Audit summary

Description

curriculum management audit • Chesterfield County Public SchoolsJanuary 2008The school system is implementing a personalized Moving forwardprofessional growth plan system for administrators and Striving for continuous improvement, Chesterfield County teachers.Public Schools works toward the School Board’s vision • Population growth in Chesterfield County has of every school as “a thriving, dynamic and inspiring outpaced school construction. Five schools are under educational environment that produces self-directed construction, and the new public facilities plan calls for learners” and concentrates on the goals of its strategic plan:building 13 additional schools.1. academic excellence for all students• The audit calls for an alternative budget development 2. safe, supportive and nurturing learning environmentsprocess to align with the strategic plan. The budget 3. competent and knowledgeable workforcebeing developed for 2008-09 is aligned with the 4. community investmentstrategic plan.Without a doubt, Chesterfield has a good school system. All Some recommendations were unexpected, schools are accredited. Students outperform state averages. and school officials are taking immediate action:Students, teachers and staff members consistently win • Auditors found school computers unused too much of state, regional and national awards. Families move into the time and observed a lack of variety in instructional Chesterfield so their children can be educated here ...

Informations

• Publié par: Irne
• Nombre de lectures: 7
• Langue: English

Extrait

Moving forward

Striving for continuous improvement, Chesterfield County

Public Schools works toward the School Board’s vision

of every school as “a thriving, dynamic and inspiring

educational environment that produces self-directed

learners” and concentrates on the goals of its strategic plan:

1. academic excellence for all students

2. safe, supportive and nurturing learning environments

3. competent and knowledgeable workforce

4. community investment

Without a doubt, Chesterfield has a good school system. All

schools are accredited. Students outperform state averages.

Students, teachers and staff members consistently win

state, regional and national awards. Families move into

Chesterfield so their children can be educated here.

To move to the next level, the school system contracted with

Phi Delta Kappa International for a curriculum management

audit. Bringing in experts who could look with fresh eyes

to see where improvements are needed “expresses ...

commitment to ongoing improvement,” the audit states.

Auditors found that the school system is “student-centered

and forward-looking. … Most classrooms visited by

auditors were cheerful, pleasant settings focused on

learning. Auditors sensed a professional pride among both

division and school staffs.”

Auditors also praised the School Board’s planning

efforts and alignment of school improvement plans

with the division’s Design for Excellence strategic plan.

Recommendations from the audit are being incorporated

into the strategic plan, pointing the way to move

Chesterfield County Public Schools from good to great.

Audit recommendations

Chesterfield school officials have already begun

to work on these recommendations:

•

The school system’s policies and procedures need to be

consistent and formalized. The school system is moving

to document policies and processes that are in place for

curriculum development, staff development and student

assessment.

•

Gaps exist in achievement, opportunity, discipline and

staffing. The strategic plan, adopted last month, includes

many actions to eliminate these gaps.

•

The evaluation process does not sufficiently document

or promote employee development and growth.

The school system is implementing a personalized

professional growth plan system for administrators and

teachers.

•

Population growth in Chesterfield County has

outpaced school construction. Five schools are under

construction, and the new public facilities plan calls for

building 13 additional schools.

•

The audit calls for an alternative budget development

process to align with the strategic plan. The budget

being developed for 2008-09 is aligned with the

strategic plan.

Some recommendations were unexpected,

and school officials are taking immediate action:

•

Auditors found school computers unused too much of

the time and observed a lack of variety in instructional

methods. School officials will encourage principals and

teachers to increase student use of computers and to

employ a variety of instructional strategies every day.

•

Curriculum documents for elementary classes were

rated more favorably than those for secondary classes.

Officials will revise the documents to provide more

support for middle and high school teachers.

Some audit recommendations will be considered:

•

The audit recommends a strengthened central

administration. Chesterfield County Public Schools

seeks administrative consistency with operational

flexibility to allow shared decision-making between

central administrators and school principals.

•

The audit states that tutoring programs are inconsistently

designed and implemented. Most tutoring programs are

tailor-made at each school, often in partnership with

community groups.

Continuous improvement

Every day, progress on recommendations from the

curriculum management audit is occurring in Chesterfield

schools. Recommendations are being incorporated into the

school system’s strategic plan, a plan that provides “a clear

focus for decisions,” the audit said.

School officials will use the audit to raise the bar for

Chesterfield schools. Setting higher standards for tomorrow

will prepare Chesterfield students to succeed globally.

In the words of the audit team, “With the professional

backgrounds, experience and commitment of so many

division and school leaders and staff members …

Chesterfield County Public Schools will move to higher

levels of excellence.”

January 2008

Chesterfield County Public Schools is moving from good to great!

curriculum management audit • Chesterfield County Public Schools