle School that aligns with IB and PYP
N or D- Neglected or Delinquent
Title I services provide to students at Juvenile Justice, Boys and Girls Town, Girls Shelter, Challenge Treatment Center, etc…
NAEP- National Assessment of Educational Progress
This test is given to students at randomly selected schools across the United States to provide a continuing assessment of what American students know and can do in various subject areas.
PAT- Parents As Teachers
PBTE- Performance Based Evaluation
Refers to the guidelines for teachers to be evaluated by the district
PDC- Professional Development Committee
PDP- Professional Development Plan
Refers to the yearly plan written for individual teachers to focus their learning for the school year Also may be written for Individual sites to focus the site learning for the school year.
PIP- Program Improvement Plan
Refers to the portion of the CSIP written by program leaders to plan for improvement in their specific program to enhance impact on the district goals
PYP- Primary Years Program
Refers to the academic program being implemented at Boyd and Field Schools that is founded on the premise of Inquiry learning and Trans- disciplinary units of Instruction.
RPP- Reading Performance Plan
The method that district to refer students to Extended Learning Program for reading
SES- Socio-Economic Status
Refers to the level of affluence for a family, neighborhood or groups in school, this is typically indicated by the percent of students receiving free or reduced lunches.
SES- Supplemental Educational Services
Refers to optional tutoring provided for low income students attending schools identified for improvement under NCLB.
SIA- School Improvement Accountability Assistant
Refers to the district person who supports the principal and staff in planning for Improvement in teaching and learning at schools identified as needing improvement by the district Accountability System
SIP- School Improvement Plan
Refers to the ongoing written plan for each school in the district that identifies specific goals and actions designed to insure continuous improvement for district students
SPED- Special Education Department
SRI- Scholastic Reading Inventory
Individual reading test given to district 2nd -9th grade students to determine their lexile or reading ability level
STEP-UP- Supporting Teachers, Examining Practices, and Uncovering Potential
Refers to a beginning teacher induction program in the district
WFSG- Whole Faculty Study Group
Refers to the collaborative professional development model used to improve teaching and learning in district schools.