2026-2027 District Goals

During the 2026-2027 school year, the District will strengthen coherent, high-quality instruction across classrooms, schools, and programs by aligning curriculum implementation, structured literacy, shared instructional practices, and professional learning to Strategic Goal 1: Academic Excellence and Growth. This work will focus on improving learning for all students and reducing achievement gaps by strengthening Tier 1 instruction, using student learning evidence more consistently, and ensuring timely support and enrichment for students who need it.

Progress will be measured by the District's ability to:

• Provide professional learning and implementation support for elementary teachers using the new math and science programs, with all elementary classroom teachers participating in initial training and follow-up collaborative planning during the school year.
• Provide professional learning and implementation support for structured literacy and evidence-based reading instruction, aligned with Pennsylvania Act 135 of 2024 and grounded in the science of reading, with a focus on explicit, systematic instruction that supports all students in becoming proficient readers.
• Close achievement gaps by strengthening professional development, deepening staff understanding of individual student needs, and embedding purposeful instructional practices that support growth and success for all students.
• Support secondary teachers through professional learning pathways, with participating teachers identifying a shared instructional focus and applying at least one pathway-related practice in their classrooms. This will be measured through the district's goal-setting process with professional staff.
• Strengthen Professional Learning Communities (PLC's) by supporting content teams in using student work, assessment evidence, and common data and planning protocols to guide instructional decisions.
• Deliver professional learning in purposeful technology use and AI literacy so staff are better prepared to use digital tools thoughtfully, responsibly, and in ways that support student learning.
• Measure the effectiveness of professional learning through an end-of-year staff survey, comparing results to the 2025-2026 professional learning survey baseline, with the goal of increasing favorable responses in areas related to teacher voice and choice, relevance of professional learning, usefulness of feedback opportunities, and support for individual teacher needs.

During the 2026-2027 school year, the District will improve student and staff perceptions of safety, emergency preparedness, digital security, belonging, respect, inclusion, and trusted adult connections by increasing favorable responses on District-administered student and staff surveys by at least 5% in each area from the fall baseline to the spring survey administration.

Progress will be measured through survey items aligned to the following areas:

• Strengthen physical safety and emergency preparedness by increasing the percentage of students and staff who report feeling safe at school and confident in emergency procedures - at least 5% increase. (Working with our local police department, best-practice adjustments will be made to our safety and security plans.)
• Strengthen digital safety systems by increasing the percentage of students and staff who report understanding digital safety expectations and feeling protected in the District's digital learning environment - at least 5% increase.
• Foster a culture of respect, belonging, and inclusion by increasing the percentage of students and staff who report feeling respected, included, and valued at school - at least 5% increase.
• Ensure trusted adult connections for every student by increasing the percentage of students who report having at least one trusted adult at school - at least 5% increase, with the long-term goal of reaching 100% of students.

During the 2026-2027 school year, the District will elevate student voice, leadership, and agency by establishing and sustaining a high school Superintendent's Student Advisory Council that provides regular feedback, helps identify student-centered priorities, and contributes to shaping learning experiences across the district.

The District will measure progress by:

• Conducting at least 8 Superintendent's Student Advisory Council meetings (at least four in each high school) during the school year.
• Ensuring student representatives provide feedback on key District topics, including school climate, instruction, engagement, safety, belonging, and post-secondary readiness. 
• Presenting a year-end progress report to the Board of School Directors    summarizing council feedback, actions taken, student-led initiatives, and recommendations for the following school year.

During the 2026-2027 school year, the District will strengthen teacher retention and staff quality by expanding mentorship, improving professional development, and increasing efforts to recruit and hire a diverse teaching staff that reflects the needs and experiences of the student population.

Progress will be measured by the District's ability to:

• Provide structured mentorship to 100% of new teachers during their first year in the District, including regular mentor meetings and opportunities for feedback.
• Increase the diversity of the District's teaching staff by ensuring that at least 15% of newly hired teachers come from underrepresented backgrounds.
• Increase teacher satisfaction with professional development by at least 10% over the previous year, as measured by staff survey responses related to relevance, quality, and impact on instruction.