Needs identified and addressed through Race to the Top: Math and English language arts achievement, particularly in grades 5-10 and for African American, special education and low income students; hiring talented, professional teachers especially in critical needs areas such as math, science, and special education; improving classroom management skills
Major initiatives and investments:
- Summer math opportunities (acceleration programs) for elementary and middle school underachieving students (2012-2013). Summer ELA and math programs for rising 8th, 9th, and 10th graders. Supplemental math programs and training implemented in the middle schools.
- Remove barriers to teaching through the hiring of a behavior interventionist, attendance officers, and home/school coordinator. Hire 7 teacher leaders to provide Response to Intervention (RtI) in reading (5-12) and math (5-12 and 1 elementary school).
- Participation in the state’s alternate pipelines for effective teachers and leaders and provide a Capital Leadership succession program in the District. District leaders will participate in time studies coaching.
- Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) including a 90 minute collaborative planning period, use of data coaches, and use of iPADS to monitor classroom instruction. Continued and deeper implementation of Learning Focused Solutions (LFS).
Other innovations within the plan:
- Enhanced mentoring program for new teachers
- Incentives for teachers hired in critical need subjects
- Expansive mentoring program for children in grades K-12 through partnerships with community organizations
- Implementation of a Future Education Association
- Implementation of a system of exit surveys
- Partnerships with local businesses to provide incentives for employees