Major Accomplishments/Stakeholder Engagement/Media Interviews: 2014-2015
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Major Accomplishments/Stakeholder Engagement/Media Interviews: 2014-2015 Strategic Plan Item Brief Description Goal* In 2014-15, the SSOS initiative continues to review and redesign educational opportunities for schools within the school district. Through community Student Success Opportunity meetings and realignment of resources, instructional Schools (SSOS) Initiative: programs and support structures will be initiated at Consolidated these schools for the 2015-16 school year. Two schools/leveraged additional SSOS schools, Walker Elementary and HQI.1 resources/implemented new Park Ridge Elementary were both completely programs & services via the reconstituted including the recruitment and selection implementation of the of a new administration, a new hiring process for all community driven SSOS instructional staff and exemplary educational initiative. programs initiated through a partnership with the National Turn Around Arts Model (Walker) and Discovery Education STEM Model (Park Ridge). BCPS expanded the personalized learning initiative to 81 schools. These classroom teachers are transitioning to blended, student centered learning to maximize learning outcomes, increase student Digital 5 and Personalized HQI.2 engagement and citizenship skills. The personalized Learning Initiative learning initiative impacts over 8,300 students by providing them with learning tools to use at home and school and allows for collaboration between teachers and students. BCPS’s middle schools have “infused” digital tools, resources and instructional strategies within the Implementation of Digital 6: content areas of English/language arts, mathematics, HQI.3 Mathematics and Language and intensive reading during the 2014-15 school year. Arts Using the student laptop carts and teacher laptops, 6th grade English/language arts and mathematics Strategic Plan Goals High Quality Instruction: HQI Continuous Improvement: CI Effective Communication: EC Broward County Public Schools Page 1 of 67 Major Accomplishments/Stakeholder Engagement/Media Interviews: 2014-2015 classes and 6th grade intensive reading classes have access to a new digital curriculum aligned to Florida Standards in English/language arts, mathematics, and intensive reading. Three 6th grade mathematics classrooms at each middle school were equipped with interactive projectors to enhance teaching. BCPS’s 9th and 10th grade students, through their English/language arts and intensive reading courses, Implementation of Digital have access to a laptop for instruction and to the HQI.4 Infusion 9: Language Arts following as part of daily instruction, a new digital curriculum aligned to Florida Standards in English/ language arts and intensive reading. The Digital Developmental Language Arts ESOL- Reading Initiative (Digital DLA) allows ELLs to control Digital Developmental their pace, place and path of instruction by using Language Arts ESOL- digital devices and digital curriculum content for HQI.5 Reading Initiative (Digital communication, collaboration, research, knowledge DLA) acquisition, and presentation of learning through assessments. Implementation began in 2014-15 for ten high schools and four middle schools. As a result of the Code.org initiative, the number of BCPS schools providing computer science courses, curriculum or resources increased from nine schools to 120 schools and is currently impacting more than 11,500 students. BCPS is also the recipient of an HQI.6 Code.org Initiative $89,000 National Science Foundation grant to study the impact of introducing computer science in elementary schools on student achievement in mathematics, science and literacy. Computer Science courses will be offered in 100% of the BCPS high schools in 2015-16. Strategic Plan Goals High Quality Instruction: HQI Continuous Improvement: CI Effective Communication: EC Broward County Public Schools Page 2 of 67 Major Accomplishments/Stakeholder Engagement/Media Interviews: 2014-2015 BCPS led the world in 2013 with over 15,000 students participating in the Hour of Code, a national campaign dedicated to expanding computer science programs in schools. In 2014-15, 100% of Broward County Public Schools took part in plugged and unplugged Computer Science Education HQI.7 "coding" lessons and activities during National Week: Hour of Code Computer Science Education Week in December 2014. By introducing our students to critical thinking through “coding” early on, BCPS is taking the lead in preparing more students to be the innovators of tomorrow. Secured a $135,000 grant to support the work of Linking Education and Employment Outcomes, JP Morgan Chase Foundation (LEEO). The funds were used to sponsor the LEEO Grant: Enhancements to the Executive