Vision and Accountability in School Improvement Planning

The ongoing planning of school improvement in the Chicago Public Schools is examined in this paper. The Chicago School Reform Act required that principals consult with their local school councils (LSCs), staff, parents, and community members to develop a three-year school improvement plan (SIP). Data were derived from two studies: the first examined LSCs in 14 schools (10 elementary and 4 high schools); and the second investigated participant roles in the SIP process in three of the elementary schools. Methodology involved onsite observations and interviews. The first chapter describes the SIP revision process in 14 schools, followed by a more detailed examination of 3 of the schools. A model of school improvement planning is presented that introduces the ideas of accountability and vision to differentiate some plans and schools from others. The second chapter presents case studies from three elementary schools that made significant revisions in their SIPs during the 1991-92 school year. The final chapter introduces a series of research-based suggestions. Two figures and a publications list are included. (Contains 10 references.) (LMI)