To :    Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Bureau Directors
Directors of Services, Centers and Heads of Units
Regional Directors
Schools Division Superintendents
Heads, Public Elementary and Secondary Schools
All Others Concerned

1. Pursuant to Republic Act No. 9155 known as Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001, this policy aims to strengthen School-Based Management (SBM) by further devolving the governance of education to schools, empowering school teams and personnel, expanding community participation and involvement, and making the delivery of education services to the learners more responsive, efficient, and effective through an enhanced school planning and communication process.
2. The School Improvement Plan (SIP) is a roadmap that lays down specific interventions that a school, with the help of the community and other stakeholders, will undertake within a period of three consecutive school years. The implementation of development activities integral to it are in the school such as projects under the Continuous Improvement Program (CIP), the creation and mobilization of Learning Action Cells (LACs), and the preparation of the School Report Card (SRC). SIP seeks to provide those involved in school planning an evidence-based, systematic approach with the point of view of the learner as the starting point. Ultimately, it is envisioned to help schools reach the goal of providing access to quality education.
3. The SRC is a tool for advocating and communicating the school situation, context, and performance to internal and external stakeholders. Its objective is to increase the participation and involvement of the community and other stakeholders in making the school a better place for learning.
4. The School Improvement Plan (SIP) Guidebook is provided which details the procedure in preparing the enhanced SIP and SRC. The enclosed guidelines and the Guidebook shall serve as the official reference in the preparation and implementation of the SIP and SRC. Concerned offices, local government units (LGUs), and development partners are urged to conform to these guidelines as they implement projects and activities related to school planning in DepEd schools.
5. Schools shall begin a new SIP cycle using the enhanced planning process in these guidelines by January 2016 (the start of the SIP cycle).  The regional offices (ROs) and schools division offices (SDOs) are expected to create support mechanisms for the schools and to orient them before January 2016. Schools are asked to begin using the SIP Guidebook to update their current Annual Improvement Plan (AIP) and to create the SRC.
6. The participation and involvement of the school head, teachers, and staff in the planning and implementation of the SIP and SRC may be included in the Results-Based Performance Management System (RPMS) as performance objectives under corresponding Key Result Areas. It can be incorporated in the Individual Performance Commitment and Review Form (IPCRF) of teachers and staff or in the Office Performance Commitment and Review Form (OPCRF) of the school head.
7. Planning and implementation of school improvement projects that address problems related to the teaching-learning processes should involve the members of the school’s LACs. In the same way, activities of LACs should be aligned to the SIP or AIP. LAC members may also include reports of their activities in the SRC.
8. By virtue of this Order, this Department authorizes the conduct of activities related to the preparation and implementation of the SIP and SRC. Concerned offices and development partners should align their training programs and activities to these guidelines.  The training design and learning package should be according to the training program standards set by the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP). The NEAP, through its ROs, is tasked to ensure the quality of these trainings.
9. All existing Orders and Memoranda inconsistent with this Order are rescinded. These guidelines shall remain in effect, unless sooner repealed, amended, or rescinded.
10. For more information and inquiries, all concerned may contact the Chief, School Effectiveness Division-Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development – (SED-BHROD), Department of Education (DepEd) Central Office, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City at telephone no.: (02) 633-7257 or through email address bhrod.sed@deped.gov.ph.
11. Immediate dissemination of and strict compliance with this Order is directed.

(Sgd.) BR. ARMIN A. LUISTRO FSC
Secretary

Encls.: As stated

Reference: DepEd Order No. 23, s. 2015

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
POLICY
PROGRAMS
RULES AND REGULATIONS
SCHOOLS

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