California Education Code specifies that schools and districts that receive state and federal or other applicable funding through the district’s Consolidated Application prepare a School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) for any recipient school. 

The purpose of the SPSA is to coordinate all educational services at the school. The SPSA shall, at a minimum, address how funds provided to the school will be used to improve the academic performance of all pupils. School goals shall be based upon an analysis of verifiable state data. The SPSA must integrate the purposes and requirements of all state and federal categorical programs in which the school participates.

The plan should be developed with a deep understanding of root causes of student academic challenges and identify and implement research-based instructional strategies to raise the achievement of students who are not meeting grade level standards. A well-developed SPSA can ensure that students are better equipped to meet the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Math. It is critical that each school’s SPSA:

• Builds on a premise that students are capable of learning with effective instruction.
• Includes school goals aligned with activities and goals included in the LEA Plan to maximize school reform efforts.
• Is based on verifiable data analysis.
• Focuses on student achievement and academic interventions.
• Implements high leverage school improvement actions.
• Directs resources where they will most directly improve student academic achievement.
• Ensures that all resources are aligned to serve identified students’ needs.
• Uses research-based strategies.
• Implements strategic coordination of resources.