Needs identified and addressed through Race to the Top: Better support children new to the district, elementary special education students and those who are academically talented
Major initiatives and investments:
- Increased accelerated opportunities for advanced students, including expanded dual enrollment and Advanced Placement classes, and targeting high-need or low-achieving students for advanced coursework
- Expanded career ladders for teachers
- Improved interview process, particularly for special education teachers, which includes sample lesson plan submissions
- Master scheduling process for principals to assign the best teachers to the most challenged students, particularly in special education
- Supporting the transition of students new to the district with a new student orientation process, including a district orientation meeting with families moving in
Other innovations within the plan:
- Provide a ladder experience for 5th -9th grade for immersion in college related activities, ensuring students are exposed to at least one college experience per year, such as career days for 5th graders, field trips to Delaware college in 6th grade, college fairs in 8th grade, etc; and provide a middle school college-readiness program
- Comprehensive school success reviews at the lowest-achieving schools