Leadership Symposium in October 2014, HQI.8 LEEO [Linking Education and summer internship opportunities, technical Employment Outcomes] certification assessments, field experiences directly in Program the work place, and for continued support of school site projects. BCPS increased the number of identified school- based mentoring programs from 50 to 160 schools. Established school ambassadors for over 175 schools to support the success initiative. BCPS identified over HQI.9 Black Male Success Initiative 2,000 overage students and developed a plan to help them get back on track. Academic transition plans were developed for DJJ-court involved students and a re-engagement center for students and families. The District’s Student Support Initiatives Department, anchor agencies across Broward County, and a core HQI.10 SSOS-Promise Neighborhood group of leaders in the Dillard Innovation Zone, have come together to focus on the issues that bar youth from succeeding in the schools in that community. Strategic Plan Goals High Quality Instruction: HQI Continuous Improvement: CI Effective Communication: EC Broward County Public Schools Page 3 of 67 Major Accomplishments/Stakeholder Engagement/Media Interviews: 2014-2015 The effort focuses on prioritizing and coordinating wraparound services offered through education, non- profit, business and government, to improve the educational and developmental outcomes for youth. The 2014-15 implementation includes 27 core agencies working to bring services to the Dillard Zone schools, students and families. Established both a clothing bank and food pantry to provide immediate concrete support to families in the community. In this, the fourth year of the Broward Debate Initiative, we have expanded to add 15 Middle Schools to the existing 13 Middle Schools and all District High Schools. This initiative is strongly Middle School and High supported by the National Speech and Debate Association, who provides content, membership and HQI.11 School Debate Expansion monetary support. The coaches of these newly participating schools receive intensive summer training, materials, and funding from the District. Ultimately many of these schools will follow the high school path and attend the tournaments at the University of Florida, Emory, Harvard, and Berkeley. In 2014-15, BCPS in partnership with America's Foundation for Chess (AF4C) has expanded the First HQI.12 Chess Initiative Move Program to include all 2nd and 3rd grade students. Through this initiative, BCPS has the largest implementation of scholastic chess in the nation. In 2014-15, the Coach Credentialing program was Comprehensive Instructional expanded and implemented District-wide. The Coach Credentialing Program HQI.13 professional learning promotes a knowledge base of to Improve High Quality common effective coaching strategies and coaching Instruction language throughout the District, credentials all school-based instructional coaches, and Strategic Plan Goals High Quality Instruction: HQI Continuous Improvement: CI Effective Communication: EC Broward County Public Schools Page 4 of 67 Major Accomplishments/Stakeholder Engagement/Media Interviews: 2014-2015 communicates expectations and responsibilities in improving instruction as a teacher leader. Currently, over 300 instructional coaches are engaged in a rigorous two-year credentialing program funded through the U.S Department of Education, Teacher Incentive Fund grant and the Investing in Innovation (i3) Grant. In 2014-15, 150 students enrolled in the first blended- learning, technical high school (Sheridan Technical Magnet High School) to take both online and face-to- face courses. Students participate in honors and First Blended-Learning advanced placement level courses, while preparing HQI.14 Technical Magnet High for articulation into one of 20 technical programs School offered at the technical college. They will graduate with a diploma and an industry certification. Tracks include surgical lab technician, legal administration assistance, culinary, automotive, computer programming and a variety of medical disciplines. In 2014-15, the BEST Blueprint was launched in all schools. The blueprint is designed to create an organized, systemic process to teaching and learning with coordinated support from the Offices of School Performance and Accountability, Academics, and Talent Development. It consists of the four best HQI.15 BEST Blueprint practices below that are intended to improve student outcomes at every grade level: Identifies the District’s expectations for Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) driven by student need utilizing the Curriculum, Assessment, Remediation and Enrichment (CARE) framework. Strategic Plan Goals High Quality Instruction: HQI Continuous Improvement: CI Effective Communication: EC Broward County Public Schools