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 

The Preschool and all elementary schools will increase the participation and involvement of families who typically are under-represented at school community events 

and activities. 

O’Maley Middle School and Gloucester High will increase student participation in leadership and decision making about how activities, opportunities, and offerings operate.

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

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

2. Continue improving attendance and reducing chronic absenteeism through regular analysis of student attendance, early identification of students at risk for chronic absenteeism, and partnering with families to ensure students are attending more regularly.

Goal #3 - All Gloucester High students will explore a variety of opportunities while in high school, will identify their next step after graduation, 

                  and be prepared for that step.

1. Develop and implement a well defined approach for how all GHS staff will support all GHS students to identify  their next step after graduation. Ensure that all 12 grade students  have a defined plan for what they will do immediately after graduation.

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

3. Continue to invest in and strengthen Gloucester High School’s Career Vocational and Technical Education programs including completing the launch of the Medical Assisting and Exploratory Programs, further increasing the number of students participating in our CVTE programs, and improving students’ preparation for their steps after graduation.  

Priority #2 - Improve Academic Achievement and Deepen Student Learning for All Students 

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 and Improve Academic Achievement for All Students

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

2. Strengthen Tier I instruction across all grades and subject areas and continue to support the implementation of high quality curriculum in English language arts, math, and health.

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

4. Revamp the New Teacher Mentoring program to support best instructional practices. 

5. Develop and implement Education Support Professionals professional development opportunities, including  ongoing Inclusive Practices training throughout each school year.

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

1. The District-wide Instructional Leadership Team will drive the process of strengthening our inclusive instructional practices.

2. Continue to emphasize the importance of the District Curriculum Accommodation Plan (DCAP) and provide professional development opportunities for all staff.  

3. Align the child study process across the district to better support all students.

4. Maintain  a multi-year professional development plan to support Inclusive Practices including co-teaching.

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

1. Strengthen inclusive practices and co-teaching so students with disabilities and multi-lingual learners have more effective Tier I instruction that results in higher academic achievement. 

2. Implement and refine both newcomer and  English Language Education curriculum and instruction.

3. Maintain collaboration time among ML staff to ensure consistency and support across the district.

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.

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 and Improve Academic Achievement for All Students

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

2. Strengthen Tier I instruction across all grades and subject areas and continue to support the implementation of high quality curriculum in English language arts, math, and health.

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

4. Revamp the New Teacher Mentoring program to support best instructional practices. 

5. Develop and implement Education Support Professionals professional development opportunities, including  ongoing Inclusive Practices training throughout each school year.

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

1. The District-wide Instructional Leadership Team will drive the process of strengthening our inclusive instructional practices.

2. Continue to emphasize the importance of the District Curriculum Accommodation Plan (DCAP) and provide professional development opportunities for all staff.  

3. Align the child study process across the district to better support all students.

4. Maintain  a multi-year professional development plan to support Inclusive Practices including co-teaching.

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

1. Strengthen inclusive practices and co-teaching so students with disabilities and multi-lingual learners have more effective Tier I instruction that results in higher academic achievement. 

2. Implement and refine both newcomer and  English Language Education curriculum and instruction.

3. Maintain collaboration time among ML staff to ensure consistency and support across the district.

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.

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.   Ensure special education referral, evaluation, and determination processes are  high quality, thorough and follow standard procedures.

2.  Refine our Staff Resource Manual documenting proper, high quality processes and procedures.

3. Continue to provide targeted professional development to special education and other staff on evaluation and eligibility processes and ensure all are fully implementing high quality processes and procedures.  

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. Complete review of IEP’s at each school to assess quality of the written plans and to identify any areas of improvement that may be needed. 

2. Provide staff resources and training for progress monitoring, goal writing, IEP development and ensure that these practices are implemented fully across all schools.

Goal #3 - Strengthening our Specialized Instructional Practices & Programs 

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. Continue to build the necessary district-wide special education programs based on the needs and profiles of our students so we have a continuum of programs from PK through 12th grade that are vertically and horizontally aligned. 

2. Continue to strengthen our Therapeutic Programming PK-8 including developing a continuum of programs for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities. 

3.  Continue to strengthen our Specialized Reading Curriculum & Instruction. 

4. Strengthen our Inclusive Practices and Co-Teaching Methodologies across all schools with a focus on elementary and middle school.

5. Create therapeutic support models for special education programs and integrate clinical support into each district wide program that serves students with therapeutic needs.