Big Rapids School Improvement and Curriculum Development

Curriculum is the heart of the school program because it makes up the content of what is taught in every class. This past year, over 75 staff members spent countless hours of both professional and personal time working on eleven Curriculum Action Teams. Each curriculum area was reviewed and aligned with the Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations from Kindergarten through Grade 8 and the High School Content Expectations. An updated curriculum guide reflecting this alignment was prepared and is available upon request. BRPS continues our commitment to improving the writing curriculum by implementing our district-wide program called the Collins Writing Method. Our Curriculum Council and Citizen’s Advisory Council continue to focus on school improvement strategies for BRPS. As an open process, any parent or community member can attend either or both of these groups’ meetings and/or any Action Team meeting.

School Improvement and Accreditation

School Improvement is an ongoing process for Big Rapids Public Schools. Each school engaged in a self-assessment; identifying strengths and weaknesses and developing continuing improvement plans. The State of Michigan released the new Michigan School Improvement Framework in 2006-07 and our District has adopted this format for our school improvement. Each building has a core school improvement team who collects data to assist their buildings in developing specific mathematics, reading, writing, science and social studies goals. Our overall goal, as always, is to have each student reach their highest potential and experience academic success.

Based upon the Michigan “Education Yes” project and the “No Child Left Behind” legislation, each school in Big Rapids joins other Michigan schools in the K-12 Performance Accreditation process.

School Improvement Goals for  2008-2009

¨         Improve student achievement on the MEAP English/Language Arts Test at or above the Annual Yearly
Progress (AYP) target set by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE).

¨         Improve student achievement on the MEAP Math Test at or above the AYP target set by the MDE.

¨         Improve student achievement on the MEAP Science Test.

¨         Improve student achievement on the MEAP Social Studies Test.

¨         Receive an “A” on the Education Yes! Michigan School Report Card for overall student achievement.