What does Unified Improvement Planning (UIP) mean?

• • Unified Improvement Planning was introduced to streamline the improvement planning components of state and federal accountability requirements. The common Unified Improvement Planning (UIP) template and planning processes used represent a shift from planning as an “event” to planning as a critical component of “continuous improvement.” This process reduces the total number of separate plans schools and districts are required to complete with the intent of creating a single plan that has true meaning for its stakeholders.

What information does UIP provide for schools and school districts?

• • Based on the Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids (SB212-08), the primary purpose of improvement planning is to align efforts to: Ensure all students exit the K-12 education system ready for postsecondary education, and/or to be successful in the workforce, earning a living wage immediately upon graduation. In addition, the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) requires that improvement planning be focused on ensuring that all students in the state reach proficiency in English language arts/reading and mathematics.

How does a UIP help schools and school districts?

• • By engaging in a continuous improvement cycle to manage performance, districts and schools will improve their effectiveness and the outcomes for students. That cycle includes: Focus attention on the right things (performance indicators); Evaluate performance by gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data about performance; Plan improvement strategies based on performance data and root cause analysis; and Implement planned improvement strategies. Then, enter the cycle again multiple times throughout the school year: Evaluate (or monitor) performance (based on interim measures) and implementation of improvement strategies (based on implementation benchmarks) at least quarterly.

Where can I learn more about Unified Improvement Planning?

• • You may learn more about Unified Improvement Planning and the UIP process at the Colorado Department of Education website.

What UIP designation does our school district have? What does the designation mean?

• • APS has been directed by the Colorado Department of Education to develop an Accredited with Improvement Plan based on our district performance framework rating of Accredited with Improvement.

For more information on the data used to determine the Accredited with Improvement designation for APS, view a district detailed summary of the data on the Colorado Department of Education website. Data for specific schools is also available at the Colorado Department of Education website. Choose Adams-Arapahoe 28J as the school district and then click on each school to view its UIP data.

Root Cause #1: Instructional Infrastructure in Early and Foundational Stage of Implementation

• • The instructional infrastructure in APS that aligns curriculum, resources, instruction, assessment, and professional learning is considered to be in the early and foundational stage of implementation.

Root Cause #2: Instructional Infrastructure in Foundational Stage of Implementation

• • The instructional infrastructure in APS that aligns curriculum, resources, instruction, assessment, and professional learning is considered to be in the foundational stage of implementation.

Root Cause #3: Lack of Plan for Recruitment, Development, and Retention of SPED Staff

• • APS lacks a structure for ongoing recruitment, development, and retention of Special Education staff.

Root Cause #4: Instruction not aligned with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)

• • The level of collaboration required for effective instruction aligned with IEPs is lacking in APS between general education and special education staff.

Root Cause #5: Lack of Supports for Off-Track Students and Post-Secondary Matriculation

• • APS has a lack of systems to efficiently identify students that are off-track for on-time graduation and to support successful post-secondary matriculation.

For more information on the root causes, view the APS District Unified Improvement Plan detailed summary.

Major Improvement Strategy #1: Specially Designed Instruction/Programming for all Students with Disabilities

• • Create a structure to expect and empower all staff to support all students with disabilities utilizing data-driven instructional planning and evaluator observation and feedback in order to plan and implement appropriate, specifically-designed instruction. (Root Causes Addressed: 3 & 4)

Major Improvement Strategy #2: Improved Student Supports for On-Time Graduation and Post-Secondary Readiness

• • Improve early warning system and support to engage or re-engage students to get on track for graduation and implement a plan for successful post-secondary matriculation. (Root Causes Addressed: 5)

Major Improvement Strategy #3: Improved Foundational Stage of Instructional Infrastructure (ELA)

• • Deepen execution, alignment, and communication of components within the Instructional Infrastructure. (Root Causes Addressed: 2)

Major Improvement Strategy #4: Improved Early and foundational Stages of Instructional Infrastructure (Math)

• • Deepen execution and alignment of components within the Instructional Infrastructure. (Root Causes Addressed: 1)