Plan for Ongoing Improvement

The Future State We are Working Towards

• The Gloucester Public Schools is a warm, friendly and welcoming community for all students and families.  

• In the Gloucester Public Schools, every student experiences a sense of belonging every day. 

• All students want to come to school because they are involved and connected inside and outside of the classroom.

• Our families feel welcome and appreciated, and are partners in the education of their child.

Priority Overview: 

Goal #1 - All Gloucester schools will deepen our students’ and families’ sense of belonging and connection in our school communities 

1. Increase the participation and involvement of families who typically are under-represented at school community events and activities across all elementary schools

2. Increase student participation in leadership and decision making about how activities, opportunities, and offerings operate at O'Maley Middle School and Gloucester High

Goal #2 - The Gloucester Public Schools will reduce chronic absenteeism across all schools by supporting families early and often

1. Create highly functioning, data-driven attendance teams at each school to quickly identify students having trouble attending school.  

2. Develop a culture and practice across all schools of proactively supporting students and families in multiple ways to ensure students come to school on time, every day.

3. Communicate regularly and consistently using numerous vehicles to help families and students understand that coming to school every day matters.

Goal #3 - All Gloucester High students will explore a variety of pathways while in high school, will choose their first step after graduation, and be prepared for that next step.

1. Develop approach for how GHS staff will support all GHS students to explore pathways and choose their next step after graduation

2. Strengthen the support and guidance that the GHS school counseling department provides students for post-high school planning 

3. Strengthen the support and guidance that the GHS school counseling department provides families for post-high school planning 

4. Invest in and strengthen Gloucester High School’s existing Career Vocational and Technical Education programs and expand the number of students served by building and launching a fifth program  

The Future State We Are Working Towards

All Gloucester Public Schools have an inclusive culture in which every student receives engaging, high quality instruction, supportive interventions, and enrichment every day. All students grow academically, socially and emotionally, and develop from dependent to independent learners.

Priority Overview: 

Goal #1 Strengthen Tier 1 Curriculum and Instruction to Deepen Learning for All Students

1. Develop, implement, and support a PreK-8 model for instruction that focuses on engagement and scaffolding strategies

2. Review O’Maley 6-8 curriculum, pilot and adopt new curriculum in English language arts, math, and health 

3. Continue strengthening Tier 1 Instruction at Gloucester High School by continuing the schoolwide implementation of brain-based, culturally responsive practices

4. Strengthen our annual New Teacher Academy by extending to all grade levels.

5. Develop and implement Education Support Professionals Summer Academy, followed by ongoing Inclusive Practices training throughout the school year

Goal #2 Strengthen inclusive practices through improved clarity on best practices, more effective professional development, and easier access to instructional resources 

1. Create cross-school Inclusive Practice Leadership Team to lead the process of strengthening our inclusive practices 

2. Create an interactive District Curriculum Accommodation Plan (DCAP) linked to documentation on best practices, videos, and other instructional resources. 

3. Develop and begin a multi-year professional development plan to support Inclusive Practices

Goal #3 Ensure all Students with Disabilities and all English Learners receive essential Tier 1 instruction every day 

1. Redesign and implement Master Schedules in K-5 schools to maximize efficient scheduling of services for Students with Disabilities and English Learners

2. Conduct an assessment and review of English Language Education curriculum and instruction

3. Begin pilot of new English Language Education curriculum

Goal #4 Educate Families on How our Schools use Multiple Tiers of Instruction to Serve All Students

1. Define our clear focus on Tier I and Tier II instruction and how it serves the needs of all students - General Education, Special Education, and English learners

2. Develop and communicate a “Tiered Support Services Guide” for Families and Staff

3. Develop Tiered Support Services/Inclusive Practices Video Overview 

The Future State We Are Working Towards

In collaboration with families and community partners, the Gloucester Public Schools support the overall mental health and wellness of all of our students. We are committed to ensuring that every student learns the social emotional skills necessary to thrive in school and beyond.  

Priority Overview

Goal #1 Social Emotional Learning Skill Development - Develop and Implement a Multi-Tiered System of Instruction and Support for Social Emotional Learning and Mental Health 

1. Assess our school culture and climate in order to understand our strengths and identify areas where we need to improve student belonging and our learning environment. 

2. Develop and Pilot Tier 1 social emotional learning curriculum for preschool through high school

3. Develop and Provide Tier 2 social, emotional, and mental health support for identified students 

4. Increase mental health literacy for all students through a peer education model

Goal #2 Develop systematic mechanisms for early identification of students who require additional, targeted support

1. Perform universal screenings (Middle and High School) and emotional check-ins (Pk-5) to identify struggling students early and offer necessary support

2. Use screening and behavioral health data dashboard data to identify and respond to student trends in mental health

Goal #3  Continue Strengthening the Expertise and Skills of all School-based Clinical Staff

1. Continue developing the use of a shared framework and evidence based strategies through regular team consultation and professional training 

2. Align clinical staff practices by developing clear, consistent processes and a common language for assessment and intervention across all school  

Goal #4 Provide Intensive Student Support by Leveraging Community Partnerships

1. Assess and identify gaps in currently provided support for complex student mental health needs

2. Address identified gaps in student support through the development of services and programs with community partners organizations.

The Future State We Are Working Towards

The Gloucester Public Schools use consistent, high quality systems and practices to guide the eligibility process, create individualized student-centered IEP’s, provide targeted and specialized instruction, and monitor for effective progress across programs and schools. 

• Gloucester Public Schools believes that students with disabilities should be educated to the maximum extent possible alongside their peers. 

• Our goal is to create inclusive educational environments for all learners by providing a continuum of services where individual differences are celebrated, students’ unique needs are met, and we maximize each students’ academic, social and emotional growth.

• Through individualized assessment and progress monitoring, we identify and provide the appropriate support to remove learning barriers and ensure students are provided with meaningful, high-quality opportunities in diverse educational settings.

• We teach students to be proud of their accomplishments, recognize their future potential and become positive and contributing members of society. 

Priority Overview

Goal #1 Strengthen our evaluation and eligibility processes 

The Gloucester Public Schools will develop consistent and high functioning practices for processing special education referrals, conducting evaluations and determining eligibility for Special Education Services. 

1. Review and assess current special education referral, evaluation, and determination processes

2. Create a Staff Resource Manual documenting proper, high quality processes and procedures

3. Provide targeted professional development 

Goal #2 Strengthening Individualized Education Program (IEP) development

The Gloucester Public Schools will work collaboratively with families to ensure team meetings are student centered and Individualized Education Programs (IEP’s) are data driven.  IEP teams will ensure that students who are eligible for special education are consistently making effective progress and reaching their maximum potential in the Least Restrictive Environment. 

1. Develop resources to support staff with new DESE IEP roll out

2. Provide staff resources and training for progress monitoring, goal writing, IEP development

Goal #3 Strengthening our Specialized Instructional Practices & Consultation 

The Gloucester Public Schools will build our capacity to provide a range of highly effective instructional practices and a continuum of programs and services designed to meet the unique and individual needs of our identified students within their neighborhood schools and throughout the district.

1. Strengthen our District wide Autism/Developmental Delay Programs PK-12

2. Strengthen our Therapeutic Programming PK-8

3. Strengthen our Specialized Reading Curriculum & Instruction 

4. Strengthen our Inclusive Practices and Co-Teaching Methodologies