Agenda - 11-10-1998 - Attachment #10

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A Vision for Education in the 21st Century Executive Summary One of the first steps of the Strategic Planning Task Force was to launch a comprehensive effort to obtain the community's perspective or vision for local education. Through public hearings, numerous meetings in housing neighborhoods and multiple other channels for responses, the community identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing our schools. In addition, respondents suggested new strategies for the schools and reinforced some existing initiatives. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats The community feedback indicated that the schools' strengths are high student achievement and expectations; strong community support and involvement; and a high quality staff. The underachievement of African- American students continues as the most pervasive weakness of the schools along with the lack of services for average students. Overcrowding, large class sizes, and inadequate career planning and students' lack of respect are also considered weaknesses. Opportunities are identified largely in terms of community resources: volunteers, community diversity, partnerships, recruitment of staff, empowerment, collaboration and charter schools. The list of potential threats is lengthy and includes the concern that educational resources may not keep up with needs, disparity in family incomes, retention of staff, low expectations for some students, lack of students' accepting responsibility, and charter schools, vouchers, and tuition tax credits. Beliefs The strategic plan is built on beliefs about the conditions needed for the most effective education. These beliefs include high academic and behavioral expectations; a consistent and articulated core curriculum; parents who function as active partners in their children's education; a nurturing environment where diversity is respected; adults who serve as good role models; learning that is related to real world experiences; and instruction that is active and attuned to the learning styles of students. The task force believes that all students are capable of high achievement with consistent, effective effort. Values Related to beliefs, the task force identified six values: respect, responsibility, excellence, equal opportunity, teamwork, and shared decision making. Vision of a High School Graduate The task force also developed a vision of the skills a graduate should possess. The task force believes that schools should take responsibility for developing students in three major areas: (1) essential skills, (2) academic knowledge and (3) character and behavior.