Delaware districts and charter schools operate under the belief that all schools must continue to focus on improving their support for all students. Delaware dedicates $6 million annually to school improvement. Below is a breakdown of school improvement funds allocated by support type, then district and school.
All Delaware schools receive continuous improvement support from the state. Some Title I and non-Title I schools with low student performance based on state measures may be identified as qualifying for comprehensive support and improvement (CSI) or targeted support and improvement (TSI), which can provide additional program and funding support. DDOE will assist these schools in conducting their needs assessments, analyzing the data, and developing school-level improvement plans.
Which schools need Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) and which schools need Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI)?
CSI schools are any Title I and non-Title I schools that are in the bottom 5% OR any public school with a graduation rate of 67% or less OR any TSI school that does not improve after three years. TSI schools are any Title I or non-Title I school with a subgroup of students (i.e. students with disabilities, English learners) performing at or below the bottom 5% of schools.
Schools Identified for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI)
Schools are identified for “comprehensive support and improvement” based on overall performance of all students. Identified schools either score in the lowest 5% of all Title I schools’ performance as measured by the statewide accountability system, or the school’s graduation rate is below 67%. CSI schools are identified every three years. Comprehensive Schools receiving school improvement funds were identified in 2018 and 2022.
Schools Identified for Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI-1)
Schools are identified for “targeted support and improvement” if they have at least one subgroup of students underperforming for two consecutive years. TSI-1 schools are identified every three years. Any TSI-1 school that does not improve after three years is identified as needing “Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI)”.
Schools Identified for Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI-2)
Schools are identified for “targeted support and improvement” if they have at least one subgroup of students underperforming. TSI-2 schools are notified of subgroup performance annually.
Exit Criteria
ESSA requires states to develop statewide exit criteria for CSI, TSI-2, and TSI-1 schools that must “ensure continued progress to improve student academic achievement and school success”. Delaware will ensure continued progress to improve student academic achievement and school success by comparing Smarter Math and ELA proficiency data from school year 2020-2021 to school year 2023-2024.
Due to COVID-19, the State is revising its statewide exit criteria for schools identified and will not count the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year toward the number of years (not to exceed four years) in which a school must meet the criteria in order to exit CSI status before it must take more rigorous State-determined action. Delaware will adjust the timeline for schools identified for Comprehensive Support and Improvement in fall 2022 to meet the statewide exit criteria and exit status in fall 2024.
| Support Year | Year 1 (Designation Year) | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
| Original Plan | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 |
| Revised Plan | 2018-2019 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 |
Exit Criteria for Schools Receiving Comprehensive Support and Improvement – Schools must demonstrate improvement in student performance relative to grade-level standards and not show regression in academic performance since their original identification in 2018. Performance as measured by all other relevant indicators of the statewide school accountability system will also be used as evidence of improvement since identification in 2018. To further demonstrate student improvement and illustrate overall impact on student success as evidence for exiting CSI status, a school may present supporting information in the form of a portfolio including Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) data, educator retention data, as well as Opportunity to Learn data such as access to high quality instructional materials, access to technology, and access to high-speed internet.
Exit Criteria for Schools Receiving Additional Targeted Support – Schools must demonstrate improvement in subgroup performance relative to grade level standards. Performance as measured by all other relevant indicators of the statewide school accountability system will also be used as evidence of subgroup improvement since identification in 2018. To further demonstrate student improvement and illustrate overall impact on student success as evidence for exiting TSI-2/TSI-1 status, a school may present additional evidence of improved subgroup performance in the form of a portfolio including Multi Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) data, educator retention data, as well as Opportunity to Learn data such as access to high quality instructional materials, access to technology, and access to high-speed internet.
Schools identified for Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (TSl-1) in fall 2022 will be able to exit this status in fall 2024. Those not exiting this short-term designation will be escalated to Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) status.
