INNOVATION, ADVANCED STUDIES & CHOICE
FAMILIES EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR:
- Families value extracurriculars—especially arts, music, theater, and athletics—for building belonging when programs are well‑supported and clearly communicated.
- Advanced pathways (IB, AP, Cambridge, Honors, gifted) are appreciated where teachers extend learning and communicate expectations effectively.
- Students grow most when academic rigor is paired with tutoring, re‑teaching, and responsive supports.
PRIORITY TOPICS FOR FAMILIES:
- Families want more extracurricular opportunities with clearer calendars, more variety, non‑cut opportunities open to all interested students, and fewer logistical barriers.
- For advanced learning, families ask for deeper differentiation, flexible placement, transparent processes, and schedules that don’t limit electives.
CURRENT INITIATIVES AND FUTURE PLANS:
- Continued support for fine arts and athletics to ensure high quality options exist at all schools.
- Athletic handbooks are being updated and created for schools and families to help with consistent and clear communication.
- Ensuring websites are up to date and communication expectations are shared with schools related to Fine Arts, Athletics and Club opportunities so that multiple platforms are utilized and calendars are clear.
- Continuing to expand advanced and college level offerings and ensuring flexible placement and open access.
- Providing opportunities for professional learning for teachers of college level courses. Professional learning covers differentiation and scaffolding to ensure support for all learners.
- Gifted and Talented sites opening at 4 elementary schools: LLES, SHES, COES, and PK8.
- Creation of tutoring options and recommendations for school sites to ensure student access to tutoring at all schools.
TRANSPARENCY:
- Sometimes conflicts do exist amongst activities for students who are involved in many extracurriculars.
- While we would love to provide as many intramural and non-cut (open to all students) options for athletics and other activities, this is not always possible. We lean on our community partners to offer these types of activities as another option if a student does not make a team or group at the school.
- Students with high interest in many areas may experience scheduling conflicts. We work with schools to build master schedules strategically but sometimes depending on the student’s path, electives may be limited due to other schedule demands.
COMMITMENT:
Our department is committed to expanding and clearly communicating high‑quality extracurricular opportunities that foster belonging through strong support for arts, athletics, and student activities. We are equally committed to strengthening advanced learning pathways by ensuring clear expectations, consistent communication, and instructional practices that extend and enrich student learning. Finally, we commit to maintaining high academic rigor while embedding tutoring, reteaching, and responsive supports so every student is challenged and able to succeed.
