Above: Teachers at Bennington gather for Data Team Meeting (and lunch) in December 2020.
Alpha Plus Model Professional Development is data-driven and job-embedded
Alpha Plus School Improvement uses interim formative and summative benchmark assessments to evaluate progress of students from back-to-school week until state tests in the spring. Alpha Plus Facilitators utilize state and Alpha Plus assessment data in professional development (PD) on-site and online. 
Alpha Plus Simulated Core Curriculum Tests mirror the Oklahoma School Testing Program (OSTP) state tests, and are used to identify students' learning gaps in alignment with the Oklahoma Academic Standards (OAS). Only actual data for students in that school is used in training sessions. No time is wasted on reports or materials that are not aligned to OAS.
Professional Development Materials include:
- OAS Pacing Calendars (curriculum maps) for first through eighth grades
- OSTP test blueprints and test-item specifications as available from OSDE for each grade level/content area
- Data Team Meeting agenda/worksheet
- Effectiveness Lesson Plan template
- Response to Intervention (RtI) Remediation Accountability Report form
- Evaluation of OSTP and Oklahoma School Report Card data to help plan and coordinate school improvement
NOTE: All Alpha Plus progress monitoring assessments for Grades 1-8 are aligned to the new standards. See Alpha Plus Model details in Training, Data and Remediation & Learning Gaps.
Professional Development Training includes:
LEVEL I PD:
Data-driven professional development with an on-site, in-service session (date TBD by your school) plus three Instructional Leader data analysis and training sessions. Support includes:
- Monitoring of each ELA and math class for teaching pace and student proficiency
- Monitoring each student for growth per state requirements
- A-F formula training and calculation template
- Summative Test Log with A-F proficiency, growth and OSTP Gap Analysis that can be used to predict Oklahoma School Report Cards
- Alpha Plus model and forms in Instructional Leader resources binder
Additional help provided online, by e-mail or phone as needed.
LEVEL II PD:
MONTHLY (Aug. through Mar.) job-embedded professional development with on-site teacher meetings addressing alignment to assessed standards, objective-driven instruction, and using interim assessment data to target academic deficiencies. Student data is monitored and compared to last year’s state data, A-F Report Cards predicted and OSTP Gap Analysis provided after Winter and Spring Breaks to help coordinate remediation. Level II PD includes all specialized reports detailed for Level I.
LEVEL III PD:
TWICE MONTHLY (Aug. through Mar.) meetings on-site with teachers utilizing and monitoring each student’s assessment data for accountability and to improve instruction. Includes A-F Report Card projections, specialized site reports, and OSTP Gap Analysis for each reading/math student remediation. Level III PD includes all specialized reports detailed for Level I. Facilitators assist with vertical and horizontal curriculum alignment, and development of a personalized teacher portfolio with documentation for evaluations.
According to the Oklahoma EDGE:
“Schools with an outside staff development provider typically appear to be more driven and focused on the needs of their students and the overall school improvement process.
[Such a] provider can maintain focus on improving instruction and providing support in prioritizing improvement strategies and resources to meet the needs of the lowest-achieving students.” –
Oklahoma Edge, pg. 93
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