Strategic Planning Goals

Public Schools of Brookline - Strategic Planning Goals

A dynamic school system operates in the present while focusing on its potential for the future. In 2009, the School Committee adopted The Strategic Plan of the Public Schools of Brookline (PSB) to provide a catalyst for our future educational endeavors and a blueprint for documenting our system’s continued success. Specific goals and strategies for our system and our schools are derived from our mission: “To ensure that every student develops the skills and knowledge to pursue a productive and fulfilling life, to participate thoughtfully in a democracy, and to succeed in a diverse and evolving global society.”

The Strategic Plan collectively identifies the priorities for our school system which are derived from four strategic areas of focus:

Goal 1

Academic Excellence. Increase the achievement of all students by creating learning environments that successfully balance content, pedagogy and student-teacher relationships.
Strategy 1.1:

Develop human resource strategies to attract and retain the most talented teachers capable of meeting the needs of our learners.
Strategy 1.2:

Develop and implement a complete array of Brookline Learning Expectations that meet or exceed state standards and identify what students are expected to know and be able to do.
Strategy 1.3:

Provide educators with opportunities to engage in collaborative learning activities focused on instruction and student learning.
Strategy 1.4:

Create formal plans that address transitions and enable students to experience success in every phase of their education.
Strategy 1.5:

Create goals and implement actions to strengthen student-teacher relationships and improve student achievement.
Strategy 1.6:

Develop home-school partnerships to increase student achievement in light of the important role families play in the education of our children.
Strategy 1.7:

Create and implement enrichment opportunities for students in grades 6, 7, and 8.
Strategy 1.8:

Create and implement a plan to ensure that Brookline educators engage in professional development that reflects system-wide priorities.

Goal 2

Educational Equity. Eliminate achievement gaps with respect to race, ethnicity and socio-economic status and increase the achievement of students with special needs through individualized strategies and programs.
Strategy 2.1:

Provide all educators with professional development focused upon culturally proficient pedagogy and racial identity development.
Strategy 2.2:

Develop and implement a goal-setting process to help teachers and administrators address gaps in their practices that pertain to issues of equity.
Strategy 2.3:

Create and implement a system-wide plan for recruiting and retaining a high caliber teaching and administrative staff that is reflective of the diversity of our student population.
Strategy 2.4:

Create and implement a system-wide plan for inclusion to ensure that all learners are placed and appropriately supported in the least restrictive environment.
Strategy 2.5:

Increase the participation of students of color, students who are economically disadvantaged, and students with special needs in advanced classes.
Strategy 2.6:

Decrease the over-representation of students of color who have been identified for special education.
Strategy 2.7:

Investigate and address issues that may constrain the participation of students of color, students who are economically disadvantaged and students whith special needs in extra and co-curricular activities.

Goal 3

Thriving in a Complex Global Society. Prepare students with the intellectual, interpersonal and reflective skills needed to thrive in an increasingly complex and diverse global society.
Strategy 3.1:

Develop opportunities to enhance the global awareness of every student.
Strategy 3.2:

Embed critical and creative thinking skills into the Brookline Learning Expectations and Pre K-12 Common Grade Level Assessments.
Strategy 3.3:

Foster opportunities for students and teachers to use technology in sophisticated ways to enhance their learning.
Strategy 3.4:

Develop and implement a K-12 World Language program that is aligned and integrated and provides every student with an opportunity to become proficient in another language.
Strategy 3.5:

Create opportunities for student-led discussion and debate over matters related to moral and ethical global issues.
Strategy 3.6:

Decrease the over-representation of students of color who have been identified for special education.
Strategy 3.7:

Investigate and address issues that may constrain the participation of students of color, students who are economically disadvantaged and students with special needs in extra and co-curricular activities.

Goal 4

Continuous Improvement Using Data. Foster a cycle of continuous improvement by using data to effectively examine system-wide programs and practices.
Strategy 4.1:

Engage teachers and administrators in the development of a data usage philosophy to create a shared understanding of the ways in which we will and will not use data in the Public Schools of Brookline.
Strategy 4.2:

Establish Data Teams at the school and system level to support educators in the use of data to inform decision-making.
Strategy 4.3:

Develop a system of multiple measures comprising various types of data, including: (1) demographics; (2) perceptions; (3) school processes; and (4) student achievement (e.g., common grade level, state and national assessments).
Strategy 4.4:

Create a Data Warehouse with multiple measures and a plan for maximizing the effective use of those data.
Strategy 4.5:

Examine and update the supervision and evaluation process for all staff to ensure that written evaluations align to system priorities.
Strategy 4.6:

Conduct an examination of the Program Review process to identify opportunities for enhancement through the systematic use of data.
Strategy 4.7:

Create a program evaluation model for operations (e.g., facilities, food services, custodial) that incorporates data and develops strategies for using those data to improve programs and practices.