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District of Columbia Public Schools
Picture the Possibilities:
A SNAPSHOT
A PLAN FOR TRANSFORMING SCHOOLS
The District of Columbia Public School System is committed to becoming a
school district that puts children first - that is, ahead of and at the
heart of everything we do in principle, in deed and in spirit. The
Children First Initiative is part of a comprehensive plan for school
transformation that will create safe, nurturing environments for learning,
prepare teachers to implement high quality instruction, prepare young
children for school, offer students rigorous coursework, extend learning
for all students who do not meet challenging standards, and make effective
use of current research on best practices. The design of the academic plan
for transformed schools is founded on the expectations that all students
will learn; all students will achieve; all students will be successful.
The approach to school improvement or transformation is
directly correlated to the potential for success. The academic program
that undergirds transformation is designed to accommodate every student in
a supportive, inclusive manner with special education, bilingual, gifted,
and enrichment programs as integral components.
The framework depicted in the following slides as the
10 building blocks for school transformation is a succinct presentation of
the elements that contribute to a transformed school. The focus is on the
following:
- Creating a safe learning environment
- Improved content and instruction
- Academic rigor
- Extended learning time
- Starting early for School Readiness
- Ongoing Professional Development
- Proven, research-based comprehensive reform programs
While every building block is important, the most
important area of reform for low performing schools is providing
curricula, content and instruction that assist students in reaching
challenging academic standards. Intensive reading programs, reduced class
size in the early learning grades and standards-based instruction are
major thrusts to improve achievement.
A detailed academic plan will be in place for each
transformation school. The following is a snapshot of school
transformation.
Back to top of page
Children First
An Initiative of the District of Columbia Public Schools
Paul L. Vance, Superintendent
Goals of School Transformation
To ensure that all DCPS schools are places where:
- Teachers can teach;
- Children can learn;
- Parents are involved; and
- Communities are partners.
The 10 Building Blocks of Transformation
The Building Blocks of Transformed Schools
A transformed school will have:
- A highly competent leader and staff;
- A required, research-proven instructional program that will meet the
needs of all students;
- An enhanced physical environment;
- Extended day and extended year academic support and student
enrichment programs;
- Expanded technology for instruction, management, and data-based
decision making;
- A full and complete array of instructional materials, equipment,
supplies, and textbooks in all classrooms when school opens;
- Required, compensated, ongoing professional development for all
staff;
- Expanded safety and security measures;
- Strong outreach programs that encourage parent involvement and
partnerships with city agencies, universities, philanthropic and
community-based organizations and the corporate supporters;
- Focused support and technical assistance from DCPS' central
administration.
Transformation Building Blocks
1. HIGHLY COMPETENT LEADERS AND STAFF
Building staff will include:
- Principal with track record as effective administrator;
- A committed staff
- whose past performance has been highly evaluated
- that wants to work in a transformation environment;
- that has specialized skills to contribute to the transformation
effort.
2. A PRESCRIBED, RESEARCH-PROVEN INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM THAT MEETS THE
NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS
Will include:
- Improved content and curriculum aligned with DCPS Standards of
Teaching and Learning,
- Rigorous Expectations,
- Research-based comprehensive school reform models tailored to needs
and level of identified schools,
- Emphasis on mastery of reading skills,
- Enrichment opportunities,
- Tailored intervention program,
- Homework policies that foster independent practice and exploration,
- Effective, inclusive delivery of services for special needs
populations,
- High quality, early childhood program in elementary school.
3. AN ENHANCED PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Will include:
- Refurbished windows,
- Improved landscaping.,
- Improved lighting, brightly painted walls, and creative use of
space,
- Upgraded wiring to support technology,
- Better use of school grounds,
- Multi-purpose classrooms organized to support active learning,
- Increased storage for supplies and materials,
- Specialized spaces - e.g. early childhood classrooms, parent and
media centers, career and technical facilities - tailored to school
needs,
- Fully equipped laboratory spaces.
4. EXTENDED DAY AND YEAR ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND STUDENT ENRICHMENT
PROGRAMS
Will Include:
- Required after school and Saturday academies,
- Required summer out-of-school programs,
- Extended staff presence at schools,
- Programs tailored to strengthen areas of weakness and foster
acceleration.
5. EXPANDED TECHNOLOGY FOR INSTRUCTION, MANAGEMENT, AND DATA-BASED
DECISION MAKING
Will Include:
- Interactive instructional technology that
- fosters essential skill-building and independent learning, and
- monitors student performance and adapts to student progress.
6. A FULL AND COMPLETE ARRAY OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT,
SUPPLIES, AND TEXTBOOKS IN ALL CLASSROOMS WHEN SCHOOLS OPEN
- All schools will be equipped with textbooks, related materials,
technology and other supplies tailored to their needs and academic
programs during the summer.
7. REQUIRED, COMPENSATED, ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL
STAFF
Will include:
- Clearly stated goals and outcomes,
- Relevant and rigorous content,
- Research-based models that convey instructional strategies for
teachers and aides,
- Skill-building for all staff.
8. A SAFE AND SECURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Will include:
- Heightened monitoring of student and staff attendance and
satisfaction,
- Character education programs,
- Multicultural Training,
- Enhanced security measures including:
- State-of-the Art digital closed circuit television,
- Electronic access control system.
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