Wythe County Public Schools Comprehensive Plan 2013-2019

Wythe County Public Schools Comprehensive Plan 2013-2019

VISION Educating Students for Success in a Changing World MISSION The mission of Wythe County Public Schools, in partnership with our community, is to ensure students are empowered with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the challenges of the future. Beliefs and Philosophy Our schools and classrooms will be caring, safe, and student centered learning environments. Each student deserves an education that maximizes individual potential and abilities. Each student deserves a rich variety of learning opportunities. Our schools will facilitate intellectual, social, emotional and physical growth of all students. The curriculum will be rigorous and relevant and will ensure opportunities for intervention, enrichment, and extension for all students. Instruction will allow opportunities for students to develop 21 st century learning skills necessary for career and college readiness. High quality, well trained, and caring faculty and staff are essential to student success. Family, school staff, and community members are part of a vital team in each student s education. Communication and cooperation by stakeholders is essential to maximize students learning. Character education is an essential component of students education to foster success in society, to understand and appreciate persons different than themselves, and to make appropriate life decisions. 2

Wythe County Public Schools Comprehensive Plan Focus Areas Wythe County Public Schools values Educating Students for Success in a Changing World by: Focus Area A: Purpose and Direction Focus Area A: Student Learning and Achievement Goal A-1: Wythe County Public Schools will maintain and communicate its vision, purpose and direction and will develop goals to guide the efforts toward continuous improvement in leadership, instruction and support systems. Annually review and revise WCPS vision statement with stakeholder input at district and school levels through a variety of avenues, i.e. Superintendent s Student, Parent and Teacher Advisory Committees, Comprehensive Plan Committee, and online surveys for students, parents, teachers and community members. Communicate WCPS vision, purpose and direction at district and school levels through multiple means, i.e. online accessibility to planning documents, online accessibility of monthly school board meetings, and day-to-day interaction with community. Promote school cultures based on a collective philosophy of teaching and learning that maximizes individual potential through a rich variety of learning opportunities that include the development of 21 st century learning skills necessary for college and career readiness. Promote the expectation of continuous improvement through district and school level leadership to positively impact teaching and learning. Focus Area B: Governance and Leadership Goal B-1: Wythe County Public Schools will ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations and will promote effectiveness at the district and school level. Annually evaluate and revise WCPS policies and procedures to reflect continuous improvement of school and district operations. Maintain an effective system of organization with local government bodies, school board, central office and building level staff. Provide opportunities that encourage open communication between governing bodies and WCPS to include fostering current relationship with Board of Supervisors Liaison and supporting joint meetings between Wythe County School Board and Wythe County Board of Supervisors. Evaluate current structure of central office staff to allow for optimal efficiency in supporting the district and the schools. Incorporate an accountability system that allows school flexibility within the guidelines that promotes WCPS vision and direction. Continually include stakeholder support and input. Implement cycle of ongoing evaluation and needs assessment of district and school leaders. 3

Goal B-2: Wythe County Public Schools will support principals in instructional leadership and will support best practices to build capacity for effective school leadership. Develop and implement a principal evaluation system to clarify instructional and managerial responsibilities and to provide a support system for continuous improvement. Provide professional opportunities and differentiated support for principals that focus on effective instructional leadership and positive school culture development. Set expectation for each school to develop, maintain, and monitor annual school improvement plans based on student achievement data. Set expectation for each school to develop a master schedule which provides for remediation, intervention, and enrichment programs based on individual student needs during the school day, before school, after school, and during the summer. Focus Area C: Teaching and Assessing for Learning Goal C-1: Wythe County Public Schools staff will work to ensure all students will demonstrate increased academic performance as indicated on State and Federal Accreditation benchmarks, and Division standards. Annually monitor and improve the academic performance of students on state, national, and industry assessments. Reduce achievement test failure rates of all student subgroup populations by 5% annually. Continue to offer quality pre-k educational programs for at-risk four year olds. Expand the use of benchmark assessment to monitor individual student progress toward meeting and exceeding state accountability standards. At the school level, analyze nine week benchmark tests and other data sources to determine instructional needs and instructional practices, and to develop instructional support programs. At the school level, develop, monitor, and maintain yearly school improvement plans based on student achievement data. At the school level, develop a master schedule which provides for remediation, intervention, and enrichment programs based on individual student needs during the school day, before school, after school, and during the summer. Apply for 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant for each middle school and implement if awarded. Provide programs for academic, personal, and social transition support from one grade configuration to another. 4

