MERSD District Plan - Student Achievement

Core Value: Student Achievement We believe that challenging standards and differentiated instruction encourage all students to excel and become confident engaged learners who achieve their potential at different rates and on different paths.
Overarching Goal: To establish the District as a leader in innovative and inclusive instructional practices that meet the needs of all learners.
Summary of Current Status FY12: Curriculum alignment is a dynamic process. MERSD’s Pre K-12 curriculum is in the process of being re-aligned to recently released Mass Common Core frameworks. A master curriculum map that documents the full PreK-12 scope and sequence is under development. In 2011 MERSD instituted a Curriculum Review Cycle in order to establish a cycle for systematically reviewing, assessing and documenting our curriculum. Through this process we strive to keep abreast of local, state, and national updates and maintain alignment and currency in the curriculum. MERSD has a partial system of common/benchmark assessment and will need to focus its work on the development and implementation of a district-wide system.
Goal 1: Documentation of Curriculum and alignment to MA Common Core.
Strategies	Timeline	Resources & Responsibilities	Deliverables Measures of Implementation Documentation
Unpack the standards to articulate essential concepts and skills.	Review Cycle Ongoing	Director of Curriculum & Technology in collaboration with building Principals. With Support from Department Chairs Teacher	Curriculum materials (curriculum maps, model units) will clearly identify the essential understandings and 21st century skills as the goals for learning.
Create curriculum-embedded, performance based Assessments that meet MERSD standards and the parameters of DESE district based measures requirement.	FY 13-15	Director of Curriculum & Technology in collaboration with building Principals. With Support from Department Chairs Teachers Resources: DESE District Measures Guide	FY13 Curriculum-embedded, performance-based assessments that are integrated and aligned with the state accountability system. FY14 Implementation of K-12 assessments. Data gathered to establish baseline results and evaluate effectiveness of assessments. FY15 Implement revisions. Data collection report.
Research and implement curricula programs that promote critical thinking and problem solving skills, communications skills, creativity and innovation skills, collaboration skills, contextual learning skills and information and media literacy skills.	Review Cycle Ongoing	Director of Curriculum & Technology in collaboration with building Principals. With Support from Department Chairs Teacher Resources: P21 / General Fund	Implement curricula programs designed to produce deep understanding and authentic application of 21st century skills. Curricula should include models for appropriate learning activities that accomplish 21st century skills outcomes.
Goal 2: Establish and articulate a core curriculum centered on 21^st Century Skills.
Strategies	Timeline	Resources & Responsibilities	Deliverables Measures of Implementation Documentation
Commit to continuous improvement in 21st century curriculum design processes.	Ongoing	Director of Curriculum & Technology in collaboration with building Principals. With Support from Department Chairs Teachers Resources: Entitlement Grants & General Fund	FY14 Secondary Technology Integration Specialist Technology Plan focused on of improving the teaching and learning of 21^st century skills FY15. Teachers trained in 21^st Century curriculum and technology integration.
Deliver learner-centered instruction that enables 21st century skills.	FY13-15	Director of Curriculum & Technology in collaboration with building Principals. With Support from Department Chairs Teachers	FY15 Teachers trained in Adopted district programs. Tiered/Differentiated Instruction. Technology Integration
Create meaningful opportunities for student demonstration/mastery of 21^st century skills.	Ongoing	Director of Curriculum & Technology in collaboration with building Principals. With Support from Department Chairs Teachers Resources: P21/Primary Source/Entitlement Grants & General Fund	Interdisciplinary course of study sequence requiring designated by students have real world opportunities to synthesize, apply and demonstrate their mastery of key concepts and 21st century skills. Resulting in attainment of certificate of study in STEM Global Studies
Goal 3: Strengthen tier one instructional methodology to support differentiated instruction and individualized learning.
Strategies	Timeline	Resources & Responsibilities	Deliverables Measures of Implementation Documentation
Organize PD Plan to support teacher training and development of differentiated instruction.	FY13 Summer	Administrative Council Resources: Entitlement Grants & General Fund	Established PD Plan & Timeline for FY 13 Budget.
Partner w/ Simmons College – Dual Certification Program.	FY13 Winter	Superintendent in collaboration with the Director of Student Services & Director of Curriculum & Technology Resources: Identify Grant Funding	Developed Project Plan, Timeline and Funding Identification.
Goal 4: Implement new teacher evaluation model.
Strategies	Timeline	Resources & Responsibilities	Deliverables Measures of Implementation Documentation
Adopt new teacher standards and model collective bargaining language.	FY13	MERSD/META Negotiating Team Resources: State Model CBA	Secured contract memorandum of understanding.
Train staff and implement phase one of the new teacher evaluation model.	FY 13	Superintendent in collaboration with Directors Principals Resources: RTTT/Entitlement Grants & General Fund	Recorded Educator Plans including SMART goals for fifty percent of professional staff.
