Tools
School Self-Assessment Rubric (SSAR)
The SSAR is an assessment tool used by the School Leadership Team to measure progress towards developing a college-going culture and becoming an effective middle school community. This tool promotes visible shared goals and helps to identify staff expectations. [SSAR 2009] [SSAR 2009 Tally Form] [SSAR PDAP Summary 2009]
The SSAR identifies six conditions of a college-going culture as:
- Development of a College-Going Culture
- Rigorous Academic Curriculum
- High Quality Teaching
- Intensive Academic and College-Going Support
- Multicultural College-Going Identity
- Family-Neighborhood-School Supports
At the Fall Institute, each Leadership Team member reviews the SSAR and makes a determination of where the school is now. The assessments are discussed to see where the agreements and differences are, and a school profile is created. Schools rate themselves each year on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 representing a model program. This process of guided discussion and reflection promotes the beginning of a shared vision, the identification and coordination of resources, and the use of student data to develop and implement a unified schoolwide plan.
Professional Development Action Plan (PDAP)
GEAR UP provides resources to ensure progress on the elements identified on the School Self-Assessment Rubric. [PDAP Template] [PDAP Template (word doc)] [PDAP Sample Chart Cohort A] [PDAP Guidelines]
Based on the SSAR process to determine priorities, the School Leadership Team prepares a PDAP for the current year with guidance from the Regional Coordinator. California GEAR UP provides a professional development budget and links schools to the partner services by providing training opportunities at no cost. The school uses the discretionary funds to pay for classroom substitutes for teachers to attend the workshops, institutes, conferences, or summer trainings. Funds may also be used for stipends for staff doing after school, intersession or summer planning on GEAR UP goals.