What is the SPSA?

The School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) is our school's roadmap for improving student outcomes. It's a comprehensive plan required by California Education Code that outlines our goals, identifies student needs, and details how we'll use our resources to support all students. The School Site Council is responsible for the approval and oversight of this document, but it is important to note that this document outlines responsibilities that extend to all staff, teachers and families as we support our students.

The information in this explainer aims to explain each specific point of the SPSA and to make it a bit easier to process. The full SPSA is available on the OUSD website for further information.

General Info

• Principal: Dana Sudduth
• School Site Council Chair: Matt Glaser
• Latest SPSA Approved: April 9, 2025
• Total Budget: $338,207.21

Peralta Demographics Overview

• Total Enrollment: Approximately 350 students (K-5)
• Demographics: 40% White, 20% Multiracial, 13% Latino, 11% Black/African American, 7% Asian
• Special Populations:
  • 9.4% Students with Disabilities
  • 29% Socioeconomically Disadvantaged
  • 4% English Learners
  • 31.5% Unduplicated Pupil Percentage (students who are low-income, English Learners, or foster youth)
• School Stability Rate: 96.7% (very high — students tend to stay at Peralta)

Our Mission & Vision

Peralta is committed to creating an inclusive, equitable learning environment where all students feel valued and empowered. We use art integration to develop intellectual character and 21st-century skills, while fostering a growth mindset in all learners.

Important Context: Funding

Peralta receives no federal Title I funding, unlike many OUSD schools. Our funding comes primarily from state/local sources and is supplemented significantly by the Peralta Parent Teacher Group (PPTG), which funds essential staff positions like instructional aides, therapists, and our PE/Recess Coach.

Looking Back: 2024-25 Success

Before diving into this year's plan, it's important to know what's working:

The 2024-25 SPSA was very successful:

• Focus on curriculum and instruction, SIPPS intervention, and strategic math intervention had a huge impact on student outcomes
• We met many goals and are on track to exceed them
• Our support staff (CSM and TSA) were integral to success
• Parent communication and feedback opportunities improved
• The entire Peralta community worked together on data-driven decisions

Because of this success, no major changes to the SPSA are planned — instead, we're deepening our understanding and broadening our strategies to continue focusing on students with the most needs.

The Four Main Goals

These goals are meant to align Peralta's goals and plans with the overall goals and plans approved by OUSD's Parent Student Advisory Committee (PSAC). They by definition should be measurable so that we can judge our success over time. Most of our data comes from the OUSD's data dashboard, which is publicly available at ousddata.org.

Goal 1: Academic Excellence for All Students

Target: By May 2026, increase student performance in ELA and Math:

• 5% more students on grade level (iReady Test Results)
• 5% more students meeting growth targets
• Reduce distance from state standards (SBAC) by 10 percentage points for grades 3-5

Current Performance Highlights:

• Reading growth Year 1: 67% met target (target: 78%)
• Reading growth Year 2: 76% met target (target: 100%)
• SBAC ELA Distance from Standard: 47.1 points (improving from 36.4)
• SBAC Math Distance from Standard: 21.7 points
• iReady Math at/above mid-grade: 51% (target: 56%)
• California Science Test: 57% met/exceeded standard (target: 60%)

How We'll Get There:

• Weekly teacher collaboration in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
• Instructional coaching and classroom walkthroughs
• Tiered interventions for struggling students
• Strategic use of iReady MyPath (personalized learning)

Goal 2: Closing Equity Gaps for Focal Student Groups

Target: By May 2026, three focal groups will show accelerated growth:

• Black/African American students: 10% increase in students on grade level
• Students with IEPs (special education): 10% increase in students on grade level
• English Language Learners (ELLs): 10% increase in students on grade level

Additional Targets:

• All teachers set goals for Common Exit Assessments (CEAs) in ELA and Math and analyze at least 1 common assessment
• D-ELD (Designated English Language Development) in daily schedules for all ELLs
• IEPs completed on time
• Daily SEL lessons and Sown to Grow implemented in all classrooms weekly

Current Challenges:

