Forward View 2022: WCPS Strategic Plan 2017-2022

Forward View 2022 STRATEGIC PLAN

2017-2022

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR CAREERS & HIGHER EDUCATION Worcester County Public Schools is committed to ensuring that every student graduates with the skills necessary to successfully enter higher education or the global workforce.

Forward View 2022 is Worcester County Public Schools’ strategic plan to enable students to realize their own personal success. The focus areas, goals and strategies within this plan have been carefully designed from input gathered from all of our stakeholders. It is our belief that Forward View 2022 will keep our school system on course for greatness well into the future.

WORCESTER COUNTY

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

6270 Worcester Highway | Newark, MD 21841 p: 410-632-5000 | f: 410-632-0364 www.worcesterk12.org

Introduction Dear WCPS Community, I am pleased to present on behalf of Worcester County Public Schools the next strategic plan, Forward View 2022. The launch of this 2017-2022 strategic plan as you can see from its title is about looking forward and planning for the future.

This plan builds upon the strong foundation of success that Worcester County Public Schools has already experienced, but turns our focus to the future. A future in which every student is provided an educational program that inspires a love of learning, encompasses challenging curriculum and provides students with the support to rise to their fullest potential.

Forward View 2022 also demonstrates the shared values of our school system community. In development of this plan, each segment of our community was invited to share their ideas for moving WCPS forward. Through meetings with faculties, leadership, community members and students, the strategic planning committee created a plan that reflects our community’s desires in the education of our youth.

Through your review of this document, you will notice that the goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) associated with measuring our progress are fewer.

Through research and our committee work, we have determined these metrics to be better indicators of overall school system progress. WCPS has also begun the work to align our school improvement planning, department strategic planning, and leadership evaluation. This alignment will ensure that with each decision made, our core values and ideals are kept at the forefront.

As we move forward, I look to you as a member of our school system community to help us realize success. It is only through continued partnership and collaboration that Forward View 2022 will truly set our students on the path to a prosperous future.

Sincerely,

Louis H. Taylor Worcester County Superintendent of Schools

Our Vision All students will be empowered to become life-long learners, ready to embrace the future and contribute positively to their community.

Our Mission The mission of Worcester County Public Schools is to cultivate a safe, student-centered, educational environment in which our diverse community of learners develops positive relationships and is prepared for an ever-changing world.

Strategic Areas of Focus Throughout stakeholder input meetings, feedback gathered from all groups often fell into four main focus areas, which were adopted by the Strategic Planning Committee to form the overall focus of the Forward View 2022 strategic plan.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

COMMUNICATION & COLLABORATION

SCHOOL SAFETY

ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS

Aca d em ic A ch ie ve me n t Beginning in Pre-Kindergarten, Worcester County Public Schools strives to provide a rigorous, relevant and engaging program of study for every student in our school system.

Through development of high quality curriculum and building opportunities for personalizing learning, Worcester County continues to be a leader in educational excellence.

GOAL: Every student will be academically successful and experience continuous growth by engaging in a rigorous instructional program preparing them for a competitive, culturally diverse world.

“Together, we can reach unimaginable heights and ensure the children of Worcester County reach their fullest potential.”

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:

- Mr. William L. Gordy, Board of Education President

KPI 1.1 - Percentage of students demonstrating kindergarten readiness as measured by the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA)

KPI 1.5 – Percentage of Grade 8 students demonstrating on grade level reading as measured by a score of level four or five on PARCC

KPI 1.2 – Percentage of Grade 3 students demonstrating on grade level reading as measured by a score of level four or five on PARCC

KPI 1.6 – Percentage of high school students who meet College and Career Readiness standards through appropriate means (i.e.

SAT, PARCC, CTE Pathway, etc.)