Goal C-2: Wythe County Public Schools will implement and continually evaluate a rigorous academic and technical curriculum which will meet and exceed state and national accountability standards. Investigate opportunities to expand course offerings in academic and career-technical content areas. Review and revise the curriculum on a yearly basis, extending beyond the Virginia Standards of Learning. Develop common pacing guides based on the curriculum Through the budget process, investigate ways to integrate foreign language instruction at the elementary level. Continue evaluating and begin implementing expanded opportunities for identified gifted students. Expand dual credit options through our relationship with Wytheville Community College, Elite Learning, Southwest Virginia Governor s Schools, Lynnwood Holton Governor s School, and Virtual Virginia. Continue to offer professional development and grow instructional staff abilities to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students Goal C-3: Wythe County Public Schools students will be prepared to succeed in a diverse, changing world with 21st century knowledge and skills. Define and communicate components of 21 st century knowledge and skills. Revise and align curriculum documents with current Virginia standards reflecting 21 st century knowledge and skills including critical thinking, problem solving, information and media literacy, communication, and innovation. Include integration of student application and use of technology into the curriculum. Increase service learning opportunities for students. Provide instructional use of technology training for instructional staff. Increase the number of students earning an advanced diploma each year. Utilize WCPS technology plan to implement a vision, plan, and evaluation system for technology use in each school. Survey seniors to discuss post graduate plans and assess school s effectiveness in assisting them towards future plans Utilize Wythe County Public Schools Foundation for Excellence to assist teachers in securing grants related to 21 st century knowledge and skills. Goal C-4: Wythe County Public Schools students will graduate with skills required for college or career readiness. Review the content and rigor of courses at all levels. Evaluate the implementation of Cap-Stone courses in English and Mathematics. Utilize career coaches to provide post secondary options and knowledge to students. Increase the percentage of career/technical certification program students obtaining industry certification by 3 percentage points or greater annually. Increase the percentage of career/technical licensure program students obtaining a Virginia license by 3 percentage points or greater annually. Evaluate career/technical course offerings and implement programs to meet the needs of employers and students. Integrate economics and financial literacy education into middle and high school curriculum. Provide awareness of career and technical education opportunities to increase non-traditional student enrollment. 5

Goal C-5: Wythe County Public Schools Virginia On-Time Graduation Rate will increase each year with an associated decrease in the four-year drop-out rate. Strengthen our early identification of students at risk of not graduating in the ninth grade with intervention strategies and programs to address student needs. Provide adult advocates/mentors for students identified as at risk of dropping out of school. Increase positive parent communication to assist students at risk of dropping out of school. Increase credit recovery and alternate educational opportunities for high school students. Create opportunities for remediation and interventions will be created during the school day. Evaluate current truancy prevention, intervention, and reduction programs with additions/deletions/improvements where needed. Improve the average daily attendance (ADA) for individual schools and the division to at least 95%. Create 6 th and 9 th grade transition programs that address students social, emotional, and academic needs. Focus Area D: Resources and Support Systems Goal D-1: Wythe County Public Schools will recruit and retain a highly qualified student focused staff. Use multiple recruitment tools and approaches to enhance the selection process and to increase diversity of staff. Fill all teacher vacancies with licensed personnel who meet state or alternative licensure requirements. Monitor the progress of provisionally licensed teachers and new non-professional personnel. Improve new employee mentoring program to provide support and training for beginning and new teachers to the division. Provide training and/or incentives to ensure all staff meets NCLB Highly Qualified standards. Provide high quality, sustained, and relevant professional development opportunities annually. Utilize exit surveys to identify division and school strengths and areas for improvement. Implement student academic growth focused teacher evaluation system aligned with VDOE Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Teachers. Goal D-2: Wythe County Public Schools will offer professional development opportunities for staff that support the vision of the division and address the needs of professional and non-professional personnel to impact student achievement. Develop and administer a staff development needs assessment including instructional strategies, technology integration, and 21 st century teaching and learning skills. Provide and widely advertise a comprehensive, cohesive staff development program based on the needs assessment, the school division vision, and state/federal mandates and initiatives. Ensure professional development opportunities are research-based, relevant and reflective of best instructional practices. 6

