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Accountability and flexibility are hallmarks of Gwinnett County Public Schools' success. Key to that success is ensuring that each school community understands the progress being made by its schools, as well as what plans will drive improvement. Each school creates a collaborative Local School Plan for Improvement (LSPI) to increase student achievement results, with targeted goals based on the four strategic priorities within the district’s Blueprint for the Future: Empathy, Equity, Effectiveness, and Excellence. All schools across the district will focus on goals 2A- Multi-tiered Systems of Support and 2B- Opportunity and Access. Additionally, schools are required to select one goal from each of the other strategic priorities. LSPI goals are dynamic, like our schools, and are updated to reflect changes that occur in schools. Multiple data points are used to determine areas needing improvement and to identify specific, measurable, annual objectives. Schools then determine how to use research-based strategies to achieve these goals, using flexibility as needed. The LSPI development process involves teachers, parents, students, and community members, so the entire school community has the opportunity to be involved in conversations about school improvement.

 

2023 - 2024 Local School Plan for Improvement (LSPI)


School: BERKMAR MIDDLE SCHOOL           Principal: Felecia Jones
District Strategic Priorities/Goals Rationale Action Steps
(Implementation Design)		 How will you measure growth?
Growth Factors (Baseline & Targets)
Empathy 1.B - Staff and Student Well Being

EES survey data indicates a need to focus on staff and student well-being.
  1. The SEL committee and professional learning team will train staff on strategies to support social-emotional learning. 
  2. The district behavior coach will train staff on restorative practices during pre-planning. 
  3. We will continue to maintain our staff wellness room. 
  4. BMS will continue to plan monthly events to support student and staff well-being.
  5.  The staff will continue to provide opportunities for students to participate in a club or an extracurricular activity.
  6.  The local school will develop a mentoring program for students identified by teachers and counselors.

Student 

Increase Percent Positive Responses on the following EES Student Survey Items:

  • I enjoy coming to this school.

    • Baseline: 38%

    • Target:  43%

  • Work I do at this school is interesting and useful to me.

    • Baseline:  44%

    • Target:  49%

Staff

Increase Percent Positive Responses on the following EES Staff Survey Items:

  • When there is a problem in my school, we talk about how to solve it.

    • Baseline:  70%

    • Target:  75%

  • I receive training on how to support social-emotional learning.

    • Baseline: 72%

    • Target:  77%

 
Equity 2.A - Multi-tiered System of Supports

Assessment data indicates a need to increase student achievement for each and every student.
  1. The MTSS committee will provide school-wide training on the multi-tiered system of support framework.
  2. The data from the i-Ready screener will be used pervasively and with fidelity to inform decisions about interventions and supports. 
  3. Berkmar Middle will continue to focus on academic and non-academic support for each and every student during weekly Patriot Talks.
  4. Counselors will develop an attendance protocol to mitigate truancy.
  5. Navigate 360 will be used for student behavior support. 
  6. The Character Strong program will be implemented during weekly Advisement lessons. 
  7. Berkmar Middle will continue to train staff on PBIS support structures, focusing on moving towards Distinguished.

1. Student Improvement: % Beginning baselines and targets are based on the 2022-2023 GA Milestones data.

Grade and Subject 2023 Baseline  2024 Target
6th ELA 52% 47%
7th ELA 42% 37%
8th ELA 35% 30%
6th MA 45% 40%
7th MA 38% 33%
8th MA 29% 24%
Algebra I 0% 0%

 

2. Increase the % of multilingual learner (ML) progress towards English language proficiency (movement of one band or more on ACCESS)

  • Baseline:  36.5%

  • Target:  41%

 

 
Equity 2.B - Opportunity and Access

In order to increase student achievement, BMS recognizes the need to increase educational access by decreasing variance across all academic settings.
  1. We will provide materials to encourage staff to obtain the ESOL and Gifted certifications.
  2. BMS will increase family engagement opportunities to support literacy and numeracy.
  3. PLCs will continue to collaborate to design lessons that decrease instructional variance across classrooms.
  4. New teachers will receive training focused on identifying Gifted students. 
  5. The staff will continue to provide opportunities for students to participate in a club or an extracurricular activity.
  1. Increase the percentage of students identified as Gifted and Talented
  % Gifted and Talented
Baseline 10%
Target 12%

 

2. Increase the # of Certified Teachers

 

Gifted

ESOL

Baseline

14

13

Target

16

18

 
Effectiveness 3.A - Results-Based Evaluation System

In order to increase student achievement, BMS recognizes the need to be data-focused and data-driven. Consequently, teachers and leaders will utilize the Plan, Do, Check, Act cycle to monitor student progress.
  1. The leadership team will continue to conduct paired observations, as a team and with teacher leaders, to provide instructional feedback. 
  2. Small Group Instructional Conversations (SGIC) will be implemented in classrooms. 
  3. During weekly meetings, PLCs will continue to analyze assessment data, review student work samples, and share QPTS strategies to support remediation and enrichment.

 

1. District Assessments (TBD)

Increase the percentage of students improving on assessments between 1st and 2nd semester

  • % of Student Achievement (Fall 2023)

  • % of Student Achievement (Spring 2024)

 

2.  Increase the percentage of multilingual learners (ML) progress towards English language proficiency (movement of one band or more on ACCESS).

  • Baseline:  36.46%

  • Target:  41%

 
Excellence 4.C - World-Class Communication and Engagement

EES survey data indicates a need to continue to build relationships with our stakeholders by keeping them informed and working to increase engagement.
  1. BMS will continue to promote student voice and leadership through student council.
  2. We will expand upon community partnerships. 
  3. BMS will maintain updated communication channels (ParentSquare, webpage, social media, newsletters, etc.).
  4. BMS will continue to encourage Parent involvement throughout the year.
  5. BMS will continue to provide monthly training sessions to build the capacity of families to support students at home.
  6. The PISC utilizes resources from the Federal Programs Communications Center to build staff communication with families.
  7. During parent-teacher conferences, teachers will review student data and provide action steps.
  8. We will continue to send personal invitations to families in their primary home language.
  9. The PISC will continue to provide monthly sessions for international newcomers to support home/school communication.

 

1. Increase participation in the EES Family Survey 

  • Baseline: 12%

  • Target:  50%

2. Increase the Percentage of Positive Responses on the following EES Family Survey Items:

  • My student is challenged with a rigorous course of study at this school.

    • Baseline: 67%

    • Target:  72%

  • Parents/families have input into plans for improving this school.

    • Baseline:  74%

    • Target:  79%