KPI 1.3 – Percentage of Grade 3 students demonstrating on grade level mathematics as measured by a score of level four or five on PARCC

KPI 1.7 – Percentage of diploma-bound students graduating within four years of enrolling in high school

KPI 1.4 – Percentage of Algebra I students demonstrating proficiency as measured by a score of level four or five on PARCC

KPI 1.8 – Increase teacher capacity to deliver personalized instruction through the use of a learning management system

Co mmu n ic ati on & Co llaborat ion Worcester County Public Schools is a school system rich in partnerships. Building strong relationships with all stakeholders is the foundation on which we are able to build such success. By bringing focus to communication and collaboration with our stakeholders, we pledge to continue our efforts in providing transparency and meaningful opportunities for two-way dialogue.

GOAL: Through collaborative relationships, staff, families and our community will experience timely and honest communication about district initiatives, activities and performance.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS: KPI 2.1 – Percentage of community indicating satisfaction with district and school communications as measured by an annual communications survey KPI 2.2 – Percentage of employees indicating satisfaction with district and school communications as measured by an annual communications survey

Co m mu ni cat e w i t h WC PS

Tw it te r : @ Wo rce s t er S y st e m Fa c e book : F B .m e/ Wo rc e st e rS y st e m I ns ta gr a m: Worce s t e r S y st e m Yo uTub e : Wo rces t e r S y st e m Email: info@mail. worces ter.k1 2.md. us

Sc hool Saf ety The safety of all Worcester County Public Schools continues to be a primary focus for our school system. We firmly believe that providing safe, supportive learning and working environments for our students and staff is essential for success. Every school and office in Worcester County will be free of conditions that inhibit student learning or staff productivity.

GOAL: Every Worcester County Public School will be a safe and secure learning environment that creates and maintains a culture of respect and positivity with the intention of promoting the well-being of every student.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:

“We need to reexamine the idea of discipline. What we should be instilling in our students is a strong moral compass.”

- Mr. Louis H. Taylor, Superintendent of Schools

KPI 3.1 – Percentage of students meeting the 94% attendance standard KPI 3.2 – Percentage of students receiving out of school suspension KPI 3.3 – Percentage of parents and students indicating overall satisfaction of their school(s) as measured by an annual climate survey KPI 3.4 – Percentage of parents and students expressing their satisfaction with the safety and security of their school(s) as measured by an annual climate survey KPI 3.5 – Average number of discipline referrals per school bus, per year

Org a nizational Ef f e c tive n e ss School systems must implement processes and efficiently utilize resources to be effective. Worcester County Public Schools pledges to protect the investment made by the citizens of Worcester County by ensuring all operations are efficient, well-managed and proactive in planning for the future.

GOAL: Worcester County Public Schools will maximize organizational effectiveness through professional learning, continuous growth and participative leadership while maintaining integrity, transparency, and a commitment to professionalism.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS: KPI 4.1 – Percentage of staff attendance KPI 4.2 – Percentage of minorities hired into professional positions KPI 4.3 – Number of workdays lost due to workplace accidents KPI 4.4 – Percentage of reactive maintenance requests addressed within 48 hours KPI 4.5 – Percentage of schools/workplaces offering multiple, on-going health and wellness activities for their staff KPI 4.6 – Percentage of open Information Technology service requests

KPI 4.7 – Percentage of professional staff holding a Master’s degree or higher KPI 4.8 – Annual financial statement audit completed timely and with unqualified opinion

WORCESTER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Board of Education, June 2017 William L. Gordy, President J. Douglas Dryden, Vice President Barry Q. Brittingham, Sr. Eric W. Cropper, Sr. Elena J. McComas Robert A. Rothermel, Jr. Sara D. Thompson School System Leadership Louis H. Taylor, Superintendent of Schools John R. Quinn, Chief Academic Officer H. Stephen Price, Chief Operating Officer Vincent E. Tolbert, Chief Financial Officer

WORCESTER COUNTY

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

6270 Worcester Highway | Newark, MD 21841 p: 410-632-5000 | f: 410-632-0364 www.worcesterk12.org