Monitor professional development activities to measure the effect on student achievement. Expand vertical and horizontal communication and collaboration across grade and content areas. Incorporate staff-driven, structured and differentiated professional development opportunities into the annual school calendar. Goal D-3: Wythe County Public Schools will provide a safe, supportive and nurturing culture for all students and staff. Administrate employee and student engagement surveys to assess school culture and indicate areas of success and for improvement. Provide professional development/training to increase understanding the importance of developing and nurturing positive relationships with staff, students, families, and school community. Develop and implement an administrator evaluation system which holds administrators accountable for school environment and culture and provides beneficial feedback. Provide professional development in classroom/student management for all staff. Collect and analyze discipline data for decisions on student discipline practice and policies. Provide creative alternative education programs for behaviorally challenged students. Continue to utilize Olweus anti-bully program in elementary and middle schools and anti-bullying in high schools. Goal D-4: Wythe County Public Schools will promote community involvement to enhance division programs. Utilize debriefing, self-evaluations, surveys, exit interviews, and school and system advisory committees to strengthen school and division climate. Establish and expand partnerships with businesses, higher education institutions, parents, and/or organizations at each school and the division level. Increase web-based communication practices including announcements, documents, and newsletters. Continue to partner with the Wythe County Public Schools Foundation for Excellence. Utilize business and community resources to supplement and strengthen classroom curriculum. Goal D-5: Wythe County Public Schools will implement effective programs, activities, and procedures to involve parents/guardians meaningfully in schools. Utilize formal and informal communication with parents and community members through advisory councils, inclusion on committees, and Parent Teacher Organizations (PTO). Provide assistance to schools in planning and implementing parental involvement programs. Effectively communicate expectations and standards to students, staff, parents, and school community. Utilize parents and community member s advisory councils for feedback and encourage participation. Partner with local community agencies to raise student readiness entering kindergarten 7

Goal D-6: Wythe County Public Schools will continue to enhance the appearance, condition, and capacity of facilities to ensure positive learning environments. All division facilities will pass compliance audits and meet building code regulations. Conduct safety and security audits and evaluate procedures yearly. Continue progress on capital improvement projects identified by the Wythe County School Board and capital maintenance plans. Goal D-7: Wythe County Public Schools will maintain and enhance child-centered, safe, and welcoming physical and emotional environments for students and staff. Identify and remedy safety issues and concerns at all school sites and facilities. As renovation and capital improvement projects are designed and completed, investigate installation of entrance security systems. Provide programs to promote safety and well-being at all schools. Maintain and update crisis plans at all schools. Provide and document mandated trainings to support the physical and emotional needs and safety of students, including: medication administration, insulin and glucagon s administration, OSHA precautions, management of chronic and acute health conditions, Child Abuse Prevention, Bully Prevention, Conflict Mediation, Character Education, Counselor trainings, and internet safety. Focus Area E: Using Results for Continuous Improvement Goal E-1: Wythe County Public Schools will maintain focus on the use of data to guide programmatic decisions to increase teacher, leader and system effectiveness and to guide continuous improvement efforts. Use multiples sources of data, appropriate to grade and developmental level of student, to inform and differentiate instruction and to evaluate and refine programs. Provide professional development opportunities that are directly related to the analysis of student assessment performance data and teacher/classroom observation data. Implement an accountability system that utilizes measures of growth for teachers and students. Communicate student, school and district progress to stakeholders. Implement LDS snapshot longitudinal data base. 8

Goal E-2: Wythe County Public Schools will provide leadership which is student growth and achievement focused. Disaggregate SOL test data by subgroups/gap groups for each school and division as a whole to identify strengths and weaknesses. Use data to identify instructional materials needs at the division, school, grade/subject and teacher level. Use data to identify professional development needs at the division, school, grade/subject, and teacher level. Analyze nine week benchmark results and other student progress data to determine instructional needs, practices, and instructional support programs. Continue to explore funding streams to maintain and expand programs. 9