• Black/AA students: -27.7 points from SBAC ELA standard, -62.1 from Math standard
• Students with IEPs: -17.1 points from SBAC ELA standard, -34 from Math standard
• ELL Reclassification Rate: 9.1% (target: 33%)

How We'll Get There:

• Professional development to build culturally responsive classrooms
• Designated ELD instruction for all English Learners
• Universal Design and Autism evidence-based practices training
• Strong IEP implementation and progress monitoring
• Daily SEL lessons and Sown to Grow weekly check-ins
• Common assessments analyzed in PLCs

Goal 3: Welcoming, Safe, Healthy, Engaged School

Targets:

• Increase positive attendance by 1%
• Reduce chronic absenteeism by 3%
• Keep suspension rate below 2%

Major Success Story:

• Chronic absenteeism dramatically decreased from 34.7% (2022-23) to 6.5% (2023-24)
• Current target: Keep at 8% or below
• Suspension rate: 1.4% (target: 0%)

Current Challenges:

• Black/AA chronic absenteeism: 9.7%
• Some students have chronic illnesses
• Tardies from students living outside neighborhood boundaries

How We'll Get There:

• Full-time Attendance Specialist
• Monthly attendance team meetings
• Parent engagement through home visits, workshops, and regular communication
• Attendance recognition systems (spirit weeks, assemblies)
• Cultural competency training for staff
• COST (Coordination of Services Team) meetings
• Sown to Grow SEL data to identify students needing support
• Caring School Communities and Restorative Practices

Goal 4: High-Quality, Stable, Diverse Staff

Target: Support new teachers and improve retention

• One-year retention rate: 83% currently (target: 100%)
• Provide weekly coaching for all new teachers
• Monitor credentialing progress

How We'll Get There:

• Pair new teachers with qualified coaches
• Summer New Teacher Institute
• 6-week foundational series on classroom culture
• On-site coordinator for new teacher support
• School-wide walkthroughs to build teacher leadership
• Peer coaching opportunities

What's Working Well (Strengths)

Academic Supports:

• SIPPS reading intervention (K-5)
• Instructional coaching
• Bi-weekly PLCs for teacher collaboration
• Weekly leadership walkthroughs with feedback

Culture & Climate:

• Caring School Communities curriculum
• Weekly Sown to Grow SEL check-ins
• Restorative Practices school-wide
• Full-time Attendance Specialist
• Strong SpEd services (pull-out and push-in)
• Librate! programming

Staff Development:

• TSA-led instructional coaching
• Extended contracts for after-school coaching and planning
• Monthly Culture and Climate team meetings
• De-Centering Whiteness PD Book Study

Current Challenges

Staffing:

• Limited support staff; TSA often covers classes instead of coaching
• Limited BIPOC representation among teachers (important for our diverse student body)
• SpEd staff absences impact services
• Limited PD time for content-specific training

Student-Specific:

• Low number of ELL students makes differentiation and district translation support difficult
• Students with chronic health issues
• Tardies from students outside neighborhood boundaries

Recruitment:

• Limited applicants of color for teaching positions
• New teachers have limited time for district credentialing resources

How the Money is Spent

Total Budget: $338,207.21

After School Education & Safety (ASES): $133,033

• After-school enrichment and academic support
• Specialized programming consultants

Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P): $150,000

• After-school enrichment and academic support
• Specialized consultants
• Extended teacher contracts for planning ($8,200)
• Mental health supports with Heart In Balance ($3,000)

Arts & Music (Proposition 28): $43,974

• 0.2 FTE Visual and Performing Arts Teacher for TK-1
• 0.2 FTE VAPA Teacher for TK-5
• VAPA materials and supplies

LCFF Supplemental: $11,200

• Supplemental funding for high-need students

PTA/PTO Donations: Approximately $21,415

• 0.3 FTE Attendance Specialist (promissory note to bring to 1.0 FTE)
• Classroom materials and supplies

Note: Peralta receives no Title I federal funding, making parent fundraising and strategic budgeting especially important.

This SPSA represents our collective commitment to ensuring every Peralta student succeeds. It's a roadmap that guides our work and holds us accountable to our community. Thanks for reading!