District 54 re-evaluating, setting goals to stay the course
At the beginning of a new year, most of us take some time to reflect on what we accomplished over the past 12 months. We then develop new goals that we hope to achieve in the year ahead. We, in School District 54, are no different. We are focused and results driven, and we continuously evaluate our progress to determine areas in need of improvement. Our staff is committed to constantly learning and utilizing different teaching strategies to better meet the needs of the students, while working within the financial parameters set by the Board of Education.
Over the past several years, we have seen dramatic growth in student achievement. These increases are evident on both state and local assessments and have been verified through an independent benchmarking study that our district participated in last year. The results indicated that students in District 54 have made statistically significant gains in both reading and math at every grade level. As a district, our students have demonstrated the largest increase in student achievement when compared to other districts in Illinois. Thinking about these results, there is much to celebrate. However, we are fully aware that there is more that needs to be done.
To achieve our district's mission of ensuring student success, our staff will again be working tirelessly to meet the Board-adopted district goals:
• Students who have attended District 54 schools for at least one year will read at grade level upon entering third grade.
• Each school will close the achievement gap for all students in reading and math as measured by both district and state assessments.
• At least 90 percent of all students will meet or exceed standards in reading and math as measured by both district and state assessments.
These goals not only affirm our commitment to improved student learning, but also clearly define where we are headed as a school district over the next several years. Progress toward meeting these goals is continuously monitored by classroom teachers, school leadership teams and at the district level.
To support staff in being able to meet our district's student learning goals, we also will be working on several important projects that include:
• Implementing the new science curriculum at every grade.
• Supporting the development and implementation of common assessments to monitor student learning on a regular basis.
• Revising and piloting the elementary report card.
• Developing a two-year instructional guide for elementary multi-age classes.
• Reviewing the junior high social science curriculum to assess the alignment of current resources with the new Essential Outcomes.
• Completing our district's Response to Intervention Plan, which will outline a framework for schools to follow as they identify, plan for and provide supports to students who are experiencing academic or behavioral difficulties.
• Working collaboratively with the Schaumburg Educational Employees' Organization and the Schaumburg Education Association to obtain a mutually agreed-upon contract.
In thinking about the best way to communicate where District 54 is headed, the phrase "stay the course" comes to mind. "Stay the Course" is often used during a time of change when progress is being realized and success becomes evident. These words best summarize where District 54 is headed and publicly affirms our commitment to maintaining the current focus until our district's goals are achieved.
District 54 is goal-driven, focused on student achievement, committed to continuous improvement, and will never give up. You have our promise that we will "stay the course" until we have successfully achieved our mission of ensuring student success. We are looking forward to working with each of you, again this year, to make the 2008-2009 school year our best yet.
• Ed Rafferty is superintendent of Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54.