Identify and adopt district based measure for data collection.	FY13	Superintendent and Director of Curriculum & Technology in collaboration with building Principals. With Support from Department Chairs Teachers	Established grade and/or subject based common assessments.
Train staff and implement phase two of the new teacher evaluation model.	FY14	Superintendent in collaboration with Directors Principals Resources: RTTT/Entitlement Grants & General Fund	Record Educator Plans including SMART goals for all professional staff.
Implement District Based measures.	FY14	Classroom Teachers with the support of Principals Director of Curriculum & Technology Resources: NA	Recorded District-wide Assessment Data.
Goal 5: Hire and retain exceptional teachers.
Strategies	Timeline	Resources & Responsibilities	Deliverables Measures of Implementation Documentation
Develop and implement a common hiring protocol for all buildings.	FY13	Superintendent in collaboration with Directors Principals	Established hiring documentation; first year staff evaluations and outcomes.
Expand district networking strategies for recruitment of personnel.	FY13 Winter/Spring	Superintendent in collaboration with Directors Principals Resources: Regional workgroups / Local Colleges	Increased quality candidates for district positions.
Create a common vision for exceptional teaching through training and co-observation.	FY13	Superintendent in collaboration with Directors Principals Resources: NA	Increased co-observations by principals and directors; additional allocation of administrative time for discussion of quality instruction. Provide additional administrator training in this area.
Establish a paid internship program for exceptional novice teacher candidates.	FY14	Superintendent and Director of Student Services in collaboration with Director of Curriculum & Technology Building Principals. Resources: Local colleges/Grant Funding	Year-long paid internship and reduced schedule for a teacher leader to provide extensive mentoring and peer observation. Consider implementing this program in anticipation of retirements or needs in shortage areas.
Improve and expand teacher mentoring, coaching, and training.	FY13	Superintendent and Director of Curriculum & Technology in collaboration with building Principals. With Support from Department Chairs Teachers Resources: Grant Funding	Established peer coaching, staff meetings to review student work, PLCs, teacher rounds.
Goal 6: Create a continuum of specialized programming designed to meet the needs of all learners PK-12. Also Goal 2 of Core Value ~ Whole Child
Strategies	Timeline	Resources & Responsibilities	Deliverables Measures of Implementation Documentation
Implement an Intensive Reading and Written Language Program for grade 4/5 at Memorial School.	FY13	Director of Student Services MMES Principal Resources: Grant Funding / General Fund	Documented program enrollment, OOD cost avoidance, documentation of student progress.
Implement a therapeutic program for the middle school.	FY13	Director of Student Services MMES Principal Resources: General Fund	Documented program enrollment, OOD cost avoidance, documentation of student progress.
Evaluate and refine current specialized programs – SWING, Elementary SAIL, and TRANSITIONS.	FY13	Director of Student Services in collaboration with EES Principal MMES Principal MERHS Principal Resources: NA	Documented program evaluation data, recommendations for refinement of programs.
Implement an Intensive Reading and Written Language Program at the middle school.	FY14	Director of Student Services in collaboration with MS Principal Resources: Grant Funding / General Fund	Documented program enrollment, OOD cost avoidance, documentation of student progress.
Assess counseling and guidance programming and needs at the middle/high school.	FY13	Director of Student Services in collaboration with Principals Director of Guidance Resources: NA	Documented program and FTE recommendations.
Implement and refine RTI programs at the elementary level.	FY13	Director of Curriculum & Technology in collaboration with Director of Student Services Principals Resources: Parker Consulting /Entitlement Grants/General Fund	Documented student RTI referral and progress data; special education referral data.
Implement Positive Behavior Intervention Supports at the elementary and middle school.	FY14	Director of Student Services in collaboration with Principals Director of Curriculum & Technology Resources: Parker Consulting /Entitlement Grants/General Fund	Documented student RTI referral and progress data; special education referral data; discipline data.
Improve and standardize pre-referral team procedures at all levels.	FY13	Director of Student Services in collaboration with Director of Curriculum & Technology Principals With support from Department Chairs Team Chairs Resources: NA	Established handbook of forms and procedures, common title for all teams.
Create supplemental opportunities for gifted students.	FY14	Director of Curriculum & Technology in collaboration with Principals Resources: NA	Established list of opportunities and resources
Develop an ELL Program plan for the District.	FY13	Director of Student Services in collaboration with Director of Curriculum & Technology Resources: DESE ELL Regulations	Established structured guidelines for student assessment and service delivery.
Expand capacity for providing ABA to students with autism in the PK and SWING programs.	FY13-14	Director of Student Services in collaboration with Principals Resources: IDEA & Entitlement Grants / General Fund	Provide CABA-Tech training for selected TAs; hire a BCBA for EES SWING program.

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MERSD District Plan - Student Achievement